At the end of the course the student will have acquired in-depth knowledge of at least one classic of ancient thought, in relation to the theoretical and historical-philosophical questions raised by it, as well as the international critical debate on the subject.
The student will have acquired:
- ability to read and analyze sources also in the light of critical debate;
- advanced critical thinking skills and historical-philosophical contextualization;
- ability to write argumentatively, prepare and edit texts;
- presentation skills and oral written argumentation.
The student will have acquired:
- ability to read and analyze sources also in the light of critical debate;
- advanced critical thinking skills and historical-philosophical contextualization;
- ability to write argumentatively, prepare and edit texts;
- presentation skills and oral written argumentation.
Curriculum
teacher profile teaching materials
The Sophist is one of Plato's most philosophically complex and historically influential dialogues. Plato addresses in it a plurality of key philosophical topics, including (but not restricted to) those of truth and falsehood, being and not-being, identity and difference. The impact of this dialogue on the subsequent history of philosophy has been various and long-lasting, ranging from Plato's early collaborators in the Academy to more recent philosophers of both continental (e.g. Heidegger, Ricoeur, and Deleuze) and analytic (e.g. Ryle, Quine, Wiggins, McDowell, and Mumford) backgrounds, and contributing to the formation and development of several areas of philosophy, including those we now identify as metaphysics, philosophy of language, logic and epistemology. Through an analytical reading of the text, we will examine the arguments and theses of the Sophist, its structure, its place in the broader framework of Platonic production, some of the main lines of interpretation that have oriented its understanding, and some aspects of its reception in later philosophy.
1. Platone, Sofista, ed. by Francesco Fronterotta, Rizzoli, Milano, 2007 (introduction and notes included)
2. Selection of further primary texts provided by the course instructor.
Commentary on the Sophist:
3. Paolo Crivelli, Plato’s Account of Falsehood. A Study of the Sophist, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2012 (in full)
Articles on the Sophist (listed in chronological order):
4. Pierre Aubenque, “Une occasion manquée: la genèse avortée de la distinction entre l’‘étant’ et le ‘quelque chose”, in Id., (ed.), Études sur le Sophiste de Platon, Bibliopolis, Napoli, 1991, pp. 365-85 [alternatively, Christine J. Thomas, ““Speaking of Something”: Plato’s Sophist and Plato’s Beard”, Canadian Journal of Philosophy, 38 (2008), pp. 631-667].
5. Lesley Brown, “‘Innovation and Continuity: The Battle of Gods and Giants, Sophist 245–249”, in J. Gentzler (ed.), Method in Ancient Philosophy, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1998, pp. 181-207.
6. Denis O’Brien, “La forma del non essere nel Sofista di Platone”, in F. Fronterotta e W. Leszl (a cura di), Eidos-Idea. Platone, Aristotele e la tradizione platonica, Academia Verlag, Sankt Augustin, 2005, pp. 115-159
7. Lesley Brown, “The Sophist on Statements, Predication, and Falsehood”, in G. Fine (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Plato, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 2019, pp. 309-336.
Articles 4-7 will be provided by the course instructor in .pdf format.
Additional bibliographic references for optional further study will be provided during the course (see ‘Svolgimento’).
Non-attending students (see ‘Frequenza’) are also required to study the following work:
Noburu Notomi, The Unity of Plato’s Sophist. Between the Sophist and the Philosopher, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999
A basic knowledge of the History of Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy, from its origins to Late Antiquity, will be assumed. To acquire or strengthen this knowledge, the following textbook is recommended:
• Riccardo Chiaradonna e Paolo Pecere, Vivere la Conoscenza, Mondadori Education, Milano, 2022, Vol. 1A: Dalle origini ad Aristotele (per intero); Vol. 1B: Dall’Ellenismo al tardo Medioevo (fino all’unità 6: La tarda antichità).
