92917 - History of Medieval Culture and Thought (1)

Learning outcomes

The course deepens the knowledge of medieval culture and thought considered in some of its significant aspects. The course also aims to train the reading and critical analysis of the texts, also through the study of the manuscript tradition. The study of the topics discussed allows students to acquire the ability to assess the impact of the acquisitions of medieval culture in European thought, symbolism and life forms. The historiographical interpretations of topics and texts under consideration will be illustrated.

Course contents

Anselm of Canterbury and the proof of the existence of reason

The course is divided into two modules, each of them divided into two sections.

Module 1

1.1 Authors of reference in the medieval philosophical tradition

1.2 Medieval Philosophy as a Contaminated and Intersecting Intellectual Form: Philosophy and Literature. Philosophy and theology. Philosophy and natural sciences. European philosophy and non-European philosophies

Module 2

2.1.  What is the book of the medieval philosopher.

2.2. Reading and commentary on the work of Anselm of Canterbury (Monologion, Proslogion, Epistolae).

Readings/Bibliography

1. Authors and history of medieval philosophy

A single text chosen from the following

(A) Michela Pereira, La filosofia nel Medioevo sec. 6-15, Roma 2016 [cinque capitoli a scelta dell’allievo]; (B) Claudio Leonardi Medioevo latino. La cultura dell'Europa cristiana cur. Francesco Santi, praef. I Deug-Su - Oronzo Limone - Enrico Menestò, Firenze, SISMEL. Edizioni del Galluzzo 2004 [only pp. 191-396 or pp. 399-567] (in ALMARE: dbase>Mirabile, Home>Miscelanee> Medioevo latino)) (C) Francesco Santi L'età metaforica. Figure di Dio e letteratura latina medievale da Gregorio Magno a Dante Spoleto (Perugia), Centro italiano di studi sull'Alto Medioevo (CISAM) 2011 pp. XVIII-404 tav. 1 (Uomini e mondi medievali. Collana del Centro Italiano di Studi sul Basso Medioevo - Accademia Tudertina 25) [only pp. 3-150].

2. Studie about the conditions of medieval philosophical culture

A single text chosen from the following

Il libro filosofico. Dall'antichità al XXI secolo - Philosophy and the Books. From Antiquity to the XXI Century. = “Quaestio” 11 (2011 ma 2012): only articles by R. Chiaradonna, F. Ronconi, F. Santi, P. Porro, C. Esposito/M. Lamanna.

Filosofi e teologi. La ricerca e l'insegnamento nell'università medievale cur. Luca Bianchi - Eugenio Randi, Bergamo, Lubrina 1989 pp. 279 (Quodlibet. Ricerche e strumenti di filosofia medievale 4) (Nella sezione Testi le sezioni nn. 1, 2 e 5 (pp. 37-54, e pp. 69-81); nella sezione Studi i saggi di Weijers (pp. 81-108), di Pinborg-Kenny (pp. 109-44) di Glorieux (pp. 153-168) e di due Bataillon (pp. 193-228).

R. Imbach, Dante, la filosofia e i laici cur. Pasquale Porro, trad. Marisa Ferrarini, Genova-Milano, Marietti 2003 pp. XX-224 (Collana di saggistica 88) (or Id., Laien in der Philosophie des Mittelalters. Hinweise und Anregungen zu einem vernachlässigten Amsterdam, B.R. Grüner 1989 pp. 171 (Bochumer Studien zur Philosophie 14) (entire volume)

U. Eco, Metafora e conoscenza nel Medioevo oppure La falsificazione nel Medioevo in Scritti su pensiero medievale, Bompiani, Milano 2012 (Il pensiero occidentale) pp. 589-664 or pp. 731-751.

3. Texts

Anselmo of Canterbury, Monologion, Proslogion, Epistolae Lib.1 ed. F. S. Schmitt, Edimburgi 1946-1961, I, pp. 5-87; I, pp. 93-124. Per le Epistolae: Letters of Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury-Epistolae Anselmi Cantuariensis Archiepiscopi I The Bec Letters ed.transl. S. Niskanen, Oxford, Clarendon Press 2019 (Oxford Medieval Texts). (The teacher will indicate how to find the texts; students can also use a translation. A selection of the Epistolae will be read).

Non attending students

Another philosophical text of the medieval Latin tradition chosen among the works of the following authors (in critical edition and translation): Boezio, Cassiodoro, Gregorio Magno, Alcuino, Gerberto di Aurillac, Anselmo di Canterbury, Pietro Abelardo, Eloisa del Paracleto, Bernardo di Clairvaux, Ildegarde di Bingen, Riccardo di San Vittore, Alano di Lilla, Tommaso d’Aquino, Bonaventura di Bagnoregio, Angela da Foligno, Raimondo Lullo, Dante Alighieri, Giovanni Duns Scoto, Eckhart, Guglielmo d’Ockham, Niccolò Cusano. (The teacher is available to advise on accessible and reliable editions. Other authors may be proposed to the teacher).

Teaching methods

Classes are organized in form of lectures, about

1. general issues
2. the work of Anselmo
3. the handwritten transmission of medieval philosophical works

Assessment methods

The exams consist in an interview (30').

Students should be able to demonstrate their skills in reading and interpreting the texts, in placing authors and texts in their historical context, and in assessing their contribution within the history of European culture.

Teaching tools

During the course, the main internet sites that allow access to some of the medieval Latin manuscripts will be presented, with particular attention to philosophical culture.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Santi