B4968 - STORIA DELLA FILOSOFIA MEDIEVALE (2)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to explore some particular aspects of the different traditions of medieval thought, reinforcing the ability to directly read and critically analyze texts, also presented in the original language (Latin, Hebrew, Arabic). The study of the topics covered is intended to increase students' awareness of the importance of medieval thought for the development of Western philosophy, favoring an increasing familiarity with some fundamental texts.

Course contents

Form of the Body or Separate Substance? The Soul-Body Problem in Thomas Aquinas's Quaestiones disputatae de anima (ca.1225-1274)

In one of his first writings, the De ente et essentia, the Dominican theologian Thomas Aquinas describes the human soul as the form of the body (c.2) only to then classify it, a few pages later, among the separate substances (c.4). The dual status of the rational soul is undoubtedly one of the questions to which Thomas returns most often throughout his life. At the root of the problem lies not so much a theological or doctrinal requirement, but rather the interest in interpreting Aristotle's De anima in the most correct way possible.

After presenting some fundamental features of Thomas's thought, the course will focus on reading and commenting on the writings in which the soul-body question emerges with the greatest clarity, with the aim of tracing a precise picture of his psychology and, consequently, of his anthropology.

 

Summary

Of the 15 lectures (of two hours each):

• 5 lectures will be devoted to a general introduction to Thomas Aquinas's thought.

• 10 lectures will be devoted to reading and commenting on selected texts by Aquinas regarding the soul-body relationship.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Thomas Aquinas and the problem of the soul. An Introduction

• M. Lenzi, Anima, forma e sostanza: filosofia e teologia nel dibattito antropologico del 13. secolo, Fondazione centro italiano di studi sull'Alto Medioevo, Spoleto 2011, pp. 197-254;
  

• P. Porro, Tommaso d'Aquino. Un profilo storico-filosofico, Carocci, Roma 2012, pp. 290-306.

 

2. Texts

• Thomas Aquinas, Quaestiones disputatae de anima, ed. B.-C. Bazán Commissio Leonina - Cerf, Roma-Paris 1996. (The Italian translation of the text will be made available by the instructor on Virtual platform).
  

This course is designed for students with a solid foundation in medieval thought. Students without this background should contact the instructor to discuss additional readings and materials that will be added to their examination program.

 

For NON-attending students:

NON-attending students are invited to supplement the exam program with the reading of one of the following texts:

• P. Porro, Tommaso d'Aquino. Un profilo storico-filosofico, Carocci, Roma 2019;
• S. Vanni Rovighi, Introduzione a Tommaso d'Aquino, Laterza, Bari 2016;
• J. Weisheipl, Tommaso d'Aquino. Vita, pensiero, opere, Jaca Book, Milano 2017.

Teaching methods

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

Some texts indicated in the bibliography, as well as any outlines or slides presented in class, will be made available on Virtuale. It is therefore recommended to wait for the beginning of the course before obtaining the texts.

The lectures will NOT be recorded.

Assessment methods

Oral Examination. It is recommended to bring the texts of Albert the Great to the exam, as part of the test will consist of reading and commenting on them.

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.

 

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.

 

Exam sessions

During the 2025/2026 academic year (1st october 2025 - 30th september 2026), exam sessions are scheduled in the following months: May, June, July, September.

Teaching tools

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

The lectures will NOT be recorded.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Colli