75834 - History of Humanist Philosophy

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide basic knowledge concerning the European Philosophy between the 14th and 16th century through texts and authors judged emblematic. In particular, students are able to recognize the major topics of Italian Renaissance and the relationships between speculative thought, philology and theory of the arts. Among the objectives of the course is to know and use the lexicon (in Latin and in Italian) of the humanistic philosophy as well as the main historiographical interpretations of the philosophical currents of the Renaissance.

Course contents

Florentine moral and political thought from Leon Battista Alberti to Nicolò Machiavelli.

The course will initially discuss the moral positions of Leon Battista Alberti, connecting them with the misterious political reflection contained in his work Momus, not forgetting that both the political and moral reflections were made by a great urbanist and architect. Considering Machiavelli, we will connect him - so as not to isolate his figure from the context of his times - to the larger moral reflection of the early Florentine humanism and to the political reflection of Florentine Platonism. We will deal with the discussion, which lasted five decades, between the Italian interpretation of the Renaissance (Garin) and the American one (Kristeller). 

Readings/Bibliography

The reading of the two entries ALBERTI LEON BATTISTA and MACHIAVELLI NICOLO' in the Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani;

HANS BARON, La crisi del primo Rinascimento italiano : umanesimo civile e libertà repubblicana in un'età di classicismo e di tirannide, Firenze 1970;

CARLO DIONISOTTI, Machiavellerie, Torino 1980.

Teaching methods

lectures. During class the teacher reads, translates and comments on relevant textual passages and thematic nodes.

Assessment methods

Oral examination: Students are recommended to bring the texts when examining.
Students who have attended lectures may agree on exams (whether written or oral) devoted to specific topics.

Assessment criteria and thresholds of evaluation:

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 correctely expressed.

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

18-21 - 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

texts; during the course the teacher will provide handouts and translations students.

Students who have not attended the course will find educational materials available at the secretariat of the students, via Zamboni 38, second floor.

Office hours

See the website of Franco Bacchelli