98929 - History of Medieval Culture (1)

Learning outcomes

The course deepens the knowledge of medieval culture 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

Cosmic souls. Microcosm and macrocosm in Chartres philosophies.

The first module of the integrated course is devoted to the variety of forms in which medieval culture de-conceptualizes and conceptualizes the experience of nature and humanity's position in nature. The module will be conducted in two sections. After examining a number of authors who can be considered to be of reference in this problematic area (providing a small history of medieval thinking about nature), an anthology of texts by characteristic authors of the School of Chartres (Bernard Silvestre, William of Conches and Theodoric of Chartres) will be offered for reading.

The historiographical and theoretical problem that is to be addressed concerns the mechanisms through which the reversal took place whereby from the time when the human soul turned out to be a mirror of the world, we passed to the time when the world became a mirror of the human soul and its active rationality. (This intellectual horizon involves both modules of the integrated course).

Section 1.

1. Reference authors and authors in the intellectual tradition of the Middle Ages, from the point of view of the problematic posed by the course.

1.2. Medieval philosophy as a contaminated intellectual form and intersections: Philosophy and literature. Philosophy and theology. Philosophy and the natural sciences. European philosophy and non-European philosophies.

Section 2

1.1.The School of Chartres

2.2. Reading and commentary on an anthology of texts prepared by the lecturer

Readings/Bibliography

The examination program has two parts (and a third for non-attending students). The parts of the program correspond to the two sections of the module.

1. First section. Authors and general outline of medieval culture.

Selected chapters of the student's choice from one of the following works (in each case see the possibilities indicated)

(A) Michela Pereira, La filosofia nel Medioevo sec. 6-15, Roma 2016 [five chapters of your choice];

(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 [pp. 191-396 (early Middle Ages) or pp. 399-567 (middle Middle Ages) as desired] (This volume is available in AlmaRe. Databases. Mirabile, Home>Miscelanea> Latin Middle Ages)

(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) [either the first part on pp. 3-150 or the second part on pp. 153-345 of your choice].

2.Microcosm and macrocosm in the Chartres School

Tullio Gregory, «Anima mundi». La filosofia di Guglielmo di Conches e la scuola di Chartres cur. Enrico Menestò - Massimiliano Bassetti, praef. Francesco Santi, Spoleto, Fondazione Centro italiano di studi sull'Alto Medioevo (CISAM) 2020 pp. XV-406 (Uomini e mondi medievali 65)

For non-attenders.

Non-attenders should complete their preparation by reading a short work by a Latin author of the Middle Ages, read in a critical edition (to be communicated to the lecturer a few days in advance). The author may be chosen from the following: Boethius, Cassiodorus, Gregory the Great, Alcuin, Gerbert of Aurillac, Anselm of Canterbury, Peter Abelard, Eloise of the Paraclete, Bernard of Clairvaux, Ildegarde of Bingen, Richard of St. Victor, Alain of Lille, Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, Angela of Foligno, Ramon Llull, Dante Alighieri, John Duns Scotus, Eckhart, William of Ockham, Nicholas of Cusa. The teacher is available to recommend accessible and reliable editions. Other authors may be suggested to the lecturer.

Teaching methods

1. The teacher will present the topics and problems in the program, discussing critical aspects of the method with the students.

2. The lecturer will read and comment on Latin texts from the School of Chartres

3. Having verified the situation of the class, the lecturer will try to encourage seminar activities, according to the tradition of teaching and in relation to issues related to the general problem posed by the course.

Assessment methods

Those taking the two modules of the integrated History of Medieval Culture and Thought course can choose to take the exam in one oral or in two parts corresponding to the two modules.

The examination is oral and usually lasts about 30 minutes, during which the lecturer first gives the student space to present one of his or her topics in an articulate manner. The examination is not only aimed at evaluating what has been learned, but is considered a moment of the teaching activity, that is, a useful moment to complete and fine-tune the course completed.

For the rest, it should be kept in mind that - in the ordinary way - the interview will then have the following articulation. The student (1) will be confronted with the general problems posed by the course and will be solicited about the general features of medieval philosophy also considering the modes of its communication, in relation therefore to the conditions the authors' work and listening to their audience. It will be possible to reason in this part of the examination about the hypotheses of periodization that articulate the Middle Ages, trying to focus on what are its revolutions. (2) There will then be a focus on the authors who can be considered representative in the different textual types experienced by medieval philosophy and the methodological problems involved in reading these texts. (3) Finally, parts from the works read in class may be read in relation to the problems and hypotheses posed by the course.

Given the multiplicity of philosophical forms experienced in the mediolatin millennium, space will be given to the student's specific interests.

Exam sessions. During the 2025/2026 academic year, exam sessions are scheduled in the following months: May, June, July, September, October, November

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD). Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders have the right to special adjustments according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the instructor but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adjustments. For more information, visit the page: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students .

It is recommended that students contact the University office in advance. Any proposed adjustments must be submitted at least 15 days in advance for the instructor’s approval, who will evaluate their appropriateness in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

 

Teaching tools

During the course, the main dbases useful for constructing bibliographies, lexicons and anthologies of texts useful for the study of the history of medieval philosophy will be presented.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Santi