HISTORY OF HELLENISTIC AND ROMAN PHILOSOPHY SP.

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.

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 course will be devoted, as a whole, to the study of ancient hedonism, that is, to the analysis of the main arguments for and against identifying the human good with pleasure, as developed within the framework of ancient ethical theories. More specifically, the module will be divided into four parts. Through the analysis of fragments and testimonies, the theories of pleasure of Democritus, Empedocles, Antisthenes, and Aristippus will be examined. In the second part, the texts in which Plato discusses pleasure, its consequences, and its relationship with virtue and the Good will be analyzed: Protagoras, Gorgias, Phaedo, Republic. Through the reading of selected passages from the Philebus, Plato’s position regarding the debates within the Academy—arising from the confrontation between Eudoxus and Speusippus—will be reconstructed.
In the third part, Aristotle’s treatments of pleasure in Books VII and X of the Nicomachean Ethics will be examined. Finally, in the fourth part, the theme of Epicurean hedonism will be addressed in light of a reading of the Letter to Menoeceus and selected secondary sources (e.g., Lucretius, De rerum natura; Cicero, De finibus; Diogenes of Oenoanda).

Platone, Protagora, trad. di F. Adorno, Feltrinelli, Milano.
Platone, Gorgia, trad. it. di D. Zucca, Rizzoli, Milano.
Platone, Fedone, trad. it. F. Trabattoni, Einaudi, Torino.
Platone, Repubblica, trad. it. M. Vegetti, BUR, Milano.
Platone, Timeo, trad. it di F. Fronterotta, BUR, Milano
Platone, Filebo, trad. it di M. Migliori, Bompiani, Milano
Aristotele, Etica Nicomachea, trad. it. di C. Natali, Bari-Roma
Epicuro, Opere, trad. it di G. Arrighetti, Torino

Altri testi di letteratura critica saranno indicati a lezione

Preparation will be tested by a thirty minutes examination interview in which 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.

oral

The lecturer has a duty to ensure that the rules regarding the authenticity and originality of exam tests and papers are respected. Therefore, if there is suspicion of irregular conduct, an additional assessment may be conducted, which could differ from the original exam description.

Grading will be determined by
historical and philosophical understanding of the topics addressed: up to 10 points;
writing and presentation of a paper: up to 10 points;
acquisition of specialist vocabulary: up to 5 points;
logical argumentative ability applied to the analysis of texts: up to 5 points.

Lectures, seminars, conferences

Materials will be available in Moodle from the first day of class