Course program
Philosophical arguments for understanding and living well
The course will unfold, with a wealth of both historical-philological detail and theoretical-conceptual insight, from the earliest positions of Thales to the intellectual development of late Neo-Platonism in Damascius (for a total of 70 hours; for details, see the Programme section). Various solutions proposed by members of the various ancient philosophical schools will be considered, with particular attention paid to the modes of rational argumentation adopted and defended from time to time by various thinkers. Specific attention will be devoted in this sense to the way Plato presents Socrates' philosophy and choice of life in two crucial texts such as the Apology and the Crito (for a total of 14 hours), without neglecting the more general picture of the development of later and original Platonic solutions.
Prerequisites
Very useful: Basic knowledge about the principal authors examined, ensured by previous lectures on ancient philosophy in high school; basic notions on philosophical, ethical, and political lexicon in the ancient world.
Books
TESTI ADOTTATI
1. Handbook:
- M. Bonazzi-L. Cardullo-G. Casertano-E. Spinelli-F. Trabattoni, Filosofia antica, Raffaello Cortina Editore, Milano, 2005
[Students who have already taken a History of Ancient Philosophy exam with the teacher will replace the handbook with another text to be individuated along with the teacher]
2. Platone, Apologia di Socrate-Critone, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2008.
3. Mandatory texts:
- G. Giannantoni, Che cosa ha veramente detto Socrate, Nuova edizione a cura di E. Spinelli e F. Verde, Bibliopolis, Napoli 2022.
- the following articles:
a. A. Brancacci, Il Socrate di Guido Calogero
b. F. Trabattoni, Il Socrate di Antonio Banfi
c. E. Spinelli, Giuseppe Semerari e l’incontro con Socrate
d. B. Centrone, Il Socrate di Gabriele Giannantoni e l’invenzione della filosofia
in:
E. Spinelli-F. Trabattoni (a cura di), La bandiera di Socrate. Momenti di storiografia filosofica italiana nel Novecento, Sapienza Università Editrice, Roma 2016, pp. 75-146 (disponibile al seguente link: https://www.editricesapienza.it/sites/default/files/5350_Spinelli_Trabattoni_Bandiera_Socrate.pdf)
- F. Trabattoni, La filosofia di Platone. Verità e ragione umana, Carocci, Roma 2020.
- E. Spinelli, Obiettivo Platone: a lezione da Hans Jonas, ETS, Pisa 2019.
- B. Centrone, Prima lezione di filosofia antica, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2015.
Frequency
Attending the course is highly recommended.
Exam mode
The evaluation consists in an oral examination. Its average duration will be 30 minutes. In order to pass the exam the student must: 1. Know the principal doctrines of the authors examined; 2. Be able to critically read the texts analyzed during the course; 3. Be able to properly master the technical and specialistic lexicon of the authors examined; 4. Be able to reconstruct the most important theorical hubs, also in their diachronic evolution; 5. Be able to originally argue from/about various texts, themes and problems examined. Necessary condition for passing the exam is the fulfilment of points 1 and 2. Notes over 27/30 will be attributed to students whose performances fulfill all the points indicated above.
Lesson mode
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 (e.g. with group work).