A basic knowledge of Plato’s thought will also be assumed. To acquire or strengthen this knowledge, one of the following introductory monographs on Plato is recommended:
• Franco Ferrari, Introduzione a Platone, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2018
• Mario Vegetti, Quindici lezioni su Platone, Einaudi, Torino, 2003
• Franco Trabattoni, Platone, Carocci, Roma, 2009
Mutuazione: 20702716 STORIA DELLA FILOSOFIA ANTICA - L.M. in Scienze filosofiche LM-78 Granieri Roberto
Programme
Plato's Sophist: being, dialectic and falsehood.The Sophist is one of Plato's most philosophically complex and historically influential dialogues. Plato addresses in it a plurality of key philosophical topics, including (but not restricted to) those of truth and falsehood, being and not-being, identity and difference. The impact of this dialogue on the subsequent history of philosophy has been various and long-lasting, ranging from Plato's early collaborators in the Academy to more recent philosophers of both continental (e.g. Heidegger, Ricoeur, and Deleuze) and analytic (e.g. Ryle, Quine, Wiggins, McDowell, and Mumford) backgrounds, and contributing to the formation and development of several areas of philosophy, including those we now identify as metaphysics, philosophy of language, logic and epistemology. Through an analytical reading of the text, we will examine the arguments and theses of the Sophist, its structure, its place in the broader framework of Platonic production, some of the main lines of interpretation that have oriented its understanding, and some aspects of its reception in later philosophy.
Core Documentation
Primary texts:1. Platone, Sofista, ed. by Francesco Fronterotta, Rizzoli, Milano, 2007 (introduction and notes included)
2. Selection of further primary texts provided by the course instructor.
Commentary on the Sophist:
3. Paolo Crivelli, Plato’s Account of Falsehood. A Study of the Sophist, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2012 (in full)
Articles on the Sophist (listed in chronological order):
4. Pierre Aubenque, “Une occasion manquée: la genèse avortée de la distinction entre l’‘étant’ et le ‘quelque chose”, in Id., (ed.), Études sur le Sophiste de Platon, Bibliopolis, Napoli, 1991, pp. 365-85 [alternatively, Christine J. Thomas, ““Speaking of Something”: Plato’s Sophist and Plato’s Beard”, Canadian Journal of Philosophy, 38 (2008), pp. 631-667].
5. Lesley Brown, “‘Innovation and Continuity: The Battle of Gods and Giants, Sophist 245–249”, in J. Gentzler (ed.), Method in Ancient Philosophy, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1998, pp. 181-207.
6. Denis O’Brien, “La forma del non essere nel Sofista di Platone”, in F. Fronterotta e W. Leszl (a cura di), Eidos-Idea. Platone, Aristotele e la tradizione platonica, Academia Verlag, Sankt Augustin, 2005, pp. 115-159
7. Lesley Brown, “The Sophist on Statements, Predication, and Falsehood”, in G. Fine (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Plato, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 2019, pp. 309-336.
Articles 4-7 will be provided by the course instructor in .pdf format.
Additional bibliographic references for optional further study will be provided during the course (see ‘Svolgimento’).
Non-attending students (see ‘Frequenza’) are also required to study the following work:
Noburu Notomi, The Unity of Plato’s Sophist. Between the Sophist and the Philosopher, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999
A basic knowledge of the History of Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy, from its origins to Late Antiquity, will be assumed. To acquire or strengthen this knowledge, the following textbook is recommended:
• Riccardo Chiaradonna e Paolo Pecere, Vivere la Conoscenza, Mondadori Education, Milano, 2022, Vol. 1A: Dalle origini ad Aristotele (per intero); Vol. 1B: Dall’Ellenismo al tardo Medioevo (fino all’unità 6: La tarda antichità).
