73082 - History of Medieval Philosophy (2) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to lead to a specialized knowledge of medieval thought, with particular reference to epistemological aspects and the interweaving of sources in vernacular, Latin, Greek, Arabic and Hebrew. Starting from concrete historical investigation, which can open up to systematic and conceptual reconstructions, the aim of the teaching is to lead students to move critically within historiographical notions, categories and classifications that, if assumed rigidly, lead to misunderstandings, ideological prejudices and a historical determinism that blocks any freedom of interpretation. Therefore, a return to the texts, the study of semantic variations in theological and philosophical vocabulary and the rigorous sifting of historiographical interpretations and history of concepts and ideas will be decisive.

Course contents

Eternity between physics and theology. A comparison between Dietrich of Freiberg (1250-1310) and Meister Eckhart (c. 1260-c-1327)

Scholastic thought is fascinated by the problem of time: its definition, measurability, connection with motion, and dependence on the soul are all different angles or perspectives through which 13- and 14-century authors question the becoming and transience of physical substances. However, many of these reflections have their raison d'être only when thought of in relation to an even more complicated question: defining and stabilizing what eternity is. It is in the time-eternity dialectical relation that philosophical reflection is forced to cross the boundaries of natural philosophy to come to terms with theological problems and "mystical experiences".

The course aims to reflect on the problem of defining eternity from the writings of two important authors of the German Dominican School who lived between the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th century: Dietrich of Freiberg and Meister Eckhart. Dietrich's De mensuris and Eckhart's commentaries on the Ancient Testament and German Sermons will be examined. The texts will be presented in Italian translation, but synopses with the original language (Latin or Middle German) will also be provided.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Introduction

• A. Colli, Introduzione, in: Teodorico di Freiberg, Durata e tempo. Sulle misure - Sulla natura e proprietà dei continui, Edizioni di Pagina, Bari 2017 (ISBN: 9788874705672), pp. 7-64.
  
  

2. Texts

• Teodorico di Freiberg, Trattato sulle misure, proemio-cap. 2, in: Teodorico di Freiberg, Durata e tempo. Sulle misure - Sulla natura e proprietà dei continui, Edizioni di Pagina, Bari 2017 (ISBN: 9788874705672), pp. 68-91.
  
  
• Meister Eckhart, Commento all'Esodo, cc. 79-86, in: Meister Eckhart, Commenti all'Antico Testamento, a cura di M. Vannini, Bompiani, Milano 2012/2013 (ISBN: 9788845271526), pp. 831-839;
  
  
• Meister Eckhart, Commento alla Sapienza, cc. 291-300, in: Meister Eckhart, Commenti all'Antico Testamento, a cura di M. Vannini, Bompiani, Milano 2012/2013 (ISBN: 9788845271526), pp. 1397-1407;
  
  
• Meister Eckhart, Predica 6 (38), in Meister Eckhart, Le 64 Prediche sul tempo liturgico, Bompiani, Milano 2014 (ISBN: 9788858769072), pp. 81-99.
  
  

3. Critical studies

• A. Beccarisi, Eckhart, Carocci, Roma 2012 (ISBN: 9788843062683).
  
  

and one of the following texts:

• P. Adamson, Eternity in Medieval Philosophy, in: Y.Y. Melamed (ed.), Eternity. A History, Oxford University Press, New York 2016, pp. 75-116;
  
  
• A. Colli, Aevum, aeterna tempora, and tempus generale between history and metaphysics. A note on the Patristic reading of time and duration, in: Freiburger Zeitschrift für Philosophie und Theologie, 70.1 (2023), pp. 229-245;
  
  
• N. Largier, Time and Temporality in the "German Dominican School". Outlines of a Philosophical Debate between Nicolaus of Strasbourg, Dietrich of Freiberg, Eckhart of Hoheim, and Ioannes Tauler, in: P. Porro (ed.), The Medieval Concept of Time. Studies on the Scholastic Debate and its Reception in Early Modern Philosophy, Brill, Leiden 2001, pp. 221-253;
  
  
• P. Porro, Il vocabolario filosofico medievale del tempo e della durata, in R. Capasso - P. Piccari (a cura di), Il tempo nel Medioevo. Rappresentazioni storiche e concezioni filosofiche, Società Italiana di Demodossalogia, Roma 2000, pp. 63-102.
  
  
• C. Steel, The Neoplatonic Doctrine of Time and Eternity and its Influence on Medieval Philosophy, in: P. Porro (ed.), The Medieval Concept of Time. Studies on the Scholastic Debate and its Reception in Early Modern Philosophy, Brill, Leiden 2001, pp. 3-31.
  
  

For NON-attending students:

The following text is recommended reading:

• L. Sturlese, Storia della Filosofia tedesca nel Medioevo. Il secolo XIII, L.S. Olschki, Firenze 1996 (ISBN: 8822243870), pp. 181-275.

Teaching methods

The course includes a series of introductory lectures and subsequent guided reading of the texts under examination.

Some of the texts listed in the bibliography, as well as any slides, will be made available on Virtuale. Therefore, it is advisable to wait until the course begins before obtaining exam materials.

The lectures will NOT be recorded.

Assessment methods

Oral Examination. It is recommended to have the texts with you in the examination.

30 cum laude - Excellent as to knowledge, philosophical lexicon and critical expression.

30 – Excellent: knowledge is complete, well argued and correctly expressed, with some slight faults.

27-29 – Good: thorough and satisfactory knowledge; essentially correct expression.

24-26 - Fairly good: knowledge broadly acquired, and not always correctly expressed.

21-23 – Sufficient: superficial and partial knowledge; exposure and articulation are incomplete and often not sufficiently appropriate

18-20 - Almost sufficient: superficial and decontextualized knowledge. The exposure of the contents shows important gaps.

Exam failed - Students are requested to show up at a subsequent exam session if basic skills and knowledge are not sufficiently acquired and not placed in the historical-philosophical context.

 

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD)

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Difficulties have the right to special adjustments according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the instructor but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adjustments. For more information, visit the page:

https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students

Teaching tools

Some texts of bibliography and eventual slides shown during the course will be available on Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Colli