HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL LOGIC AND SEMANTICS

Within the broader framework of the history of philosophy, but also in view of in-depth studies of logic and semantics, this course proposes the thorough analysis of a logical topic through a selection of relevant medieval authors. This year, we will address the question: "What is meaning and the capacity for meaning?". We will tackle this key issue in the history of medieval logic at the crossroads between the late antique Greek tradition and the Latin and Arabic traditions. More specifically, we will analyse the answers of three pivotal figures in the history of medieval philosophy: Boethius (the commentaries to Aristotle's Peri Hermeneias), Abelard (Glossae to Porphyry's Isagoge and Aristotle's Peri Hermeneias), and Avicenna (Ibn Sīnā, Book of Healing, Logic, Book of Interpretation - Kitāb al-Šifāʾ, Manṭiq, Kitāb al-ʿIbāra). For each of these authors, the relevant passages will be addressed in class, and some texts from the secondary literature will be discussed. The perspective is both historical and analytical.

By the end of the course, students are expected to have acquired a thorough knowledge of the subject covered; the skills necessary for understanding - both historically and conceptually - medieval philosophical texts; and a mastery of the historical development of logical and philosophical themes. They will have developed a technical vocabulary and skills useful for the analytical examination of philosophical texts, not only medieval ones.

Although there are no compulsory prerequisites, a basic knowledge of the history of medieval philosophy is an asset, as is having already tackled the analytical study of some ancient, medieval, modern or contemporary philosophical texts, especially in the logical or metaphysical domains. A working knowledge of Latin will allow to have direct access to textual sources in their original language and not just in translation, but is not imperative. A good command of academic English is also recommended for engaging with secondary literature.

"What is meaning and the capacity for meaning?" In this course we will address three medieval answers to this question, spanning the Latin and Arabo-Islamic contexts, namely that of Boethius (commentaries on Aristotle's Peri Hermeneias), Avicenna (reworking Aristotle's Peri Hermeneias in the Book of Healing, Kitāb al-Šifāʾ, Manṭiq, Kitāb al-ʿIbāra I.1 ) and Abelard (Glossae to Porphyry's Isagoge and Aristotle's Peri Hermeneias). For each of the authors mentioned, the relevant passages will be read and discussed in class, together with some texts from the secondary literature.

PRIMARY SOURCES:
- Boethius, a selection of passages from his commentaries on Aristotle's Peri Hermeneias given by the teacher.
- Avicenna, reworking of Aristotle's Peri Hermeneias in the Book of Healing, Kitāb al-Šifāʾ, Manṭiq, Kitāb al-ʿIbāra I.1, Italian translation provided by the teacher.
- Abelard, a selection of passages from: Glossae on Porphyry's Isagoge (translation by Bruno Maioli) and on Aristotle's Peri Hermeneias (an unpublished Italian translation by C. Tarlazzi will be available on Moodle).

SECONDARY LITERATURE:
In addition to primary literature:
(a) an article on Boethius, one on Anselm and one of Abelard, from a selection of articles indicated by the teacher before the beginning of the course;
(b) for a general background, either: Luisa Valente, Filosofie e filosofi nel medioevo. Essere, felicità, linguaggio, con la collaborazione di Massimiliano Lenzi, Le Monnier Università, 2023, ISBN: 9788800746564 (the chapters on Boethius, Anselm and Abelard), or: Handbook of the History of Logic. Volume 2. Medieval and Renaissance Logic, edited by D. M. Gabbay and J. Woods, North Holland, Amsterdam 2008 (in particular the chapters on "Logic before 1100: The Latin Tradition" by J. Marenbon and "Peter Abelard and His Contemporaries" di I. Wilks). (This volume is available in the BAUM library).

A written essay (on one of the topics discussed) should be presented at least one week before the exam; this will be followed by an oral discussion.

A general introduction, followed by analysis of relevant texts, and discussion of their interpretation.

Italian

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written and oral