Ateneo - UPO

Medieval Philosophy and the reception of Aristotle's corpus.

C. Esposito, P. Porro, Filosofia antica e medievale, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2008, pp. 212ss.
Other material are available on DIR System are intended to help and guide the student but can be used or not, they are not mandatory.
Master’s (LM Filosofia) students have to contact the teacher for special instructions. They are invited to deliver one or two individual seminars during the course.

• knowledge and understanding: Acquire a basic (ie sufficient, 18-22) or advanced (ie discrete grade from 23-27), or advanced (28 to 30L) knowledge of medieval philosophy; acquire the ability to critically read some significant texts of great figures of medieval thought.
• ability to apply knowledge and understanding: Knowing how to orient oneself in the historical context, currents, problems and terminology of medieval thought; knowing how to apply the reading methodologies learned in class to other philosophical texts.
• expression of judgments: Knowing how to select and critically interpret the notions learned in order to formulate autonomous judgments on the topic in question.
• communication skills: Knowing how to present the thought of important medieval authors in a clear and comprehensive way.
• study skills: Knowing how to set up an independent study, acquiring an elementary mastery of primary and secondary literature.

A basic knowledge of History of Greek Ancient Philosophy

Face to face classes
Seminars and discussions

Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects. To facilitate the learning of some basic concepts of medieval thought, some short introductory videos for each author will also be available on the Youtube channel of the previous teacher A. Colli (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwtHnCa1_tOt89jB2XzrwSQ). The contents of the videos will not be examined, but are to be considered as a simple supplementary tool for the student's benefit.

Oral exam, aimed at verifying the entire study program. The test will be successful if the sum of 18/30 is reached or exceeded. For a fair preparation there is a score from 22 to 24, for good preparation, from 25 to 27, for excellent, from 28 to 30, or 30 cum laude. Questions will focus on topics covered in the bibliography, and, for those attending, on the topics discussed during the lessons. The ability of the candidates to integrate the general themes of the discipline and the ability to argue using appropriate terminology will be tested. Please find a list of priority subject matters here below, see "Content" NB For the medieval philosophy exam only, a preliminary candidate's choice of a discussion topic is allowed.

Preliminary Lessons: Aristotle's Corpus, its parts, its general features, the way of its transmission and circulation.
Main Subjects:
Late Antiquity Philosophy as a bridge from Ancient Philosophy to Medieval Philosophy: Late Antiquity: themes, problems, the formation of the Aristotelian corpus and its Neoplatonic exegeses.
Early Christianity and Neoplatonism
The late ancient foundations of logic or medieval 'dialectic': Porphyry and Boethius
Augustine and the theory of grace
Greek philosophy into the Arab world:
The first translations from Greek into Syriac and Arabic
Avicenna
Averroes and his commentaries to Aristotle
Latin translations from Arabic and Aristotle's into the Latin West
The Mendicant orders and the birth of universities
Thomas Aquinas
The condemnation of 1277
Giovanni Duns Scotus
William of Occam and the razoor’s principle
Dante and philosophy

As a suggested supplementary reading: Optional and not mandatory selection of Texts from Esposito Porro vol 1, nos. 6, 7, 8, 10. 17-23, 27. 36.39, 50, 52. 60, 64

A basic knowledge of medieval philosophy, according to measurable levels, from sufficient (minimum disciplinary knowledge) fair (basic knowledge accompanied by more in-depth knowledge areas) good (overall knowledge of the whole program) excellent (knowledge of the whole program with particular ability to re-elaborate and oral communication).
For the respective votes, see Verification Methods. The knowledge required also includes: showing knowledge of the different topics indicated as priorities in a reasonably exhaustive way.
Knowing how to orient oneself in the historical context, in the currents, in the problems and in the terminology of medieval thought; knowing how to apply the reading methodologies learned in class; knowing how to select and critically interpret the notions learned in order to formulate autonomous judgments on the topic in question; knowing how to present the thought of important medieval authors in a clear and exhaustive way.