Teaching code

4S007343

Teacher

Alessandro Stavru

Coordinatore

Alessandro Stavru

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

M-FIL/07 - HISTORY OF ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY

Period

Sem. 2A dal Feb 18, 2019 al Mar 30, 2019.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars

Learning outcomes

The course aims at teaching the use of philosophical terminology, which derives almost all from the Greek and Latin traditions, together with the critical use of texts also in the original classic languages (Greek and Latin) for becoming aware of relevant philosophical problems and concepts. It aims also at teaching the ability of contradictory argumenting by means of classroom confrontations and debates. Knowledge of the history of Greek and Latin philosophy (from the sixth century B.C. to 529 A.D.) is presupposed. Knowledge of Greek and Latin is a help; however, although highly auspicious, is not mandatory. Required are instead a great attention to lexical analysis together with the disposition to critically reading philosophical texts and to argumentative discourse.

Program

Title and content of the course: "The Socratic Dialogue, or: how to cure the soul through the emotions".

The course tackles the rhetorical, anthropological and philosophical roots of 1) the dialogical thinking "against" the other (contradiction, refutation) and 2) of the dialogical thinking "with" the other (the Socratic method of L. Nelson and his school). These dialogical modes will be examined by reading texts of Socrates's direct students (especially Plato, but also Aristippus, Aeschines, Phaedo, and Xenophon), in order to identify the lines of continuity and/or discontinuity between the ancient Socratic dialogue and its reprise in contemporary philosophies of dialogue (such as philosophical hermeneutics, philosophical counseling, and extrajudicial conflict resolution).
The course will provide a shared reading of dialogical units drawn from Socratic literature: students will be involved in discussing the positions held by the characters in the text and, where possible, in applying the dialogical "thinking with the other".

TEXTS TO BE READ FOR THE ORAL EXAM:
A) L. Napolitano, Il dialogo socratico, Milano, Mimesis 2018 (a scelta un autore tra Arendt, Patocka, Hadot e Nussbaum nella prima parte del libro; obbligatoria l’intera seconda parte del volume).
B) A. Stavru, Socrate e la cura dell'anima, Milano, Marinotti 2009.
C) Dispense (contenenti brani su/di Aristippo, Eschine, Fedone e Senofonte e testi sul dialogo socratico di C. Kahn, L. Rossetti, V. Dinapoli, L. Candiotto).

Examination Methods

Teaching method: The course includes lessons and seminars in which texts will be read and discussed. Attendance is therefore useful, although not mandatory.
For those who do not attend the course the program remains unvaried, but they should contact the teacher to agree on personalized readings (depending on their previous knowledge and interests), which should compensate for not attending the course.

Evaluation method: The student will be examined orally, and will be invited to comment on the passages discussed in the classroom. Students can choose a topic which will become the starting point for the oral exam (such choice must be communicated to the teacher by e-mail at least one week before the date of the exam).