A basic knowledge of Plato’s thought will also be assumed. To acquire or strengthen this knowledge, one of the following introductory monographs on Plato is recommended:
• Franco Ferrari, Introduzione a Platone, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2018
• Mario Vegetti, Quindici lezioni su Platone, Einaudi, Torino, 2003
• Franco Trabattoni, Platone, Carocci, Roma, 2009
Attendance
Attendance is not mandatory but strongly recommended. Students will be considered as attending only if with a minimum attendance rate of 75% of the lectures, which will be recorded through signature. Active participation in class discussions will be taken into account in the evaluation (see 'Valutazione').Type of evaluation
The evaluation will be based on three factors: i) PARTICIPATION (20%) Assessing the student's active contribution to in-class discussions. ii) ORAL EXAMINATION (40%) In either Italian, English, or French, and assessing the student’s knowledge and understanding of the texts and issues analyzed thorughout the course. iii) FINAL PAPER (40%) Each student is required to write a term paper in either Italian or English (3,000 words, ca. 20,000 characters including spaces). The paper will be discussed during the oral examination and should focus on a specific topic chosen from one of the following themes: a. Being and Plato’s critique of rival ontologies b. Dialectic and the communion of kinds c. The verb "to be" and its senses d. Not-being, predication, and falsehood Guidelines for the final paper: 1) Requirement: The final paper is mandatory and can be written in either Italian or English. 2) Length: The paper must not exceed 3,000 words. Conciseness features prominently among the evaluation criteria. Papers exceeding 3,000 words (ca. 20,000 characters including spaces) will not be evaluated positively. 3) Preparation: By the end of the course, each student will have to agree on a specific topic with the course instructor and submit to him a brief outline of the paper along with a short bibliography. 4) Submission: The paper must be submitted to the course instructor via institutional email in .pdf format no later than 7 days before the oral examination chosen date. The file must be named with the student’s last name in capital letters (e.g., ROSSI.pdf). NB: Submissions from non-institutional email addresses will not be considered. 5) Formatting and editorial guidelines: - The final paper must closely follow the Norme per la redazione di un saggio breve, available at the following link: - https://www.academia.edu/9319345/Norme_di_redazione_per_un_saggio_breve - For citations and bibliographic references, students must stick to the Author-Year system (sections 6.2.2 and 6.3.2 of the Norme per la redazione di un saggio breve). - The linguistic and editorial care of the paper features prominently among the evaluation criteria. 6) Evaluation Criteria - Knowledge and understanding of the content - Language ccuracy and clarity of exposition - Conciseness and synthesis skills - Linguistic and editorial care teacher profile teaching materials
The Sophist is one of Plato's most philosophically complex and historically influential dialogues. Plato addresses in it a plurality of key philosophical topics, including (but not restricted to) those of truth and falsehood, being and not-being, identity and difference. The impact of this dialogue on the subsequent history of philosophy has been various and long-lasting, ranging from Plato's early collaborators in the Academy to more recent philosophers of both continental (e.g. Heidegger, Ricoeur, and Deleuze) and analytic (e.g. Ryle, Quine, Wiggins, McDowell, and Mumford) backgrounds, and contributing to the formation and development of several areas of philosophy, including those we now identify as metaphysics, philosophy of language, logic and epistemology. Through an analytical reading of the text, we will examine the arguments and theses of the Sophist, its structure, its place in the broader framework of Platonic production, some of the main lines of interpretation that have oriented its understanding, and some aspects of its reception in later philosophy.
1. Platone, Sofista, ed. by Francesco Fronterotta, Rizzoli, Milano, 2007 (introduction and notes included)
2. Selection of further primary texts provided by the course instructor.
Commentary on the Sophist:
3. Paolo Crivelli, Plato’s Account of Falsehood. A Study of the Sophist, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2012 (in full)
Articles on the Sophist (listed in chronological order):
4. Pierre Aubenque, “Une occasion manquée: la genèse avortée de la distinction entre l’‘étant’ et le ‘quelque chose”, in Id., (ed.), Études sur le Sophiste de Platon, Bibliopolis, Napoli, 1991, pp. 365-85 [alternatively, Christine J. Thomas, ““Speaking of Something”: Plato’s Sophist and Plato’s Beard”, Canadian Journal of Philosophy, 38 (2008), pp. 631-667].
