Programme

The course will focus on Aristotle, Posterior Analytics 1.3, 1.7-11.
Aristotle's text will be explained in detail and the following aspects will be considered:
1: The structure of demonstrative science according to Aristotle and the status of principles
2: Principles and subordinate sciences
3: The status of universals

Core Documentation

a] Aristotle, Posterior Analytics, Translated with a Commentary by J. Barnes, Clarendon Press, Oxford 2002 (second edition), pp. xi-xxv (Introduction); 2-4, 12-15 (ch. 2; 7-11); 89-103, 130-148 (Commentary).

[b] A. Marmodoro – E. Mayr, Breve introduzione alla metafisica, Carocci, Roma, 2017.
M. Vegetti – F. Ademollo, Incontro con Aristotele, Einaudi, Torino, 2016.
R. Smith, Aristotle’s Logic, “The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2018 Edition)”, Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2018/entries/aristotle-logic/
H. Mendell, Aristotle and Mathematics, “The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2017 Edition)”, Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2017/entries/aristotle-mathematics/

[c] Students are required to prepare a paper in Italian or English (3.000 words) about one of the following topics:

[i] Knowledge and Understanding
Bibliography: texts of sections [a] e [b] should be supplemented with:
M. Burnyeat, Aristotle on Understanding Knowledge, in E. Berti (ed.), Aristotle on Science: The “Posterior Analytics”, Antenore, Padova, 1981, pp. 97–140.

[ii] Deduction, syllogism, demonstration
Bibliography: texts of sections [a] e [b] should be supplemented with:
J. Barnes, Proof and the Syllogism, in E. Berti (ed.), Aristotle on Science: The “Posterior Analytics”, Antenore, Padova, 1981, pp. 17-59.

[iii] Subordinate sciences
Bibliography: texts of sections [a] e [b] should be supplemented with:
R.D. McKirahan, Aristotle’s Subordinate Sciences, «The British Journal for the History of Science» 11 (1978) 197-220.

Type of delivery of the course

The couse includes: Lectures Discussions and debates with students At least one seminar about the topics addressed during the course Oral presentations by students Class attendance is not mandatory but is strongly recommended

Type of evaluation

Assessment of learning outcomes is done through an oral examination. Students are required to prepare a written paper (3000 words) in Italian or in English. The paper will be the subject of a detailed discussion during the oral examination. Assessment: Paper 50% (criteria to be considered: knowledge and understanding of the texts and of the issues addressed; argumentation and synthesis; language and editing) Oral colloquium 50%