10593 - Aesthetics (1) (M-Z)

Course contents

Images of Greek culture: a dialogue between F. Nietzsche, W.F. Otto and M. Heidegger.

First part (6 cfu):

The Greek religious experience: the gods of Olympus and Dionysus.

The first parte aims at discussing the transformation of the classicistic image of Greece through an analysis of the Greek experience of the divine and in particular of the relationship between Dionysus and the other Olympic gods. We will study in depth Nietzsche’s “Birth of Tragedy”, in order to understand the way in which the philosopher, in the wake of Schopenhauer and Wagner, explains Greek tragedy and archaic Greece. Then we will focus on „Götterdienst der Griechen“, where Nietzsche offers a different interpretation of Greek cult, adopting an anthropological approach. Finally, we will take into consideration Walter Friedrich Otto’s view of Greek cult and of the figure of Dionysus, underlining the differences between his position and that of Nietzsche.

Second part (6 cfu):

The dimension of theophany in W.F. Otto and M. Heidegger.

The second part aims at discussing the manifestation of the divine through the differences that Walter Friedrich Otto traces between Greek polytheism and Christian monotheism. We will then analyze the role of the Muses (and of word and song) in the Greek theophany. Finally, we will take into consideration Heidegger’s understanding of the Greek theophany and of art. With this object in view we will focus on some elements of Heidegger’s interpretation of Nietzsche and on the key aspects of his dialogue with Otto’s “theological” speculations.

The course will take place in the first semester. 

Beginning date: 28th of September

Readings/Bibliography

First part:  

F. Nietzsche, La nascita della tragedia, a cura di V. Vivarelli, Einaudi, Torino 2009 (first ten chapters);   
F. Nietzsche, Il servizio divino dei greci, a cura di M.P. Löwenstein, Adelphi, Milano 2012 (pp. 1-80);   
W.F. Otto, Dioniso. Mito e culto, Il Melangolo, Genova 2006.

W.F. Otto, Theophania. Lo spirito della religione greca antica, a cura di A. Caracciolo, Il Melangolo, Genova 1996.

Second part: 

W.F. Otto, Il mito, a cura di G. Moretti, Il Melangolo, Genova, 2007.   
W.F. Otto, Le Muse e l'origine divina della parola e del canto, a cura di S. Mati, Fazi, Roma 2005 (pp. 25-46 e 85-106);   
M. Heidegger, L'origine dell'opera d'arte, in Id., Sentieri interrotti, a cura di P. Chiodi, La Nuova Italia, Scandicci 1996;      
M. Heidegger, Contributi alla filosofia (Dall'evento), a cura di F. Volpi, Adelphi, Milano (pp. 395-408);   
M. Heidegger, Introduzione alla filosofia. Pensare e poetare, a cura di V. Cicero, Bompiani, Milano 2009 (pp. 13-123).

Teaching methods

The course (12 CFU) consists of 60 hours of lesson.

Assessment methods

Oral examination.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Cattaneo