2014/2015

2016/2017

DM270

M-FIL/07 (HISTORY OF ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY)

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES

PHILOSOPHY

PERCORSO COMUNE

3°

1st semester (26/09/2016 - 11/01/2017)

6

36 lesson hours

ITALIAN

ORAL TEST

GASTALDI SILVIA (titolare) - 12 ECTS

It is important that all students know, at least in broad outline, the major historical events of the period between the birth of the polis and the end of the Roman Empire, in order to place the authors and philosophical movements in their chronological context.

Part one:
This part of the course aims at introducing some of the most important theoretical themes and of the main historical traditions of the History of Ancient Philosophy.

Part One

Introduction to the history of ancient philosophy

Lectures will introduce students to main authors and major philosophical movements that characterize the development of ancient thought, from its origins to Neoplatonism. Lectures will be accompanied by the reading of passages from the most important philosophical texts.

Part Two

Plato's Phaedo

The following topics will be analyzed:
. Plato's Phaedo and the death of Socrates
. The image of Socrates as a true philosopher
. Philosophy as "practice for dying" and the opposition between body and soul
. The arguments for the soul's immortality
. The myth about the Afterlife

Lectures
Questions and comments are welcome.

Part one

M. Vegetti- L. Fonnesu, Le ragioni della filosofia,Le Monnier Scuola, vol. 1, unità 1, 2,3, 4, 6, 7.
Students will be provided a list of the passages of the ancient authors, quoted in the book, read and explained by the teacher.

Part two

Text: Platone, Fedone. Si consiglia l'edizione a cura di A. Tagliapietra, Platone. Fedone o sull'anima, Feltrinelli
Critical essays:
M. Bonelli, Leggere il "Fedone" di Platone, Carocci;
E. Tetamo, La teoria platonica dell'anima nel "Fedone" e negli altri dialoghi, in appendice a A. Tagliapietra, Platone. Fedone, pp. 279-310;
M. Vegetti, Quindici lezioni su Platone, Lezioni 8 e 9 (pp.119-146)
J. Annas, Plato's Myths of Judgement, in "Phronesis" 1982, pp. 119-143.

Concerning the first part of the course, students have to take a written examination. Only those who pass this written test can proceed to the oral examination (second part of the course). Written test involves the discussion of three subjects to be completed in three hours.

Concerning the second part of the course, students will take an oral examination on the topics analysed in the lectures.

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