54
History of Mediaeval Philosophy
UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI "L'ORIENTALE"
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
Knowledge and Understanding
· Acquire a historical and comparative perspective on intellectual exchanges in the medieval and Renaissance Mediterranean.
· Understand the role of translation movements (from Greek to Syriac, Arabic, and Latin) in shaping philosophical and scientific thought.
· Gain knowledge of the religious, institutional, and cultural contexts that influenced the transmission and development of science and philosophy from the 9th to the 16th century.
Applied Skills
· Analyze philosophical and scientific texts in translation, situating them within their historical and cultural frameworks.
· Apply critical tools to identify conceptual shifts and transformations across different intellectual traditions.
· Use digital resources (databases, specialized websites, collaborative platforms) for research and presentation of content.
Independent Judgment
· Develop critical thinking regarding the relationship between science, philosophy, and religion across diverse Mediterranean cultures.
· Reflect autonomously on the transcultural dimensions of knowledge transmission.
· Assess the contemporary relevance of intercultural dialogue in scientific and philosophical contexts.
Communication Skills
· Communicate ideas clearly and accurately, using appropriate terminology in both academic and outreach settings.
· Write critical and comparative texts, both individually and collaboratively, using digital tools.
· Participate actively in seminar discussions and group work, fostering interdisciplinary exchange.
Learning Skills
· Develop autonomous learning strategies to pursue advanced studies in philosophy, science, and Mediterranean cultural history.
· Strengthen the ability to consult primary and secondary sources, both in print and online.
· Build awareness and skill in using digital tools for organizing sources, creating conceptual maps, and managing knowledge.
Course Prerequisites
It is preferable, though not mandatory, for students to have a basic knowledge of the history of philosophy.
Essential notions will be introduced at the beginning of the course to ensure a shared foundation.
Teaching Methods
An interdisciplinary approach combines the history of science, philosophy, and rational theology, while emphasizing the cultural frameworks in which knowledge was transmitted and transformed. The course integrates digital methods: students will use specialised online databases and tools for textual analysis and will be encouraged to produce digital content (collaborative writing, podcasts, etc.).
Assessment Methods
Learning will be assessed through in-class written assignments and a final oral exam.
· Students will be evaluated based on the completeness and accuracy of the knowledge acquired, their ability to clearly explain key topics, and their critical understanding of the historical evolution of Medieval and Renaissance thought, with particular attention to intercultural dynamics.
· To pass the exam, students must study the texts listed in the bibliography and indicated during the course. Additional materials suggested during lessons may also support exam preparation.
· The final mark will be expressed out of thirty.
Texts
M. Bettetini - L. Bianchi - C. Marmo - P. Porro, "Filosofia medievale", Raffaello Cortina Editore, Milano 2004 (selected texts).
Anthology of Humanistic and Renaissance Texts (prepared by the Professor).
P. Di Giovanni, "Le filosofie del Mediterraneo e della Magna Graecia", Franco Angeli, Milano 2015 (selected chapters).
Contents
Science and Philosophy: Knowledge Exchange in the Mediterranean (9th–16th Centuries)
This course investigates the transmission of scientific and philosophical knowledge across the Mediterranean between the 9th and 16th centuries, with special focus on key episodes of linguistic and cultural mediation: the major translation movements from Syriac into Arabic (8th–9th c.), from Arabic into Latin (12th c.), and the continued reinterpretation of this knowledge within European intellectual traditions up to the Renaissance. The course concludes with a critical reflection on how historical encounters between traditions shape modern debates, providing a multifaceted understanding of the Mediterranean as a space of shared knowledge across cultural, linguistic, and religious boundaries.
Course Language
The teaching is provided in Italian.