2017/2018

2017/2018

DM270

M-FIL/07 (HISTORY OF ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY)

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES

PHILOSOPHY

PERCORSO COMUNE

1°

1st semester (25/09/2017 - 10/01/2018)

6

36 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 an examination on this subject.

Lectures aim at the presentation of a theoretical problem in the field of Ancient Thought, which will be analysed also from the historical and cultural points of view.

The origins of the society and culture in the Greek Thought of V and IV Century B.C.

The origin of human society and culture is a very prominent topic in Greek ethical and political thought in the fifth and fourth Century B. C. Lectures will deal with texts referring to this debate from a twofold point of view: some present human history as a progress towards a better way of life, others, on the contrary, point out that human history has to be understood as an unceasing regress from a perfect and blessed origin.
First of all, some texts of the Greek poetical tradition (e. g. tragedy) will be taken into account, then some texts belonging to the Sophistic movement will be analysed. Plato' theories on the origin of the society in the Republic and in the Laws and Aristotle's theory on the origin of the city in book 1 of the Politics will be also examined.

After some introductory lessons, the course will be organized as a seminar. Students will be assigned some themes to be analyzed with a specific bibliography.
Students are therefore requested to attend classes.

Texts

Hesiod, Works and days,vv-106-201

Aeschylus, Prometheus bound, vv. 476- 506

Sophocles, Antigone, vv. 333-375

Plato, Protagoras, 320 d- 322 d

Plato, Republic, book 2, 396 b- 373 e

Plato. Laws, book 3 676 a- 682 e

Aristotle, Politics. book 1, chapters 1 e 2


2. Bibliography

G. B. Kerferd, I sofisti, Il Mulino, Bologna 1988, cap. XI

G. Cambiano, Platone e le tecniche, Einaudi, Torino 1971, cap. I

S, Campese - L. L. Canino, La genesi della polis in M. Vegetti ( a cura di), Platone. La Repubblica, traduzione e commento, vol II, libri II e III, pp. 285-332

S. Gastaldi, La semplicità dei primi uomini: l'immagine delle origini nel libro III delle “Legg”i di Platone (this text will be provided by the teacher)

S. Gastaldi, L'origine della città nella “Politica” di Aristotele (this text will be provided by the teacher))

W, Kullmann, L'uomo come animale politico, in Id., Il pensiero politico di Aristotele, Guerini e Associati, Milano 1992, pp. 37-61.

Students have to discuss a report, which will be assessed by the teacher.
Students who have not discussed such a report will take an oral examination on the topics analyzed during the lectures or study an alternative program agreed with the teacher.

Students who can not attend classes are invited ti contact the teacher.