HISTORY OF ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY

The course is part of the more general framework of the history of philosophy and aims to study in depth authors, themes and problems of Greek and Roman thought. The course aims to study, in particular, from a historical and analytical perspective a specific theme, through the reading and commentary of one or more classical philosophical texts, in translation with the original text opposite, as well as to explain their relevance for the further developments of the philosophical thought.The teaching constitutes the first part of a 12 cfu course. The first part is held during the third term; the second part during the fourth one.

By the end of the course, students should possess
1) a thorough knowledge of the author, the subject matter and the texts dealt with.
2) a technical and specific terminology.
2) the ability to apply the acquired knowledge to the critical study of philosophical texts; to discuss theoretical and exegetical issues and solutions in an argued and relevant manner;
3) the ability to expound and communicate comprehensively and effectively in oral and written form the contents learned.

Have a basic knowledge of the history of ancient, Hellenistic and late ancient philosophy acquired through the study of a good textbook (recommended F. Ferrari, La filosofia antica, Le Monnier Universitaria, Milano 2024).

The course, which consists of two 6 cfu modules, will be devoted as a whole to the study of ancient hedonism, that is, to the analysis of the main arguments for and against the identification of the human good with pleasure developed within the framework of ancient ethical theories. This first module, more specifically, will be divided into three parts. Through the analysis of fragments and testimonies, the theories of pleasure of Democritus, Empedocles, Antisthenes and Aristippus will be treated. In the second part, the texts in which Plato discusses pleasure, its consequences, and its relation to virtue and the Good will be examined: Protagoras, Gorgias, Phaedo, Republic, Timaeus. In the third part, finally, in the light of the reading of the Philebus, Plato's position will be reconstructed with respect to the internal debates within the Academy originating in the confrontation between Eudoxus and Speusippus.

Platone, Protagora, trad. di F. Adorno, Feltrinelli, Milano.
Platone, Gorgia, trad. it. di D. Zucca, Rizzoli, Milano.
Platone, Fedone, trad. it. F. Trabattoni, Einaudi, Torino.
Platone, Repubblica, trad. it. M. Vegetti, BUR, Milano.
Platone, Timeo, trad. it di F. Fronterotta, BUR, Milano

Altri testi di letteratura critica saranno indicati a lezione

Preparation will be tested by a thirty minutes examination interview in which the historical-philosophical comprehension of the themes addressed, the acquisition of a technical vocabulary; the logical-argumentative ability applied to the analysis of the texts will be ascertained. The presentation and discussion of a paper will be requested.

oral

Grading will be determined by
historical and philosophical understanding of the topics addressed: up to 10 points;
writing and presentation of a paper: up to 10 points;
acquisition of specialist vocabulary: up to 5 points;
logical argumentative ability applied to the analysis of texts: up to 5 points.

Lectures, seminars, conferences

Guidance will be given on how to write and present a paper
Materials will be available in Moodle from the first day of class