2009/2010

2009/2010

DM270

M-FIL/07 (HISTORY OF ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY)

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES

PHILOSOPHY

PERCORSO COMUNE

1°

1st semester (01/10/2009 - 13/01/2010)

6

30 lesson hours

Italian

ORAL TEST

GASTALDI SILVIA (titolare) - 6 ECTS

A good knowledge of the history of Ancient Philosophy is required.
Students must have already passed a text in this matter.

Lessons aim at the presentation of a theoretical problem of great importance in the field of ancient thought, which will be analysed also from the historical and cultural points of view.

In the context of ancient philosophy, a significant role is played by reflection on what is the best way of life; that is, what achieves the greatest happiness. In particular, models that are traditionally compared, and evaluated on their merits, are represented by the philosophical and political life.
The course aims to analyse some particularly significant moments in this debate. The main authors examined are Plato, through a reading of parts of the //Gorgias// and //Republic//, and Aristotle, considering passages of his //Nicomachean Ethics //and //Politics //.
The framework will be expanded later to the Hellenistic philosophical schools, which - in light of changing historical conditions - indicate philosophy as the supreme model of a happy life.

Lectures.
It would be desirable that students participate actively in reading and commenting the texts of the Greek authors, as well as in interpreting critical essays.

1. Greek Texts

Plato, //Gorgias//, 484 c- 494 b; //Republic//, book 5, 472 b- 480 a, book 6, 484 a- 498 c

Aristotle, //Nicomachean Ethics//, book 1, chapters 5,8,13; book 10, chapters 6-8; //Politics//, book 7, chapters 1-3.



2, Critical Essays

W. Jaeger, //Genesi e ricorso dell''ideale filosofico della vita//, in Id., //Aristotele//, La Nuova Italia, Firenze 1935, pp. 557-617.

S. Gastaldi, //Il fiilosofo e il politico: generi di vita rivali o conciliabili?// in M. Migliori- L.M. Napolitano Valditara (eds.), //Plato Ethicus//, Morcelliana, Brescia 2008, pp. 143-160

S. Gastaldi, //Bios hairetotatos. Generi di vita e felicità in Aristotele//, Bibliopolis, Napoli 2003, pp. 9-131.

M. Vegetti, //L''etica degli antichi//, Laterza, Roma- Bari 1989, chapters 7 and 8.

Students will sit an oral examination on the topics covered during the course.