HISTORY OF HELLENISTIC AND ROMAN PHILOSOPHY - I

The course is part of the more general domain of the history of philosophy. It is characterized by the particular evidence it gives to the schools of thought of the Hellenistic period and to the re-elaboration in the Roman world of Greek thought and doctrines.
Teaching will proceed according to the following path:
A) Probing, in a theoretic-problematic way, some topics of Hellenistic and Roman philosophy
B) Setting up of a scientifically correct and efficacious survey method.
C) Perfecting of the dialectical technique
D) Reading of texts in their original language and in translation

The student will master the research tools in the historical-philosophical field and will reach a thorough knowledge of the key points of the Hellenistic, Roman and late ancient philosophical tradition. He will demonstrate to be able to reflect on the topics of ancient thought also in reference to the contemporary world.

A basic knowledge of the History of Ancient Philosophy is required.
A basic knowledge of classical languages is also desirable.
It is not necessary to have followed the course and taken the exam of "History of Ancient Philosophy"

The Hellenistic and Roman Philosophy.
Stoicism in Greece and in Rom.
Otium: between Epicurus, Cicero and Seneca
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A) - S. Maso, Filosofia a Roma. Dalla riflessione sui principi all’arte della vita, Roma : Carocci
B) - Epicuro, Lettere, sulla fisica, sul cielo e sulla felicità, a cura di N. Russello, Milano : BUR
C) - Cicerone, La vecchiaia, l’amicizia, a cura di G. Petrone, N. Marini, Milano : Garzanti
D) - Seneca, La fermezza del saggio / la vita ritirata a cura di N. Lanzarone, Milano : BUR
E) - S. Maso, ‘Romanum otium’: la prospettiva pubblica della ricerca interiore secondo Cicerone e Seneca, in Antiquorum Philosophia, 17 (2023), pp. 173-189

F) - S. Maso, 2007, «Epicuri mentionem facis et audes dicere μὴ πολιτεύεσθαι?» Cicerone, Epicuro e l'incoerenza nella politica, in La personalità filosofica di M. Tullio Cicerone (a cura di P. Ciaravolo), Roma : Aracne, pp. 197-209

G) Choice of one of the following proposals:

- G. Roskam, Live unnoticed, Λάθε βιώσας. On the Vicissitudes of an Epicurean Doctrine, Leiden: Brill, 2007,ch. 2: Epicurus pp. 29-66
- M. Graver, Seneca and the contemplatio veri. ‘De otio’ and the ‘Epistulae morales’, in Theoria, Praxis and the Contemplative Life after Plato and Aristotle, Th. Bénathouïl & M. Bonazzi (eds.), Leiden-Boston : Brill, 2012, pp. 75-100.
- S. Maso, Cicero’s Philosophy, Berlin/Boston : De Gruyter 2022, «Problems in Cicero’s Philosophy», pp. 75-107
- S. Maso, Lo sguardo della verità. Cinque studi su Seneca, Padova : Il Poligrafo 1999
Cap. 1: La trasparenza della verità
Cap. 2: Maiores in Seneca
Cap. 4: Sibi fidere. Seneca tra otium e constantia

The student has to show a detailed knowledge of the historical period concerning Hellenistic, Roman, and Late Antiquity Philosophy. A deep knowledge of the main philosophical topics is required. His preparation will be tested through an oral interview and the discussion of a term paper.

Regarding the grading scale for the oral exam:
A. Scores in the range of 18-22 will be assigned for:
- Sufficient knowledge of the textbooks and related topics
- Limited ability to use data and form independent judgments
- Sufficient communication skills.

B. Scores in the range of 23-26 will be assigned for:
- Fair knowledge of the textbooks and related topics
- Fair ability to use data and form independent judgments
- Fair communication skills.

C. Scores in the range of 27-30 will be assigned for:
- Good or excellent knowledge of the textbooks and related topics
- Good or excellent ability to use data and form independent judgments
- Fully appropriate communication skills.

D. The “laude” will be awarded to students with excellent knowledge and comprehension of the textbooks and related topics.

The course is developed according to a historical and chronological, and thematic perspective too.
We practice a close analysis of some classical texts.

Italian

For other informations, www.philosophia-ve.it/universita

Accessibilità, disabilità e inclusione
Ca’ Foscari applica la Legge Italiana (Legge 17/1999; Legge 170/2010) per i servizi di supporto e di accomodamento disponibili agli studenti con disabilità o con disturbi specifici dell’apprendimento. Se hai una disabilità motoria, visiva, dell’udito o altre disabilità (Legge 17/1999) o un disturbo specifico dell’apprendimento (Legge 170/2010) e richiedi supporto (assistenza in aula, ausili tecnologici per lo svolgimento di esami o esami individualizzati, materiale in formato accessibile, recupero appunti, tutorato specialistico a supporto dello studio, interpreti o altro) contatta l’ufficio Disabilità e DSA disabilita@unive.it.

written and oral