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

Meister Eckhart and his female readers in the 14th century

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. Reading and commentary on the Latin sermons of Meister Eckhart

2.2. How and why does the diffusion of Eckhart's doctrine take place in non-school environments and especially among women? What does it mean for the history of philosophy? How and why is it censored?

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. Eckhart's doctrine and its diffusion

One of the following titles

Loris Sturlese Eckhart, Tauler, Suso. Filosofi e mistici nella Germania medievale Firenze, Le Lettere 2010 pp. 270 (Giornale critico della filosofia italiana. Quaderni 17)

Alessandra Beccarisi Eckhart Roma, Carocci 2012 pp. 235 (Pensatori 27)

Alain de Libera Introduzione alla mistica renana, Milano, Jaca Book 1998 pp. 373 (Di fronte e attraverso 496. Biblioteca di cultura medievale)

Kurt Ruh Meister Eckhart, teologo, predicatore, mistico, Brescia, Morcelliana 1989 pp. 352

Giuseppe Faggin (trad. comm.) Meister Eckhart Trattati e prediche Milano, Rusconi 1982 pp. 404 (I classici del pensiero. 2. Medioevo e Rinascimento) (introductory parts).

Marco Vannini Meister Eckhart e «il fondo dell'anima» Roma, Città Nuova 1991 pp. 224

Scrittrici mistiche europee II Secoli XIV-XV cur. Alessandra Bartolomei Romagnoli - Antonella Degl'Innocenti - Francesco Santi, Firenze, SISMEL. Edizioni del Galluzzo per la Fondazione Ezio Franceschini 2018 pp. XLIV-647 (La mistica cristiana tra Oriente e Occidente 24*) (introductions and four authors of your choice).

3. Reading and commenting on a text (the text will also be read and commented on in class)

Magistri Echardi Sermones in Die lateinische Werke / Meister Eckhart, IV, ed. E. Benz - B. Decker - J. Koch, Stuttgart 1956 con l'aiuto di Meister Eckhart I sermoni latini trad. M. Vannini, Roma, Città Nuova 1989 pp. 336 (Fonti cristiane per il terzo millennio 1)

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 latin work of Meister Eckhart
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