Aims

To give the students a comprehensive overview of philosophy in Antiquity.

Main themes

The lectures offer an account of the major stages of evolution of Ancient philosophy: the Presocratic period; the Classical period (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle); the Hellenistic period; the Roman period. In addition, the lectures furnish some information regarding the peculiar status of Ancient philosophy (the often fragmentary nature of the sources; the importance of doxography; the problems linked to translating/transcribing manuscripts; the relationship between the oral and the written traditions; particular literary genres; the working conditions of Ancient philosophers; the structure of philosophy schools in Antiquity; the nature of Ancient philosophy, etc.).

Content and teaching methods

Chapter I: PRESOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY
1. Cosmology and metaphysics of matter:
a. The Monist cosmologies
b. The Pluralist cosmologies
2. Epistemology of appearance
3. Metaphysics of the number
4. Anthropology and relativism

Chapter II: FROM SOCRATES TO ARISTOTLE
1. Socrates
2. Plato
3. Aristotle

Chapter III: HELLENISTIC PHILOSOPHY
1. Stoicism
2. Epicurianism
3. Skepticism
4. Controversies between the schools

Chapter IV: LATE PAGAN PHILOSOPHY
1. The decline of Stoicism and the rebirth of Platonism
2. Neo-Platonism

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Pre-requisites: Elementary knowledge (normally provided during the first two years of university study in the Humanities)

Assessment: Oral exam.

Supporting Material: Course notes and a book (the latter is optional).

Other credits in programs