Ateneo - UPO

Ancient Philosophy, Timeless Philosophy.

The course explores the fundamental concepts that shaped Western philosophical thought and continue to influence contemporary debates in the sciences, the humanities, and public life. Through the close reading of primary texts, especially the Presocratic philosophers and Aristotle, students will reconstruct the emergence, development, and transformation of a shared conceptual language from antiquity to modern and contemporary philosophy. Open to students from different degree programmes, the course is organised as an interactive seminar.

The lecture notes and teaching materials available on the DIR platform are sufficient for preparing the examination. They include an introductory handbook on Ancient Philosophy, a handbook on Aristotle and the Metaphysics with selected texts, and additional materials distributed during the course according to the concepts under discussion.

Recommended reading:

Aristotle, Metaphysics, Italian edition by E. Berti, Laterza, Rome-Bari, 2017 (selected passages).
Additional readings may be suggested during the course.

The same study materials apply to both attending and non-attending students. Students who have never taken a course in Ancient Philosophy may decide to adopt the Storia della Filosofia Antica - programma del corso triennale instead.

The course aims to develop an advanced understanding of the fundamental concepts of ancient philosophy by reconstructing their original meaning, historical context, and subsequent transformations. Through the close reading, analysis, and discussion of primary texts, students will explore how concepts first elaborated in Greek philosophy continue to provide essential tools for philosophical and scientific reasoning. Particular attention will be devoted to the acquisition of precise philosophical terminology, the critical interpretation of sources, and the comparison between ancient thought and contemporary issues. The seminar format also encourages active participation, interdisciplinary dialogue, and the independent presentation and discussion of complex philosophical topics.

No specific prerequisites are required. However, a basic knowledge of the history of ancient philosophy, or of the history of philosophy more generally, is recommended. The course is also open to students from other degree programmes interested in the conceptual foundations of Western culture. Knowledge of Ancient Greek is not required; students who possess it may choose to read and discuss selected texts in the original language.

The course is taught primarily in seminar format. Each concept is explored through the close reading of primary texts followed by collective discussion. Students are encouraged to participate actively, give short presentations, and continue the discussion between meetings through brief written contributions. The course is open to students from different degree programmes and promotes interdisciplinary dialogue.

The course is designed as a Master's-level interdisciplinary elective open to students from different degree programmes interested in the conceptual foundations of Western culture. The same study materials are used by attending and non-attending students. Students with disabilities, learning disabilities, or special educational needs, after contacting the University's support services, are invited to discuss any appropriate examination arrangements with the instructor.

Assessment consists of an oral presentation, in which students are asked to analyse and discuss one or more of the concepts examined during the course, explaining their meaning, historical context, and subsequent developments, starting from a free choice argument.

Assessment will consider:

knowledge of the texts and concepts;
ability to interpret and contextualise philosophical arguments;
quality of critical discussion;
appropriate use of philosophical terminology;
ability to establish connections between ancient philosophy and later philosophical debates.

Achievement will be assessed according to the following levels:

18-22: satisfactory knowledge of the essential contents;
23-27: good understanding of the texts and ability to contextualise and discuss them;
28-30 cum laude: comprehensive mastery of the topics, independent judgement, ability to establish conceptual connections, clarity of presentation, and originality of argument.

English

Ancient Philosophy, Timeless Philosophy: From the Foundational Concepts of Greek Thought to the Formation of a Common Conceptual Language

The course is organised around the analysis of a series of fundamental concepts of ancient philosophy, each of which is examined over one or two class meetings. Every topic is introduced through the close reading of primary texts, primarily from the Presocratic philosophers and Aristotle, followed by a discussion in which students are expected to participate actively. Discussions may continue in written form between classes; when this occurs, a summary is presented at the beginning of the following meeting.

The aim of the course is to reconstruct the emergence and development of the conceptual language of Western philosophy, showing how the principal concepts elaborated in Greek thought have continued to shape philosophical reflection from antiquity to the modern and contemporary periods and, in many cases, to inform present-day scientific debates.

The concepts examined are selected from among those that have played a decisive role in the formation of the conceptual language of Western philosophy and continue to shape contemporary philosophical and scientific discussion. They may include, for example: principle (ἀρχή), logos (λόγος), nature (φύσις), cause (αἰτία), form or species (εἶδος), substance or essence (οὐσία), potentiality (δύναμις), actuality (ἐνέργεια), justice (δικαιοσύνη), democracy (δημοκρατία), friendship (φιλία), happiness (εὐδαιμονία), and envy (φθόνος).

As an example of this approach, the 2025–2026 edition of the course focused on the concept of form/species (εἶδος), later translated into Latin as species. The topic was introduced through a series of guiding questions: Why do species matter? The contemporary paradox of multiple definitions of species; the indispensable role of the concept of species in understanding biodiversity; the modern crisis of the notion of species, from Darwin to Ernst Mayr; and the epistemological significance of the concept of species in contemporary scientific and philosophical thought. Through the reading of ancient texts, the course shows how a concept first elaborated in Greek philosophy continues to provide an indispensable framework for scientific and philosophical inquiry.

The same methodological approach is applied to each of the concepts examined during the course, highlighting their origin, historical development, semantic transformations, and continuing theoretical significance within the Western intellectual tradition.

By the end of the course, students will be able to interpret, discuss, and critically explain a significant selection of concepts, texts, and philosophical problems from ancient philosophy, with particular emphasis on the Presocratic philosophers and Aristotle, reconstructing their origins, historical development, and reception within the Western philosophical tradition. Students who wish may also work directly on selected passages in the original Greek.

Achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed according to progressive levels:

Basic level (Satisfactory): knowledge of the principal concepts, texts, and philosophical problems covered in the course, together with the ability to understand and explain them correctly in their essential aspects.
Intermediate level (Fair): ability to place concepts and texts in their historical and philosophical context, establish connections between authors, texts, and philosophical problems, and discuss the principal interpretative issues.
Good level: broad and coherent knowledge of the topics covered; ability to analyse and interpret philosophical texts critically; appropriate use of philosophical terminology and of the methodological tools of the discipline.
Advanced level (Excellent): comprehensive mastery of the course material; independent judgement; ability to relate ancient concepts to modern and contemporary philosophical debates; and the ability to communicate philosophical arguments with clarity, precision, and originality.