HISTORY OF ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY

The course is part of the more general framework of the history of philosophy and aims to study in depth authors, themes and problems of Greek and Roman thought. The course aims to study, in particular, from a historical and analytical perspective a specific theme, through the reading and commentary of one or more classical philosophical texts, in translation with the original text opposite, as well as to explain their relevance for the further developments of the philosophical thought.The teaching constitutes the first part of a 12 cfu course. The first part is held during the first term; the second part during the second one.

By the end of the course, students should possess
1) a thorough knowledge of the author, the subject matter and the texts dealt with.
2) a technical and specific terminology.
2) the ability to apply the acquired knowledge to the critical study of philosophical texts; to discuss theoretical and exegetical issues and solutions in an argued and relevant manner;
3) the ability to expound and communicate comprehensively and effectively in oral and written form the contents learned.

Have a basic knowledge of the history of ancient, Hellenistic and late ancient philosophy acquired through the study of a good textbook (recommended F. Ferrari, La filosofia antica, Le Monnier Universitaria, Milano 2024).

The teaching will be devoted to the study of Platonic philosophy and the Timaeus in particular. After a general review of the main themes of Plato's philosophy, the main themes of the dialogue will be addressed through the reading and commentary of some relevant passages: its status in the Platonic corpus and in Plato's philosophy; dramatic context and characters, the proem and dialectical principles; analogical models; the status of the verisimilitude narrative; the operations of intelligence; the model of the universe; the construction of the cosmos; the soul of the cosmos; the generation of time; the immortal soul; necessity; matter and physical bodies; the generation of man; the ethical implications of Platonic cosmology (virtue, vice, assimilation to god). Special attention will be paid to the psychological theory and philosophy of the human being that emerges from the work.

F. M. Petrucci, Platone, Timeo con introduzione di F. Ferrari, Fondazione Lorenzo Valla, Milano
Altri testi saranno indicati a lezione

Preparation will be tested by
1) active participation in the discussion of the texts read and commented in the classroom (up to 2 points);
2) the presentation during the course of one of the in-depth bibliographical studies that will be indicated in class (up to 3 points);
3) the writing of a paper (up to 10 points);
4) an examination interview in which, trough the discussion of the paper, the historical-philosophical comprehension of the themes addressed, the acquisition of a technical vocabulary; the logical-argumentative ability applied to the analysis of the texts will be ascertained (up to 20 points).

Lectures, seminars, conferences

Italian

Guidance will be given on how to organise a presentation and how to write a paper
Materials will be available in Moodle from the first day of class

oral