Philosophy

Lucretius’ Philosophy. The course aims to examine Lucretius’ “De Rerum Natura” not merely as a sublime literary work within the Latin literary tradition but as a genuinely philosophical and scientific poem. Accordingly, the lectures will focus on a comprehensive reading and commentary of the “De Rerum Natura”, analysing the distinctive manner in which Lucretius (with notable originality) presents the complex philosophy of Epicurus to the late Republican Roman audience. The Lucretian poem is not a mere translation of Epicurean thought into Latin; rather, it is, first and foremost—and as its title suggests—a work of physics, likely influenced by Epicurus’ masterpiece, the 37 books of the “Peri Physeos”. While not neglecting the ethical dimension of the Epicurean system, the course will primarily delve into Lucretius’ epistemology and natural science, engaging in a rigorous comparison with key Epicurean texts, most notably the “Letter to Herodotus”.

General knowledge of the history of philosophy with special focus on ancient philosophy.

1.1. R. Chiaradonna-P. Pecere (a cura di), Filosofia: La ricerca della conoscenza, Vol. 1A: Dalle origini ad Aristotele, Mondadori, Milano 2018. 1.2. R. Chiaradonna-P. Pecere (a cura di), Filosofia: La ricerca della conoscenza, Vol. 1B: Dall’Ellenismo al tardo Medioevo, Mondadori, Milano 2018, esclusivamente le Unità 5 (L’età ellenistica) e 6 (La tarda antichità). [Students who have already taken a History of Ancient Philosophy exam with the teacher will replace the handbook with one of the following volumes: 1. D. Sedley, Lucretius and the Transformation of Greek Wisdom, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1998. 2. D. Sedley, Creazionismo: Il dibattito antico da Anassagora a Galeno, a cura di F. Verde, Carocci, Roma 2011. 3. M. Beretta, Filosofia e scienza nell’antica Roma, Carocci, Roma 2015.] 2. Epicuro: Epistola a Erodoto, Introd. di E. Spinelli, Trad. e comm. di F. Verde, Carocci, Roma 2010. 3. Lucrezio: La natura, a cura di F. Giancotti, Garzanti, Milano 1994. 4. F. Verde, Epicuro, Carocci, Roma 2013. 5. C. Rover, Lucrezio e il criterio di verità epicureo, De Gruyter, Berlin-Boston 2025. 6. L. Canfora, Vita di Lucrezio, Sellerio, Palermo 2024. 7. R. Cubeddu-F. Verde (a cura di), Epicureismo antico e moderno, Lithos, Roma 2025 (only two chapters need to be chosen).

Attending the course is highly recommended.

The evaluation consists of both a written and an oral examination. In addition to active participation in class, students in the written and oral exams must show that they: 1. know the fundamental doctrines and topics of the authors of the history of ancient philosophy from the so-called Presocratics to the end of Antiquity; 2. can critically analyze Lucretius’ ‘De rerum natura’ and the other texts examined during the course in its historical-philosophical entirety and breadth. The satisfaction of point 1 is the necessary condition for passing the exam. Marks above 27/30 will be awarded to students who fulfil points 1 and 2. The exam consists of a single written test and a following oral test (on different dates): the written test will be held at the end of the course and will cover only the handbook part. The written test will last 90 minutes, and the oral test no more than 30 minutes. Students who pass the written test can access the oral test (on one of the available exam dates), which will only cover the monographic part. Students who for various reasons are unable to participate in the written test will take a single oral exam of at least 45 minutes that will cover both the handbook and the monographic parts.

Reading guides and introductions to the thought and specific works of the authors on the programme.

Lectures with reconstruction of the context and reading, analysis and commentary of the texts. Reference will be made to the original texts. Active student participation is highly encouraged and will be stimulated throughout the lessons.

Lucretius’ Philosophy. The course aims to examine Lucretius’ “De Rerum Natura” not merely as a sublime literary work within the Latin literary tradition but as a genuinely philosophical and scientific poem. Accordingly, the lectures will focus on a comprehensive reading and commentary of the “De Rerum Natura”, analysing the distinctive manner in which Lucretius (with notable originality) presents the complex philosophy of Epicurus to the late Republican Roman audience. The Lucretian poem is not a mere translation of Epicurean thought into Latin; rather, it is, first and foremost—and as its title suggests—a work of physics, likely influenced by Epicurus’ masterpiece, the 37 books of the “Peri Physeos”. While not neglecting the ethical dimension of the Epicurean system, the course will primarily delve into Lucretius’ epistemology and natural science, engaging in a rigorous comparison with key Epicurean texts, most notably the “Letter to Herodotus”.

General knowledge of the history of philosophy with special focus on ancient philosophy.

1.1. R. Chiaradonna-P. Pecere (a cura di), Filosofia: La ricerca della conoscenza, Vol. 1A: Dalle origini ad Aristotele, Mondadori, Milano 2018. 1.2. R. Chiaradonna-P. Pecere (a cura di), Filosofia: La ricerca della conoscenza, Vol. 1B: Dall’Ellenismo al tardo Medioevo, Mondadori, Milano 2018, esclusivamente le Unità 5 (L’età ellenistica) e 6 (La tarda antichità). [Students who have already taken a History of Ancient Philosophy exam with the teacher will replace the handbook with one of the following volumes: 1. D. Sedley, Lucretius and the Transformation of Greek Wisdom, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1998. 2. D. Sedley, Creazionismo: Il dibattito antico da Anassagora a Galeno, a cura di F. Verde, Carocci, Roma 2011. 3. M. Beretta, Filosofia e scienza nell’antica Roma, Carocci, Roma 2015.] 2. Epicuro: Epistola a Erodoto, Introd. di E. Spinelli, Trad. e comm. di F. Verde, Carocci, Roma 2010. 3. Lucrezio: La natura, a cura di F. Giancotti, Garzanti, Milano 1994. 4. F. Verde, Epicuro, Carocci, Roma 2013. 5. C. Rover, Lucrezio e il criterio di verità epicureo, De Gruyter, Berlin-Boston 2025. 6. L. Canfora, Vita di Lucrezio, Sellerio, Palermo 2024. 7. R. Cubeddu-F. Verde (a cura di), Epicureismo antico e moderno, Lithos, Roma 2025 (only two chapters need to be chosen).

Attending the course is highly recommended.

The evaluation consists of both a written and an oral examination. In addition to active participation in class, students in the written and oral exams must show that they: 1. know the fundamental doctrines and topics of the authors of the history of ancient philosophy from the so-called Presocratics to the end of Antiquity; 2. can critically analyze Lucretius’ ‘De rerum natura’ and the other texts examined during the course in its historical-philosophical entirety and breadth. The satisfaction of point 1 is the necessary condition for passing the exam. Marks above 27/30 will be awarded to students who fulfil points 1 and 2. The exam consists of a single written test and a following oral test (on different dates): the written test will be held at the end of the course and will cover only the handbook part. The written test will last 90 minutes, and the oral test no more than 30 minutes. Students who pass the written test can access the oral test (on one of the available exam dates), which will only cover the monographic part. Students who for various reasons are unable to participate in the written test will take a single oral exam of at least 45 minutes that will cover both the handbook and the monographic parts.

Reading guides and introductions to the thought and specific works of the authors on the programme.

Lectures with reconstruction of the context and reading, analysis and commentary of the texts. Reference will be made to the original texts. Active student participation is highly encouraged and will be stimulated throughout the lessons.