PYTHAGORAS AND PHYTAGOREANISM IN THE MIDDLE AGES
The course intends to present the figure of Pythagoras in the Middle Ages as an emblem of the mathematical disciplines enclosed in the 'quadrivium' -- the fourfold philosophical path having its mythical founding father in the philosopher of Samos -- and as a charismatic figure of the philosophical-theological tradition that assumes the ontology of number as basis of reality. Starting from the age of Boethius, to whom we owe the very term quadrivium, we will retrace some main turning points of medieval Pythagoreanism up to the humanistic revival.
The texts will be provided in class, in Italian translation.
Non-attending working students must agree with the professor on the bibliographic additions that will be communicated at the end of the course.
TEXTBOOKS
- Antonio Donato, Boezio. Un pensatore tardoantico e il suo mondo, Carocci 2021
- Brill's Companion to the Reception of Pythagoras and Pythagoreanism in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, eds. I. Caiazzo, C. Macris, A. Robert, Leiden, Brill 2022 (selected contributions which will be distributed in advance)
- Texts to be read in class will be distributed in advance (on Microsoft Teams classroom or other system).
Further required text books for students not attending the course will be agreed with the professor at the end of the course.
REFERENCE BIBLIOGRAPHY
By way of example, see the following book selection:
- Antonio Donato, Boezio. Un pensatore tardoantico e il suo mondo, Carocci 2021
- Brill's Companion to the Reception of Pythagoras and Pythagoreanism in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, eds. I. Caiazzo, C. Macris, A. Robert, Leiden, Brill 2022
- David Albertson, Mathematical Theologies. Nicholas of Cusa and the Legacy of Thierry of Chartres. Oxford: Oxford University Press 2014
- Cecilia Panti, Filosofia della musica. Tarda antichità e medioevo, Roma, Carocci 2008.
English
Italiano