EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN THE GREEK WORLD

The primary objective of the class is to provide students with an understanding of the evolution of education theories in the ancient Greek world, from the training of the aristocratic classes in the Archaic period as described in the Homeric poems to the philosophical meditation on this subject in the classical and Hellenistic age, with particular attention to Plato’s theories on the acquisition of knowledge. As a matter of fact, if one ignores the Greek roots of current educational theories, it would be impossible for them to understand contemporary conceptions and, consequently, to prepare educational interventions in our society. The comparison with a culture that presents not only important elements of continuity with ours, but also fundamental differences is also a useful exercise to understand the diversity between the different civilizations, an activity which in turn constitutes the foundation of every action aimed at intercultural integration. The aim of the course is also to develop some soft skills, such as: critical skills, necessary to understand the theories and texts of ancient philosophy; communication skills, which will be stimulated through the questions and answers between teacher and students during the lessons; and the ability to continue the study autonomously, which will be pursued by providing students with a basic theoretical knowledge of ancient theories about the development of the faculties of the human soul.

Since the fundamental objective of the course is the acquisition of knowledge, the course itself consists of a series of lectures.

The concept of paideia. The educational and human ideal embodied by the Homeric heroes. The training of the true man through philosophical practices in the different ancient schools of thought. Socratic and Platonic dialogue. The maxims of Epicurus. Stoic ethics. Plato, Phaedo: knowledge as reminiscence; the attitude of the philosopher before death.

Reference texts:

1. Platone, Fedone (Piccola biblioteca Einaudi. Nuova serie), edited by Franco Trabattoni, translation by Stefano Martinelli Tempesta, Torino (Einaudi) 2011, 236 pages (= 86 pages of preface + 150 pages of translated text).

2. Pierre Hadot, Esercizi spirituali e filosofia antica (Piccola biblioteca Einaudi), edited and prefaced by Arnold I. Davidson, translation by Anna Maria Marietti – Angelica Taglia, Torino (Einaudi) 2005, 198 pages.

3. Elsa M. Bruni, Achille o dell’educazione razionale (Ricerche), Padova (Marsilio) 2012, 176 pages.