Philosophy

Stooping to the past: Aristotle and ‘his’ history of philosophy? After a general presentation of ancient thought's methods of reconstructing the past with respect to various philosophically relevant thematic cores (4 hours), the course will focus on the reading and timely commentary of the first book of Aristotle's Metaphysics (20 hours). The analysis of Aristotle's peculiar approach to the doctrines of his predecessors will be carried out not only within the frame of reference of the entire Metaphysics (4 hours), but also against the backdrop of the broader Aristotelian system of thought (6 hours). Finally, special attention will be devoted to the examination of the theoretical positions that Aristotle dialectically deals with and that he consciously bends to his historiographical interests on more than one occasion, in an attempt to highlight their genuine historical physiognomy and the weight they had in the development of ancient philosophy (individual reports of the participants: 6 hours).

A knowledge corresponding to the level of the bachelor’s degree in philosophy is required. Also required: general knowledge of the history of philosophy with special focus on the history of ancient philosophy.

1. Aristotele. Metafisica. Libri A, α, B, introduzione, traduzione e commento di R. Loredana Cardullo, Carocci, Roma 2014. 2. E. Berti, Profilo di Aristotele, Studium, Roma 2012. 3. J. Sellars, Sette brevi lezioni su Aristotele, Einaudi, Torino 2024. 4. P. Donini, La Metafisica di Aristotele. Introduzione alla lettura, Carocci, Roma 2007. 5. G. Cambiano, I filosofi in Grecia e Roma. Quando pensare era un modo di vivere, Il Mulino, Bologna 2013.

Attending the course is highly recommended.

Besides the active participation during the course, the exam will be oral. Its average duration will be 30 minutes. In order to pass the exam the student must: 1. Know the principal doctrines of the authors examined; 2. Be able to deeply and critically read the Stoic texts analyzed during the course; 3. Be able to adequately master the technical and specialistic lexicon of the authors examined; 4. Be able to treat with precision and accuracy the most important theoretical junctures of Aristotle's peculiar reconstruction of the thought of his predecessors; 5. Be able to critically and originally argue from/about various texts, themes and problems examined. Necessary condition for passing the exam is the fulfilment of points 1 and 2. Notes over 27/30 will be attributed to students whose performances fulfill all the points indicated above.

Besides frontal classes, the course will be structured as a seminar with active participation on the side of attending students (oral and written reports).