Philosophical anthropology (2007/2008)

Learning outcomes

The course proposes to lead to a direct confrontation with various pages belonging to classical texts of philosophical thought and, on the basis of this confrontation, stimulate and develop critical reflection and personal insight abilities.

Title: The problem of the fleeting attainment of happiness in Plato.
The course intends addressing one of the central themes of platonic philosophy: how to attain happiness and the unstable relationship with hedoné and phronesis. Through the reading, confrontation and discussion of various passages, a journey will be revealed which, from Phedon to Philebus, leads Plato to considerably change his strategy, initially intent on placing in brackets the body and all its pleasures. Furthermore, with particular attention towards the final Foucault, the course will try to verify if this journey may or may not remain restricted within the boundaries of the Delphic saying: «know yourself!»

Texts for the exam
Programme A (for students attending the course)
1) Plato. The following passages:
Phedon: 60d-69d; 117b-118b
Symposium: 189c-191e; 199c-211d
Phedro: 246a-247a; 249b-257a
Alcibiades (passages to be agreed upon)

Further recommended texts (optional):
M. Foucault, L’ermeneutica del soggetto, Feltrinelli Milano 2003 (pp. 3-70)
M. Foucault, Tecnologie del sé, Borighieri, Torino 1988


Programme B (for students who have not attended lessons)
1)Plato, Symposium: passages from 199c to 211d (any edition provided it contains the numbering mentioned)
2) One among the following texts:
G. Krüger, Passione e ragione, Vita e Pensiero 1995 (pp. 139-251)
J. M. Rist, Eros e Psyche, Vita e Pensiero, 1995 (pp. 21-145)
G. Reale, Eros demone mediatore, Bompiani 2005, pp. (161-223).

The exam will consist in an oral test. The exam will begin with a critical discussion of two themes chosen by the student, among those considered during the course. Assessment of the actual knowledge of the passages by Plato will then follow.