12191 - History of Medieval Philosophy (1)

Learning outcomes

The course introduces to a rich and remarkable period in the history of philosophy, conventionally known as medieval thought.Striking feature is the continous coverage (through the analysis of the notion of translatio studii) of Islamic, Jewish and Christian material and texts.Starting in the late eight century, with renewal of learning, a sequence of themes will takes the students until the end of twelve century through the development in many varied fields of medieval thought including logic and language, natural philosophy, rethorics, ethics and theology. Close attemption is payed to the context of medieval philosophy with discussion of the rise of this particular cultural and theological phaenomenon generally resumed under the name of monastic spirituality and monastic conversational community.

Course contents

Aristotle's error. Creation and eternity of the world in the 13th century

In principio Deus fecit caelum et terram. However difficult to interpret, the first verse of the book of Genesis establishes a temporal beginning of the physical universe: an eternal and transcendent God creates a world subject to the succession of times.

This belief, firmly established in the late antique and early medieval sapientia christiana, comes into crisis because of the large dissemination, between the 12th and 13th centuries, of the Aristotelian texts on physics and philosophy of nature. The fact that the world can be conceived as existing ab aeterno does not simply constitute a different cosmological option, but a "new" epistemological model with significant theological repercussions.

After a first part devoted to a comprehensive introduction to the history of medieval thought, the course will focus on the reading and analysis of some 13th-century texts that question the problem of the eternity of the world and its incompatibility with the creationist model.

Summary

Of the 15 lectures (30 hours):

• 5 lectures will be devoted to a general introduction to the history of medieval philosophy. For this purpose, the first point of the bibliography will include the study of a textbook.

• 10 lectures will be devoted to reading and commenting on some texts on the problem of the eternity of the world. In addition to the texts, indicated in point 2.1 of the examination bibliography, reference will be made to the critical studies indicated in point 2.2.

 

The course will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 and will run according to the following schedule:

Tuesday, from 17 to 19 (aula Tibiletti, Via Zamboni 38);

Wednesday, from 9 to 11 (aula Tibiletti, Via Zamboni 38);

Friday, from 17 to 19 (aula II, Via Zamboni 38).

 

Readings/Bibliography

1. Introduction to the history of medieval philosophy

The first part of the course involves the study of the following textbook:

• C. Esposito, P. Porro, Filosofia antica e medievale, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2008, pp. 200-371, 385-393.

For other textbooks please contact the teacher.

2. Aristotle's error. Creation in time and eternity of the world in the 13th century

The second part of the course is based on the study of two 13th-century texts (in Italian translation) (2.1) and two critical studies (2.2):

2.1. Text

• Tommaso d’Aquino, L'eternità del mondo, a cura di A. Tognolo, in: Tommaso d'Aquino, L'uomo e l'universo: opuscoli filosofici, Rusconi, Milano 1982, pp. 183-192;

• Boezio di Dacia, Sull'eternità del mondo, trad. it. di L. Bianchi, Unicopli, Milano 2003, pp. 107-123.

For other editions please contact the teacher.

2.2. Critical studies

 

• L. Bianchi, L'acculturazione filosofica dell'Occidente, in: L. Bianchi (cur.), La filosofia nelle università. Secoli XIII e XIV, La Nuova Italia Editrice, Firenze 1997, pp. 1-23.
• L. Bianchi, La struttura del cosmo, in: L. Bianchi (cur.), La filosofia nelle università. Secoli XIII e XIV, La Nuova Italia Editrice, Firenze 1997, pp. 269-303.

Directions for NON-frequent student:

In addition to the above-indicated examination bibliography, non-frequenting students are required to listen to the lecture recordings made available on Virtuale.

The following text is also recommended reading:

• L. Bianchi, L'errore di Aristotele. La polemica contro l'eternità del mondo nel XIII secolo, La Nuova Italia, Firenze 1984.

Teaching methods

The course includes a series of introductory lectures and subsequent guided reading of the texts under examination.

Some of the texts listed in the bibliography, as well as any slides, will be made available on Virtual, along with the lecture recording.

Assessment methods

Oral Examination: It is recommended to have the texts with you on the exam.

30 cum laude - Excellent as to knowledge, philosophical lexicon and critical expression.

30 – Excellent: knowledge is complete, well argued and correctly expressed, with some slight faults.

27-29 – Good: thorough and satisfactory knowledge; essentially correct expression.

24-26 - Fairly good: knowledge broadly acquired, and not always correctly expressed.

21-23 – Sufficient: superficial and partial knowledge; exposure and articulation are incomplete and often not sufficiently appropriate

18-20 - Almost sufficient: superficial and decontextualized knowledge. The exposure of the contents shows important gaps.

Exam failed - Students are requested to show up at a subsequent exam session if basic skills and knowledge are not sufficiently acquired and not placed in the historical-philosophical context.

Teaching tools

Some texts of bibliography and eventual slides shown during the course will be available on Virtuale.

Lectures will be recorded (audio only) and made available to students.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Colli