Conceived as an advance in the studies of history of philosophical thought, the course aims to examine a classical text, the importance of which is acknowledged in philosophy, literary and artistic studies.

According to an attitude of invocation of God, in his Confessions, Augustin relates his life from the beginning to his conversion, describing the events the most memorable of his ‘inner life', chiefly his ‘conversions' (to philosophy, to Platonism, to Biblical revelation and to catholic Church). Having manifested what he was, his errors (mainly about the origin of evil, the nature of God) and having examined by what method God and the happy life may be found, in books X he enlarges on the nature and power of memory. In book XI his interest in the ‘beginning' of the Holy Scripture - the first chapter of Genesis (the beginning of all things, the divine creation) - leads him to add a copious disquisition concerning time.

A basic Knowledge of philosophical language.

Knowledge and understanding
The student will be able to understand and explain the text examined, to argue rigorously and to discuss critically the topics which have been dealt in the course.

Making judgments
The student will demonstrate independent judgment in the evaluation of the philosophical problems studied and ability to produce a personal reworking of the acquired knowledge.

Learning skills
The student will be able to master the knowledge and skills acquired.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Seminars

Teaching

Lectures. Seminars

Attendance

The course requires a regular attendance (almost 2/3 of the lectures). Alternatively, please make use of the information for not attending students.

Course books

A. Text
Agostino, Confessioni, R. De Monticelli ed., Garzanti, Milano.

B. Literature
M. Bettetini, Introduzione a Agostino, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2008.

otherwise
C. Horn, Sant'Agostino, Il Mulino, Bologna 2005.

otherwise

A text chosen amongs those indicated at point C.

C. Recommended literature
H. Arendt, Il concetto d'amore in Agostino. Saggio di interpretazione filosofica, L. Boella ed., SE, Milano 1992.
P. Brown, Agostino d'Ippona, Einaudi, Torino 2005, I e II, pp. 5-176.
P. Brown, Religione e società nell'età di sant'Agostino, Einaudi, Torino 1975 (2 chapters chosen by the student).
R. De Monticelli, L'allegria della mente. Dialogando con Agostino, Mondadori Bruno, Milano 2004.
J. Fontaine, Introduzione generale to: Sant'Agostino, Confessioni, J. Fontaine et al. eds., Fondazione Lorenzo Valla/Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, 20013, Milano, 5 voll., vol. I, le pp. IX-CXXXIV.
E. Gilson, Introduzione allo studio di sant'Agostino, Marietti, Casale Monferrato 1983 (the student will read the Introduction, the Conclusion and one of the three parts of the text).
E. Gilson, Tommaso contro Agostino, C. Casalini, ed., Edizioni Medusa, Milano 2010.
J.-L. Marion, Sant'Agostino. In luogo di sé, M. L. Zannini, ed., Jaca Book, Milano 2014.
H.-I. Marrou, S. Agostino e la fine della cultura antica, Jaca Book, Milano 1994 (4 chapters chosen by the student).
A. Pieretti, ed., Memoria e senso della vita a partire da Agostino, Città Nuova, Roma 2013 (articles 1-3).
A. Trapé, Introduzione to Sant'Agostino, Le confessioni (Opere, vol. I), M. Pellegrino, C. Carena, eds., Città Nuova, Roma 20078, pp. IX-CXXI.
M. Zambrano, La confessione come genere letterario, Bruno Mondadori, Milano 1997.

Assessment

Oral exam on the material specified at the voice Course books

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Not attending students can contact the teacher in the office hours to ask for explanations about the program and the content of the tests for the exam.

Attendance

Please contact the teacher at least two months in advance of the scheduled date of the exam.

Course books

To the material reported at points A, B of Course books, the non attending student will add a text chosen amongs those indicated at point C.

Assessment

Oral examination on the text of Agostino and on the chosen Literature.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.