GREEK ORIGINS OF EUROPEAN PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHT

The course takes place in the second period (November / December) and is the direct completion of what was dealt with in the first module (September/ October): for a total of 12 ECTS. In particular we will face the study of a fundamental work of ancient philosophy, so that the students, through reading, analysis and common discussion, can reach a deep knowledge of ancient philosophical thought. The comparison with the contemporary approach to the same problems will allow us to appreciate the value of the Western philosophical tradition.

The student:
- will know a fundamental text of Greek philosophical culture in depth,
- will master the tools to proceed in the philosophical investigation, also using secondary literature,
- will be able to effectively argue on the topics faced,
- will be able to contextualize what has been learned with respect to the historical period,
- will be able to proceed to the conceptualization of the problems faced.

The success on the course of [FM0398-1] GREEK ORIGINS OF EUROPEAN PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHT I is required.
A basic knowledge of classical languages is also desired.

General theme:
Epicureanism between Greece and Rome.
The last book of De rerum natura: «Naturae species ratioque»

After reading the first part of the sixth book of Lucretius, which deals with physics issues, we will focus on the theme of the 'plague'. We will refer not only to the description of the plague in Thucydides, but also to its revival both in the ancient (Seneca) and in the humanistic and modern fields (Boccaccio, Camus).

A) – Epicuro, Lettere, Sulla fisica, sul cielo e sulla felicità, pref. di F. Adorno, a cura di N. Russello, Milano : Rizzoli
– Lucrezio, La natura delle cose, Introd. di G. B. Conte, trad. di L. Canali, testo e commento di I. Dionigi, Milano : Rizzoli


B) Choice of one of these proposals:

– M. Beretta, La rivoluzione culturale di Lucrezio, Roma : Carocci 2015
Cap. 6: Il nuovo ordine dell’universo
Cap. 7: Evoluzione e progresso

Or:

– S. Maso, Capire e dissentire, Cicerone e la filosofia di Epicuro, Napoli, Bibliopolis 2008,
Cap. 2: La critica della fisica epicurea
Cap. 6: Sul quadrifarmaco e sul dolore

C) Choice of two of the following essays:
(These essays will be available on moodle)

- Chris Eckerman, Lucretius’ self-positioning in the history of roman Epicureanism
- Walter Lapini, L’epistola a Erodoto e il bios di Epicuro in Diogene Laerzio
- Pierre-Marie Morel, Aspetti della necessità in Epicuro
- Francesco Verde, Monismo psicologico e dottrina dell’anima in Epicuro e Lucrezio, in Anima-corpo alla luce dell’etica, E. Canone (a cura di), Firenze, Olschki, pp. 49-64
- Monte R. Johnson – Catherine Wilson, Lucretius and the History of the Science, in The Cambridge Companion to Lucretius. S. Gillespie – Ph. Hardie (eds.), Cambridge : Cambridge University Press 2007, pp. 131-148
- Monte R. Johnson, Nature, Spontaneity, and Voluntary Action in Lucretius, in Lucretius: Poetry, Philosophy, Science, Daryn Lehoux, A. D. Morrison & Alison Sharrock (eds.), Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2013, pp. 99-130.
- Stefano Maso, La causa di ciò che è e di ciò che diviene secondo Epicuro, in Materia e causa materiale in Aristotele e oltre, C. Viano (ed.), Roma : Ediz. di Storia e Letteratura, 2016, pp. 99-122.
- Manuel Galzerano, La fine del mondo nel sesto libro, in La fine del mondo nel ‘De rerum natura’ di Lucrezio, Berlin/Boston, De Gruyter 2019, pp. 202-243

Participation in class reports and discussions.
Oral exam.
The student has to show a closed knowledge of Epicurus’ Letters and Lucretius’ De rerum natura. In particular, a paper prepared by the student during the seminar activities will be discussed.

The course is developed in two sections; the second one is structured in a seminar way.
Occasional participation to the conferences of the Ca' Foscari's visiting professors will be scheduled.
We practice a close analysis of Epicurus’ Letter, and of VI book of Lucretius’ De rerum natura.

Italian

Handouts and other materials available online. In particular, the required secondary literature essays will be available.
In connection with the course will be scheduled a few days of study in which participants include researchers from European universities. During the course lectures will be given prompt notice of this.

For more information, www.philosophia-ve.it/universita

Accessibility, Disability and Inclusion
Ca' Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

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