Philosophies of nature and language in the Middle Ages

The course aims to guide students in deepening their knowledge and competences concerning medieval philosophical and scientific thought, in order to read and interpret texts correctly. According to the Dublin descriptors, by the end of the course, students are expected to achieve the following specific learning objectives:

1) Knowledge and understanding: Demonstrating knowledge and understanding that extend and reinforce those typically associated with the first cycle of studies, and that enable the development and application of original ideas in a research context.

2) Applying knowledge and understanding: Solving problems in unfamiliar fields, within broader (or interdisciplinary) contexts related to the philosophical discipline.

3) Making judgements: Integrating knowledge and managing complexity; making judgements even on the basis of limited or incomplete information.

4) Communication skills: Communicating knowledge clearly and unambiguously to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Lectures with guided reading, commentary, and discussion of philosophical texts. Opportunities for dialogue, questions, and critical reflection will be encouraged.

The course will focus on the philosophical thought of the Dominican Albert the Great and will be divided into the following parts:

Part A – Historical-philosophical studies on the figure and thought of Albert the Great (3 CFU)

Part B – Some aspects of mineralogy, botany, zoology, and psychology in the late Middle Ages (2 CFU)

Part C – A glimpse into the contemporary debate on anthropocentrism and speciesism (1 CFU)

Part A (3 CFU):

- L. Sturlese, Il razionalismo filosofico di Alberto il Grande, in Documenti e studi sulla tradizione filosofica medievale, 1 (1990), pp. 373-426.

- Selected studies from J.A. Weisheipl, Alberto Magno e le scienze, Edizioni Studio Domenicano, Bologna 1994: cap. 1 (pp. 17-60), cap. 3 (pp. 61-82), cap. 6 (pp. 169-202), cap. 7 (pp. 203-218), cap. 8 (pp. 219-254), cap. 12 (pp. 347-366), cap. 13 (pp. 367-380), cap. 15 (pp. 405-432), cap. 16 (pp. 433-470).

Part B (2 CFU):

- Chosen texts from Albert the Great’s works (De anima, De animalibus, De homine, De mineralibus, De vegetabilibus, Super Ethica).

Please note: Italian translations of the Latin texts will be available on Studium.

Part C (1 CFU):

- M. Andreozzi, Note stonate. Appunti sull’antropocentrismo e sullo specismo dell’etica animalista, in Animal Studies, 7 (2014), pp. 65-78.

Suggested further readings (not mendatory):

- M. Loconsole / E. Miteva / M. Panarelli (eds), Natural Philosophy in Albert the Great. A Dialogue of Disciplines, Brepols, Turnhout 2023.

- S. Perfetti, Nature imperfette: umano, animale e subumano nel pensiero di Alberto Magno, ETS, Pisa 2020.

- G. Zuccolin, I gemelli nel Medioevo. Questioni filosofiche, mediche e teologiche, Ibis, Como-Pavia 2019.

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).