73081 - History of Ancient Philosophy (2) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student has acquired (1) the in-depth knowledge of a philosophical work of Greek and Roman antiquity and (2) three types of skills: (a) philological – he/she can analyze an ancient text autonomously using the advanced philological tools needed for the study of Greek and Roman philosophy; (b) dialectical – he/she is trained both in seminar team work and in discussing a philosophical problem in a synchronic and diachronic way, coping with the relevant critical literature; (c) rhetorical he/she is able to argue exegetical and philosophical theses both in oral form (through common discussions and individual presentations) and in written form (according different ways of writing).

Course contents

Justice, Philosophy, Happines: on Plato’s Republic

One of the milestones of the Western philosophical tradition and an acclaimed literary masterpiece, Plato’s Republic continues to be a constant point of reference for all those who reflect upon society, in both its existing and its ideal arrangement. Presenting a conversation between Socrates and a few interlocutors of different persuasions and backgrounds, Plato develops an “expansive” theory of justice involving ideas on education, the position of women, art and literature, soul, metaphysics and epistemology, and myth. The proposals he advances are often provocative and shocking and have been rejected as being communist or fascist, or at any rate anti-democratic - the various qualifications testifying to a certain elusiveness of the work’s nature and purpose. But if Plato does not present a blueprint for the ideal society, how are his proposals and arguments to be understood instead? What do they imply for us here and now? This course covers the whole of this Platonic key treatise and takes us to the heart of Plato’s thought. Not for the intellectually lazy or the easily discouraged, it provides a lasting impression of one of the great works of philosophy.

Readings/Bibliography

Platone, Repubblica, a cura di M. Vegetti, Milano, BUR

M. Bonazzi, Atene la città inquieta, Torino, Einaudi

Students who cannot attend classes will also carefully study the following books of Plato’s Republic: I, II, IV, V. They will also study one of these two books:

M. Vegetti, Introduzione alla Repubblica, Roma, Laterza

F. Ferrari, Introduzione alla Repubblica, Bologna, Il Mulino

Teaching methods

Lectures, with a close reading of Plato’ text

Assessment methods

Oral examination

Criteria

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 Disorders (SLD)

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders are entitled to special adjustments according to their condition, subject to assessment by the University Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact teachers or Department staff, but make an appointment with the Service. The Service will then determine what adjustments are specifically appropriate, and get in touch with the teacher. For more information, please 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 Mauro Bonazzi