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. Informations about seminars dates will be published on the Moodle https://blended.uniurb.it/moodle/

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, traduzione e note a cura di R. De Monticelli, Garzanti, Milano (Libri I-XI).

B. Literature
M. Bettetini, Introduzione a Agostino, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2008.
P. Hadot, Plotino o la semplicità dello sguardo, Einaudi (PBE) 1999.

C. Recommended Literature
P. Brown, Religione e società nell'età di sant'Agostino, Einaudi, Torino 1975 (2 parti a scelta).
G. Catapano, Agostino, Carocci, Roma 2010.
R. Chiaradonna, a cura di, Filosofia tardoantica, Carocci Editore, Roma 2015.
R. Chiaradonna, Plotino, Carocci, Roma 2015r.
S. Ferretti, Antichi e moderni. L'elaborazione del passato, Edizioni ETS, Pisa 2005 (capitoli 2, 3, 4).
C. Guidelli, Dall'ordine alla vita. Mutamenti del bello nel platonismo antico, Clueb, Bologna 1999.
V. Lomiento, ‘Volvit fluctus cordis’. I moti dell’animo nelle Confessioni di Agostino, Edipuglia, Bari 2009.
H.-I. Marrou, S. Agostino e la fine della cultura antica, Jaca Book, Milano 1994 (4 capitoli a scelta).
J.M. Rist, Plotino, La via verso la realtà, tr. it. di P. Graffigna, Il melangolo, Genova 1995.

Assessment

Oral exam on the material specified at the voice Course books (A, B).

Candidates are expected to demonstrate their knowledge of the augustinian text 'Confessiones'  (its origins, structure, internal partition, complexity, specific terminology). They will be requested to comment on a random passage, demonstrating their capacity to analyse it. They will also have to demonstrate their knowledge of fundamental philosophical themes addressed by the author being considered, along with the author’s historical and cultural context and trends in scholars’ views.

Candidates will also have to demonstrate their full understanding of the critical texts and their complexity, along with their ability to present their contents to non-specialists, expressing their own views on the basis of their studies.

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:
Plotino, La bellezza, a cura di B. S. Zorzi, Garzanti, Milano 2014.
Plotino, Sulla felicità, a cura di M. Bonazzi, Einaudi (PBE), Milano 2016.

Assessment

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

See Assessment for Attending students.

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.