Philosophy

FRANCESCO VERDE
FRANCESCO VERDE

Given for granted some basic and indispensable goals (knowledge and understanding in the field of studies; ability to apply knowledge and understanding; capability of critical analysis; communication skills on that which has been learned; capacity to undertake further studies with some autonomy), the course intends to attain the following specific objectives: 1. to provide students with a detailed knowledge of the main historical-philosophical issues addressed in Aristotle’s ‘De anima’; 2. to develop students’ interpretative skills through philological reading of the texts under examination.

Given for granted some basic and indispensable goals commonly shared by the Master in Philosophy, the course intends to attain the following specific objectives: Knowledge and ability to understand (Dublin descriptor A): detailed and articulated knowledge of a philosophical problem in historical perspective; in-depth knowledge of a philosophical period and context with a focus on the long-term nature of the issues addressed; knowledge of key concepts and terms, even very technical ones, in historical perspective. Application skills (descriptor B): ability to understand and to interpret classic texts of the discipline, also with evaluation of the problems of translation; ability of deep historical analysis and of mature and personal theoretical criticism of texts. Autonomy of judgement (descriptor C): ability to reconstruct in detail a historical-philosophical context; ability to argue and gain a personal perspective on the subject in question (also through active participation in seminars). Communication skills (descriptor D): ability to use a technical vocabulary, even a very specifical one; ability to argue with property of language on the treated topics. Learning ability (descriptor E): ability to deepen the issues also in a very personal, autonomous and original way (through personal bibliographic research, specific insights etc.).

A knowledge corresponding to the level of the bachelor’s degree in philosophy is required. General knowledge of the history of philosophy with special focus on the history of ancient philosophy.

Plato’s “Sophist”.
The course is dedicated to the reading and commentary of one of Plato’s most significant mature dialogues, which is also among the most influential works in the entire Western philosophical tradition. Belonging to a trilogy alongside the ‘Theaetetus’ and the ‘Statesman’, the ‘Sophist’ engages with multiple themes, including the diairetic method, the definition of the sophist, the relation between truth and falsehood, and the dichotomy between being and non-being, all within a framework that remains fundamentally philosophical and political. Plato seeks to draw a sharp distinction between the domain of the sophist and that of the philosopher, fully aware that the former possesses formidable theoretical “weapons” (skillfully employed for deception), namely the thought of Parmenides—albeit as interpreted by the Sophists and by Plato himself. For this reason, in the ‘Sophist’, Plato is compelled to confront Eleatic philosophy once and for all: his “solution” and the so-called “parricide” of Parmenides will exert a profound and enduring influence on the subsequent course of philosophical thought.

1.1. R. Chiaradonna-P. Pecere (a cura di), Filosofia: La ricerca della conoscenza, Vol. 1A: Dalle origini ad Aristotele, Mondadori, Milano 2018.
1.2. R. Chiaradonna-P. Pecere (a cura di), Filosofia: La ricerca della conoscenza, Vol. 1B: Dall’Ellenismo al tardo Medioevo, Mondadori, Milano 2018, esclusivamente le Unità 5 (L’età ellenistica) e 6 (La tarda antichità).
[Students who have already taken a History of Ancient Philosophy exam with the teacher will replace the handbook with one of the following volumes:
1. M. Vegetti, Quindici lezioni su Platone, Einaudi, Torino 2003.
2. E. Berti, Sumphilosophein: La vita nell’Accademia di Platone, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2010.
3. F. Trabattoni, La filosofia di Platone: Verità e ragione umana, Carocci, Roma 2020.]

2. For the text of the “Sophist”, students may choose from one of the following editions:
2a. Platone: Sofista, a cura di F. Fronterotta, Rizzoli, Milano 2007.
2b. Platone: Sofista, a cura di B. Centrone, Einaudi, Torino 2008.

3. T. A. Szlezák, Platone: L’invenzione della filosofia in Occidente, Prefaz. di F. Ferrari, Trad. it. di C. Centrone, Hoepli, Milano 2025.
4. G. B. Kerferd, I sofisti, Trad. it. di C. Musolesi, il Mulino, Bologna 1997.

Reading guides and introductions to the thought and specific works of the authors on the programme. Secondary literature on specific topics will be recommended during the course.

Lectures with reconstruction of the context and reading, analysis and commentary of the texts. The original texts will be constantly taken into account. Seminar discussion of the topics covered.

Attending the course is highly recommended.

The evaluation consists of both a written and an oral examination.
In addition to active participation in class, students in the written and oral exams must show that they:
1. know the fundamental doctrines and topics of the authors of the history of ancient philosophy from the so-called Presocratics to the end of Antiquity;
2. can critically analyze Plato’s ‘Sophist’ in its historical-philosophical entirety and breadth.
The satisfaction of point 1 is the necessary condition for passing the exam. Marks above 27/30 will be awarded to students who fulfil points 1 and 2.
The exam consists of a single written test and a following oral test (on different dates): the written test will be held at the end of the course and will cover only the handbook part. The written test will last 90 minutes, and the oral test no more than 30 minutes. Students who pass the written test can access the oral test (on one of the available exam dates), which will only cover the monographic part.
Students who for various reasons are unable to participate in the written test will take a single oral exam of at least 45 minutes that will cover both the handbook and the monographic parts.

The questions deal with the texts in the syllabus on the basis of the criteria set out above. In-depth knowledge of the ancient philosophy handbook, texts, their context, and independent reflection on individual passages will be required. E.g.:
- What does Author x claim in chapter y of work z? Reading and commenting on the passage.
- From what sources and in what context does this position of the Author arise?
- How does this position of Author x relate to the position of another Author covered in the course?
- How can the two positions be critically evaluated?

• • Books: V. sezione TESTI