5. Lesley Brown, “‘Innovation and Continuity: The Battle of Gods and Giants, Sophist 245–249”, in J. Gentzler (ed.), Method in Ancient Philosophy, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1998, pp. 181-207.
6. Denis O’Brien, “La forma del non essere nel Sofista di Platone”, in F. Fronterotta e W. Leszl (a cura di), Eidos-Idea. Platone, Aristotele e la tradizione platonica, Academia Verlag, Sankt Augustin, 2005, pp. 115-159
7. Lesley Brown, “The Sophist on Statements, Predication, and Falsehood”, in G. Fine (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Plato, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 2019, pp. 309-336.
Articles 4-7 will be provided by the course instructor in .pdf format.
Additional bibliographic references for optional further study will be provided during the course (see ‘Svolgimento’).
Non-attending students (see ‘Frequenza’) are also required to study the following work:
Noburu Notomi, The Unity of Plato’s Sophist. Between the Sophist and the Philosopher, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999
A basic knowledge of the History of Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy, from its origins to Late Antiquity, will be assumed. To acquire or strengthen this knowledge, the following textbook is recommended:
• Riccardo Chiaradonna e Paolo Pecere, Vivere la Conoscenza, Mondadori Education, Milano, 2022, Vol. 1A: Dalle origini ad Aristotele (per intero); Vol. 1B: Dall’Ellenismo al tardo Medioevo (fino all’unità 6: La tarda antichità).
A basic knowledge of Plato’s thought will also be assumed. To acquire or strengthen this knowledge, one of the following introductory monographs on Plato is recommended:
• Franco Ferrari, Introduzione a Platone, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2018
• Mario Vegetti, Quindici lezioni su Platone, Einaudi, Torino, 2003
• Franco Trabattoni, Platone, Carocci, Roma, 2009
Mutuazione: 20702716 STORIA DELLA FILOSOFIA ANTICA - L.M. in Scienze filosofiche LM-78 Granieri Roberto
Programme
Plato's Sophist: being, dialectic and falsehood.The Sophist is one of Plato's most philosophically complex and historically influential dialogues. Plato addresses in it a plurality of key philosophical topics, including (but not restricted to) those of truth and falsehood, being and not-being, identity and difference. The impact of this dialogue on the subsequent history of philosophy has been various and long-lasting, ranging from Plato's early collaborators in the Academy to more recent philosophers of both continental (e.g. Heidegger, Ricoeur, and Deleuze) and analytic (e.g. Ryle, Quine, Wiggins, McDowell, and Mumford) backgrounds, and contributing to the formation and development of several areas of philosophy, including those we now identify as metaphysics, philosophy of language, logic and epistemology. Through an analytical reading of the text, we will examine the arguments and theses of the Sophist, its structure, its place in the broader framework of Platonic production, some of the main lines of interpretation that have oriented its understanding, and some aspects of its reception in later philosophy.
Core Documentation
Primary texts:1. Platone, Sofista, ed. by Francesco Fronterotta, Rizzoli, Milano, 2007 (introduction and notes included)
2. Selection of further primary texts provided by the course instructor.
Commentary on the Sophist:
3. Paolo Crivelli, Plato’s Account of Falsehood. A Study of the Sophist, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2012 (in full)
Articles on the Sophist (listed in chronological order):
4. Pierre Aubenque, “Une occasion manquée: la genèse avortée de la distinction entre l’‘étant’ et le ‘quelque chose”, in Id., (ed.), Études sur le Sophiste de Platon, Bibliopolis, Napoli, 1991, pp. 365-85 [alternatively, Christine J. Thomas, ““Speaking of Something”: Plato’s Sophist and Plato’s Beard”, Canadian Journal of Philosophy, 38 (2008), pp. 631-667].
