The course ‘history of medieval metaphysics’ is one of the optional courses (affini e integrativi) of the master's degree program in Philosophical Sciences.
At the end of the course students are able to understand key issues of medieval metaphysics, both in themselves and in relation to Early Modern Philosophy. The course is based on close reading and analysis of sources, as well as on the discussion of the philosophical lexicon and of its evolution through time.
Students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge and skills from a theoretical and historical-philosophical perspective.
At the end of the course students are able to:
- understand critically key issues in medieval and modern philosophy
- carry out independent analysis of medieval philosophical works; students will have knowledge of concepts and terminology of philosophical schools and authors; furthermore, they will be able to follow the evolution / transformation of that terminology in other contexts
- approach medieval thought with awareness of methods typical of the history of philosophy as well of the main scholarly interpretations
At the end of the course students are able to understand key issues of medieval metaphysics, both in themselves and in relation to Early Modern Philosophy. The course is based on close reading and analysis of sources, as well as on the discussion of the philosophical lexicon and of its evolution through time.
Students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge and skills from a theoretical and historical-philosophical perspective.
At the end of the course students are able to:
- understand critically key issues in medieval and modern philosophy
- carry out independent analysis of medieval philosophical works; students will have knowledge of concepts and terminology of philosophical schools and authors; furthermore, they will be able to follow the evolution / transformation of that terminology in other contexts
- approach medieval thought with awareness of methods typical of the history of philosophy as well of the main scholarly interpretations
teacher profile teaching materials
• S. Guidi, L’angelo e la macchina. Sulla genesi della res cogitans cartesiana, FrancoAngeli, Milano 2018 (solo i primi due capitoli, pp. 41-214).
• M. Lenzi, Alberto e Tommaso sullo statuto dell’anima umana, «Archives d'histoire doctrinale et littéraire du Moyen Âge», 74 (2007), pp. 27-58.
• Ch. Bazán, The Human Soul: Form and Substance? Thomas Aquinas’ Critique of Eclectic Aristotelianism, «Archives d'Histoire Doctrinale et Littéraire du Moyen Age», 64 (1997), pp. 95-126.
• R. Cross, Philosophy of Mind, in Th. Williams (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Duns Scotus, Cambridge 2006, pp. 263-284.
• R. Cross, Plurality of Forms, in Id., The Physics of Duns Scotus. The Scientific Context of a Theological Vision, Cambridge 1998, pp. 47-76.
• J. South, Suárez, Immortality, and the Soul’s Dependence on the Body, in C. Leijenhorst, Suárez on Self-Awareness, in Hill B., Lagerlund L., The Philosophy of Francisco Suárez, Oxford 2012, pp. 121-136.
Per i non-frequentanti vi è un testo aggiuntivo dalla bibliografia, a scelta tra:
• R. Pasnau, Thomas Aquinas on human nature: a philosophical study of Summa Theologiae I, 75-89, Cambridge 2008.
• M. Lenzi, Anima, forma, sostanza. Filosofia e teologia nel dibattito antropologico del XIII secolo, CISAM, Spoleto 2011.
Programme
The class will focus on the notions of soul, intellect, and body in medieval and late medieval thought, and particularly on the discontinuity/continuity with the Cartesian mind-body dualism. The course will address the accounts of Thomas Aquinas, Duns Scotus, and Francisco Suárez, whose views and doctrines will be analyzed in light of their metaphysical/theological premises and analyzing their texts.Core Documentation
Selezione di testi da Tommaso d’Aquino, Duns Scoto e Francisco Suárez• S. Guidi, L’angelo e la macchina. Sulla genesi della res cogitans cartesiana, FrancoAngeli, Milano 2018 (solo i primi due capitoli, pp. 41-214).
• M. Lenzi, Alberto e Tommaso sullo statuto dell’anima umana, «Archives d'histoire doctrinale et littéraire du Moyen Âge», 74 (2007), pp. 27-58.
• Ch. Bazán, The Human Soul: Form and Substance? Thomas Aquinas’ Critique of Eclectic Aristotelianism, «Archives d'Histoire Doctrinale et Littéraire du Moyen Age», 64 (1997), pp. 95-126.
• R. Cross, Philosophy of Mind, in Th. Williams (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Duns Scotus, Cambridge 2006, pp. 263-284.
• R. Cross, Plurality of Forms, in Id., The Physics of Duns Scotus. The Scientific Context of a Theological Vision, Cambridge 1998, pp. 47-76.
• J. South, Suárez, Immortality, and the Soul’s Dependence on the Body, in C. Leijenhorst, Suárez on Self-Awareness, in Hill B., Lagerlund L., The Philosophy of Francisco Suárez, Oxford 2012, pp. 121-136.
Per i non-frequentanti vi è un testo aggiuntivo dalla bibliografia, a scelta tra:
• R. Pasnau, Thomas Aquinas on human nature: a philosophical study of Summa Theologiae I, 75-89, Cambridge 2008.
• M. Lenzi, Anima, forma, sostanza. Filosofia e teologia nel dibattito antropologico del XIII secolo, CISAM, Spoleto 2011.
Reference Bibliography
• C. Bianco, Ultima solitudo. La nascita del concetto moderno di persona in Duns Scoto, FrancoAngeli, Milano 2012 • M. Bieniak, The soul-body problem at Paris, ca. 1200-1250, Leuven 2010. • D. Des Chene, Life’s Form. Late Aristotelian Conceptions of the Soul, Ithaca and London 2000. • M. Lenzi, Anima, forma, sostanza. Filosofia e teologia nel dibattito antropologico del XIII secolo, CISAM, Spoleto 2011.ù • R. Pasnau, Theories of Cognition in the Later Middle Ages, Cambridge 1997. • R. Pasnau, Thomas Aquinas on human nature: a philosophical study of Summa Theologiae I, 75-89, Cambridge 2002 • R. Pasnau, Cognition, in Th. Williams (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Duns Scotus, Cambridge 2006, pp. 285-311. • A. Petagine, Aristotelismo difficile. L’intelletto umano nella prospettiva di Alberto Magno, Tommaso d'Aquino e Sigieri di Brabante, Milano 2004. • M. Rozemond, Unity and multiplicity of Suárez’s Soul, in Hill B., Lagerlund H., The philosophy of Francisco Suárez, Oxford 2012, 154-172.Type of delivery of the course
The couse includes: Lectures; Discussions and debates with students; Class attendance is not mandatory but is strongly recommendedType of evaluation
oral exam