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

SFA 2022/23 (ENG)

Praise of Philosophy

The four courses of History of Ancient Philosophy this year will be devoted to a “praise of philosophy”: from the origins of the concept (BA) to the heart of Platonic ontology (MA), in constant comparison with the main philosophical models of modern and contemporary age. In a historical moment in which philosophy risks being lost in technological and application drifts, the urgency of a reflection on its history and identity is renewed. The lessons will be open to all interested students of all levels.

 

“[…] c’est un bonheur, disait Stendhal, ‘d’avoir pour métier sa passion’ ” (Maurice Merlau-Ponty)

 

SFA (2) (LM) – A Philosophical Gym: The Gymnasia in Plato, Parmenides, 137c4-166c5

The course of History of Ancient Philosophy (2) (LM) will take place in the Second Semester, Forth Period: March 20-May 5 2023.

Hours: Monday, 3-5pm, Classroom IV (Via Zamboni, 38); Wednesday, 3-5pm, Classroom C (Via Zamboni, 34); Friday, 3-5pm, Classroom B (Via Zamboni, 34).

Start: Monday, March 20 2023, 3pm, 2022, Classroom IV.

 

 Course contents

The course, which will be held in seminar form, will consist in the slow reading in the original language of the second part of Plato’s Parmenides, the so-called Gymnasia (“the most puzzling and controversial text in the platonic corpus”), a dialectical exercise dedicated to Parmenidean hypotheses on the one and the many introduced to “save the Ideas” and with them philosophy. In particular, the goal will be to provide a commented translation of the first hypothesis (H1), “relative to the same” (περὶ τοῦ ἑνὸς αὐτοῦ), and of the four series of corresponding deductions: D1 (relative to the object of the hypothesis considered in itself), D2 (relative to the object of the hypothesis considered in relation to other things), D3 (relative to the other things considered in themselves), D4 (relative to the other things considered in relation to the object of the hypothesis) (Prm. 137c4-166c5).

 

*The text breakdown will be available at the beginning of the course.

**The course will be supported by the permanent seminar Il Vento del Logos, this year held by Prof. Walter Cavini and entirely dedicated to the figure of Parmenides. Participation in all the meetings of the seminar will entitle you to a bonus during the examination. Dates and places of the meetings will be reported on the Facebook page  Filosofia Antica a Bologna.

Readings/Bibliography

Text

• Platone, Parmenide, edited by Franco Ferrari, Milano: BUR, 2004.

 

*The bibliography can be supplemented during the course.

Teaching methods

SLOW READING SEMINAR (15 sessions, each of 2 hours)

Adopted methods:

• Slow reading of the sources in the original language.
• Group work.
• Drafting of a handout.
• Oral presentations.
• Group discussion.

PHILOSOPHICAL WRITING SEMINAR

• Editing guidelines.
• Reading essay of an ancient work: form and contents.

Assessment methods

EXAM PROGRAMME FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS

The exam includes a written and an oral test.

(1) The written test consists of a paper concerning the ancient work read and discussed during the seminar. The paper must be at least 10 maximum 15 standard Word pages, plus the bibliography and three appendices. During the seminar the details will be clarified, and a summary will be available in the guidelines uploaded among the online teaching materials (see Virtuale).

(2) The oral exam consists of: (a) a discussion of the paper (form and content); (b) the study in full of Plato’s Parmenides and Franco Ferrari’s introductory essay, with particular reference to Gymnasia. (b*) Students who cannot demonstrate they have taken at least one exam into the history of ancient philosophy in their career will have to study in addition the Diagramma cronologico [Chronological diagram] (by heart) and the chapters 8 to 12 of the Dispensa di Storia della Filosofia Antica dai Presocratici ad Agostino, uploaded online on Virtuale.

 

PROGRAMME FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

Students who cannot attend for motivated reasons will also have to take both a written and an oral test.

(1) The written test consists of a paper concerning the following ancient work (you need to schedule an interview with the teacher for clarification and follow the guidelines uploaded online): Platone, Parmenide, edited by Franco Ferrari, Milano: BUR, 2004.

(2) The oral exam consists of: (a) a discussion of the paper (form and content); (b) the study of an essay on Plato’s Parmenidesto be agreed with the teacher. (b*) Students who cannot demonstrate they have taken at least one exam into the history of ancient philosophy in their career will have to study in addition the Diagramma cronologico [Chronological diagram] (by heart) and the chapters 8 to 12 of the Dispensa di Storia della Filosofia Antica dai Presocratici ad Agostino, uploaded online (see Virtuale).

 

EXAM EVALUATION

The exam will be considered overall sufficient only if the two exam tests (written and oral) will be both sufficient. The final mark will result from the average of the marks of each single exam test.

Teaching tools

• Handouts.
• Partition diagrams and concept maps.
• Handbooks: (1) Norme di redazione per un saggio breve [Editing guidelines for a short essay]; (2) Seminario di scrittura filosofica [Philosophical writing seminar].
• TLG, databases and bibliographical repertoires.

Office hours

See the website of Carlotta Capuccino