5. Lesley Brown, “‘Innovation and Continuity: The Battle of Gods and Giants, Sophist 245–249”, in J. Gentzler (ed.), Method in Ancient Philosophy, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1998, pp. 181-207.
6. Denis O’Brien, “La forma del non essere nel Sofista di Platone”, in F. Fronterotta e W. Leszl (a cura di), Eidos-Idea. Platone, Aristotele e la tradizione platonica, Academia Verlag, Sankt Augustin, 2005, pp. 115-159
7. Lesley Brown, “The Sophist on Statements, Predication, and Falsehood”, in G. Fine (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Plato, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 2019, pp. 309-336.
Articles 4-7 will be provided by the course instructor in .pdf format.
Additional bibliographic references for optional further study will be provided during the course (see ‘Svolgimento’).
Non-attending students (see ‘Frequenza’) are also required to study the following work:
Noburu Notomi, The Unity of Plato’s Sophist. Between the Sophist and the Philosopher, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999
A basic knowledge of the History of Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy, from its origins to Late Antiquity, will be assumed. To acquire or strengthen this knowledge, the following textbook is recommended:
• Riccardo Chiaradonna e Paolo Pecere, Vivere la Conoscenza, Mondadori Education, Milano, 2022, Vol. 1A: Dalle origini ad Aristotele (per intero); Vol. 1B: Dall’Ellenismo al tardo Medioevo (fino all’unità 6: La tarda antichità).
A basic knowledge of Plato’s thought will also be assumed. To acquire or strengthen this knowledge, one of the following introductory monographs on Plato is recommended:
• Franco Ferrari, Introduzione a Platone, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2018
• Mario Vegetti, Quindici lezioni su Platone, Einaudi, Torino, 2003
• Franco Trabattoni, Platone, Carocci, Roma, 2009
Attendance
Attendance is not mandatory but strongly recommended. Students will be considered as attending only if with a minimum attendance rate of 75% of the lectures, which will be recorded through signature. Active participation in class discussions will be taken into account in the evaluation (see 'Valutazione').Type of evaluation
The evaluation will be based on three factors: i) PARTICIPATION (20%) Assessing the student's active contribution to in-class discussions. ii) ORAL EXAMINATION (40%) In either Italian, English, or French, and assessing the student’s knowledge and understanding of the texts and issues analyzed thorughout the course. iii) FINAL PAPER (40%) Each student is required to write a term paper in either Italian or English (3,000 words, ca. 20,000 characters including spaces). The paper will be discussed during the oral examination and should focus on a specific topic chosen from one of the following themes: a. Being and Plato’s critique of rival ontologies b. Dialectic and the communion of kinds c. The verb "to be" and its senses d. Not-being, predication, and falsehood Guidelines for the final paper: 1) Requirement: The final paper is mandatory and can be written in either Italian or English. 2) Length: The paper must not exceed 3,000 words. Conciseness features prominently among the evaluation criteria. Papers exceeding 3,000 words (ca. 20,000 characters including spaces) will not be evaluated positively. 3) Preparation: By the end of the course, each student will have to agree on a specific topic with the course instructor and submit to him a brief outline of the paper along with a short bibliography. 4) Submission: The paper must be submitted to the course instructor via institutional email in .pdf format no later than 7 days before the oral examination chosen date. The file must be named with the student’s last name in capital letters (e.g., ROSSI.pdf). NB: Submissions from non-institutional email addresses will not be considered. 5) Formatting and editorial guidelines: - The final paper must closely follow the Norme per la redazione di un saggio breve, available at the following link: - https://www.academia.edu/9319345/Norme_di_redazione_per_un_saggio_breve - For citations and bibliographic references, students must stick to the Author-Year system (sections 6.2.2 and 6.3.2 of the Norme per la redazione di un saggio breve). - The linguistic and editorial care of the paper features prominently among the evaluation criteria. 6) Evaluation Criteria - Knowledge and understanding of the content - Language ccuracy and clarity of exposition - Conciseness and synthesis skills - Linguistic and editorial care