Teaching code

4S007318

Teacher

Alessandro Stavru

Coordinator

Alessandro Stavru

Credits

6

Also offered in courses:

• History of Ancient Philosophy (p) of the course Bachelor’s degree in Humanities

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

M-FIL/07 - HISTORY OF ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY

Period

Sem. 1B dal Nov 13, 2023 al Dec 22, 2023.

Courses Single

Authorized

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

History of Ancient Philosophy
KNOWLEDGE
The course aims at offering in-depth knowledge of the basic subjects, authors and schools of ancient philosophy (6th Century bC-529 aD), thus allowing students to deepen their knowledge of the history of a fundamental phase of Western philosophy and its most important concepts.
SKILLS
At the end of the course, students will be able: to consider ancient philosophical texts within their proper historical-critical perspective; to approach them from viable hermeneutical points of view; and to judge critically and by themselves the subjects and the authors treated in classes. This will also enable them to compare some topics of ancient philosophy with contemporary subjects and authors. Students will also develop the capacity to communicate philosophical contents to specialists and non-specialists alike, and the capacity to continue their studies at a MA level.

Prerequisites and basic notions

A previous knowledge of ancient philosophy is required. The knowledge of ancient Greek and Latin is not compulsory. More important is a careful lexical research and an interest in a critical reading of philosophical texts.

Program

Course title and content: "Pathos in ancient rhetoric"

The course will deal with the notion of pathos in ancient rhetoric with particular reference to two texts from different periods, which are both fundamental: Aristotle's Rhetoric (4th century BC) and the treatise on the Sublime attributed to Longinus (1st century AD). Excerpts from these works will be read and commented on, to highlight their importance in the rhetoric, aesthetics and theory of emotions of the ancient world. The role of the passions in the art of speech, the simultaneity of emotion and language, the theoretical and moral dimension of feeling obtained as a result of the creative act of the orator will be examined. In Aristotle, the emotional and persuasive effect exerted by the rhetorical logos has a cognitive implication, since its structure presents significant analogies with the syllogism: in fact, it takes the form of an enthymeme (rhetorical demonstration) or a paradeigma (rhetorical induction). In Longinus, persuasion can rise in ekstasis, or in a condition capable of elevating the listener to a feeling of exaltation so intense as to induce him to believe that he himself is the author of the rhetorical deception. A shared reading will be carried out, carried out in a laboratory key, of the fundamental theoretical moments of the two texts in the program: this moment of comparison will imply active participation in the discussion of the positions supported in the texts and, where possible, a critical examination of the same.

EXAMINATION TEXTS:
A) Aristotele, Retorica, trad. a cura di C. Viano, Laterza, Roma 2021.
B) Longino, Il sublime, trad. a cura di G. Lombardo, Mimesis, Milano 2022.

The recorded lessons will be available on the Moodle platform and are an integral part of the exam programme. NB: listening to the recordings does not replace reading the scheduled texts.

PROGRAM FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS: The program for non-attending students is identical to that for attending students, but they will have to arrange a supplementary reading with the teacher.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

The teaching is carried out in frontal mode. The lessons are made available via streaming (Zoom links are available on the Moodle page of the course). Recordings are placed on the Moodle at the end of each lesson.

Learning assessment procedures

the student will be examined orally; he will be invited to read and comment some passages of the examined texts. The student may write a short essay (5-7 pages). She will send it to the teacher a week before the exam.
The normal duration of the exam session is 15 minutes. Exam modes are differentiated between attending and non-attending students (see program).

Evaluation criteria

Ability to organize and articulate the acquired knowledge; critical reasoning on the topics of the course; quality, depth and coherence of the exposition, competence in the use of terminology and expressions rerlated to ancient philosophy.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The evaluation is expressed in a grade out of thirty.

Exam language

Italiano (prevalentemente ma non esclusivamente)