HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY

This course takes place in the third period (January-March), and it belongs to the more general domain of History of Philosophy. We shall investigate several issues in medieval philosophy, with special interest for logic and metaphysics. The course shall include:
A) Introduction to History of Medieval Philosophy.
B) The main features of Medieval Philosophy and of its main traditions across the Mediterranean.
C) Study, in some detail, of crucial problems of Medieval Philosophy, especially in the Latin tradition.
D) Analysis of a key text of Medieval Philosophy.

Students shall acquire skills for philosophical analysis. By means of analysing medieval philosophical texts and participating in group discussions, they shall deepen their knowledge of European medieval philosophy.

Some knowledge of the main topics of History of Philosophy is required.

Terminology and basic concepts of Medieval Philosophy.
Introduction to history of Medieval Philosophy.
Nicholas of Cusa: De docta ignorantia.

Introduction to History of Medieval Philosophy.
A) - K. Flash, Introduzione alla filosofia medioevale, Torino : Einaudi 2002 (one chapter)
B) - Filosofia medievale, a cura di M. Bettetini, L. Bianchi, C. Marmo, P. Porro, Milano : Raffaello Cortina 2004 (chapters on Augustine, Boethius, Pseudo-Dionysius, Avicenna, Anselm, Abelard, Averroes, Bonaventure, Thomas Aquinas, Meister Eckhart, William of Ockham)
C) - A. Kenny, Nuova storia della filosofia occidentale Vol II: Filosofia medievale, Torino : Einaudi 2012, either cap. V La fisica; OR cap. VIII, L’etica. Alternatively: I. Sciuto, L'etica nel Medioevo, Torino : Einaudi 2007, cap. I: L’eredità del mondo antico; OR cap. VIII: Per un’etica della retta ragione: Domenicani e Francescani.

For further investigation:
S. Maso, Lingua philosophica Graeca, Milano : Mimesis 2010.
J. Marenbon, Medieval Philosophy. A Very Short Introduction, Oxford: Oxford University Press 2016.

Monographic section
The gnoseological and ontological problemsto be found in De docta ignorantia by Nicholas of Cusa.

A) N. Cusano, La dotta ignoranza, Le congetture, (a cura di G. Santinello) Milano : Rusconi 1988
Or, alternatively : N. Cusano, Opere filosofiche, teologiche e matematiche. Testo latino a fronte, Milano : Bompiani 2017
Or, alternatively : N. Cusano, La dotta ignoranza, a cura di F. Vescovini, Città Nuova ed. 1998

B) D. Moran, Nicholas of Cusa and modern philosophy, in The Cambridge Companion to Renaissance Philosophy, (ed. J. Hankins) : Cambridge University Press, 2007, pp. 173-92.
Alternatively: G. Santinello, Introduzione a Niccolò Cusano Bari : Laterza 2008

Oral exam.
A) Discussions of some crucial themes characterizing history of medieval philosophy. Students shall show awareness of medieval philosophy and its history in more general terms.
B) Analysis of topics in the medieval texts examined.
C) The discussion of arguments raised by secondary literature.

Exposition by the lecturer, and collective discussion of the main topics mentioned in the programme.
Attending conferences on medieval philosophy organised at the Department of Philosophy, Ca' Foscari University.
In depth-analysis of some classical texts.

In more detail, students are encouraged to attend the following cycles of conferences:
- "Quaestiones Quodlibetales"
- "Venice Lectures in Medieval Philosophy"

Italian

One module of 30 hours.
Students who cannot attend lectures must agree their programme with the lecturer.
For more information, please contact prof. Stefano Maso and dr. Caterina Tarlazzi

Two cycles of conferences have been scheduled, in connection with this course: "Quaestiones Quodlibetales" and "Venice Lectures in Medieval Philosophy".

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development