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Ancient and Medieval Philosophical Thought

Code: 100017
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Humanities OB 2

Contact lecturer

Name :
Bernat Torres Morales
Email :
bernat.torres@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

There is no requirement.

Objectives

Ancient and medieval philosophical thinkingis a subject of the second year of the degree of Humanities.


The specific objectives of this subject are:


a. To get a good knowledge of the main authors, and of the philosophical approaches and of the problems of philosophical ancient and medieval thinking.

b. To learn more about one of the most significant authors of ancient or medieval philosophy.

c. To read, understand and interpret selected and representative texts of the authors studied, using the aforementioned knowledge.

d. To reflect on some problems considered by thinkers at this time, on its cultural, social and political impact, and on its historical transcendence.

e. To develop their own critical and self-critical thinking.

f. To connect the contents of the subject with the content of other subjects of the degree.

Learning outcomes

  1. Drawing up an academic text using the discipline's specific vocabulary.
  2. Engaging in debates about historical facts respecting the other participants' opinions.
  3. Summarising acquired knowledge about the origin and transformations experienced in the several fields of anthropology.
  4. Preparing a summary from a given text.
  5. Identifying the characteristic methods of the history of philosophy and using them in the analysis of concrete facts.
  6. Indicating the main issues of the history of the field.
  7. Indicating and discussing the main characteristics of the of a period and contextualizing them.
  8. Indicating and summarising the common content of several manifestations of various fields of culture.

Contents

Topic 1: The First Thinkers

Topic 2: Sophistry and Socrates

Topic 3: Plato

Topic 4: Aristotle

Topic 5: Hellenistic Philosophies

Topic 6: Medieval Philosophies

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Active participation 8.5 0.34 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
Preparation of topics and complementary research 30 1.2 1, 3, 4, 7, 8
Master classes 47 1.88 2, 3, 4, 5, 8
Readings 30 1.2 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8

Teaching combines general, more theoretical lectures with commentary on particularly significant texts. The professor will provide students with a list of topics accompanied by texts from the most representative authors (called "dossier"); a series of complementary materials will also be added in order to delve deeper into certain topics (Virtual Campus). Students are expected to prepare the relevant topic by reading the accompanying material in each case. The professor’s explanation of the topic assumes this prior preparation.

The course also aims for a high level of student participation. Based on study and attention, students will be able to raise questions, engage in debates, or, at the professor’s request, take part in a flipped classroom session.


In addition, students must complete a (mandatory) reading of the following texts:


  • Plato, Republic, Book I. La Casa dels Clàssics (Catalan) / Gredos (Spanish)
  • Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus and Principal Doctrines. Casal del Mestre (Catalan, opean version available in the website loliba.cat) / Cátedra (Spanish)


The Virtual Campus will mainly be used to share materials. However, if students wish to contact the professor, they must do so via institutional email.

Tutorial sessions will be mainly dedicated to preparing the mandatory readings and resolving any doubts.


The teaching methodology and assessment proposed in the syllabus may be subject to modifications depending on restrictions on in-person attendance imposed by health authorities.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Text Commentary 30 1.5 0.06 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
First test 30 1.5 0.06 3, 5, 6, 7
Presence and participation 10 30 1.2 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Second test 30 1.5 0.06 3, 5, 7, 8

The course assessment will consist of four components:


  • Two written exams (30% each)
  • A text commentary (in class) (30%)
  • Attendance and participation (10%)


Assessment is continuous and requires consistent engagement throughout the course. To pass the course, students must:


a) obtain at least a grade of 4 in each of the two written exams;

b) achieve an overall average of at least 5 across all activities.


If a student does not meet these two conditions, they must take the resit exam(s) corresponding to the components preventing them from passing.


A student will be graded as "No Presentat" (NP) “not submitted” if they have only completed assessment activities amounting to less than 30%.


To be graded for attendance and participation, students must attend at least 80% of the sessions. Otherwise, the attendance grade will be 0.


The resit exam will have similar characteristics to the course exams. It will consist of two parts, one for each written exam. Students will only need to take the part that prevented them from passing the course. However, to pass the resit, a minimum overall mark of 5 must be obtained.


There is no second resit opportunity.


The professor will set a date, time, and place for exam review once all course activities have been graded. Students taking the resit will have a specific review session after completing it.


If a student commits any irregularity that may significantly affect the grade of an assessment activity, that activity will be graded 0, regardless of any disciplinary procedures that may follow. If multiple irregularities occur in the same course, the final grade will be 0.


Resit:


To be eligible for the resit, students must have been previously assessed in activities accounting for at least two-thirds of the total grade (CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT) or must have submitted all required tasks (SINGLE ASSESSMENT). At the time of each assessment activity, the lecturer will inform students (via Moodle) of the procedure and review date. A student will receive a grade of "No avaluat" / “Not assessable” (NA) if they have not completed more than one-third of the assessment activities.


The characteristics of the resit examination will be similar to those of the assessments taken during the course. The resit examination will consist of two parts, one corresponding to each of the written tests completed during the course. Students will only be required to take the part or parts in which they obtained a grade below 4, or that are otherwise preventing them from passing the course. To pass each part or test, students must obtain a minimum grade of 5. If both tests must be retaken, a minimum grade of 5 in each test will be required for the resit examination to be considered passed. Once the failed test or tests have been passed, the corresponding grades will be averaged with the rest of the course grades. The text commentary grade is not subject to resit and cannot be retaken.


Single assessment (avaluació única)


The single assessment consists of a single exam including the main elements of continuous assessment (except attendance and participation), with the following weighting:


  • Text commentary (40%)
  • Theoretical course content (60%)


Use of AI


The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted as part of the coursework, provided that the final result reflects a significant personal contribution by the student in terms of analysis and reflection. The student must:


(i) identify which parts were generated using AI;

(ii) specify the tools used;

(iii) include a critical reflection on how these tools influenced the process and final outcome.


Lack of transparency in the use of AI will be considered academic dishonesty and will result in a grade of 0, with no possibility of resit, or further sanctions in serious cases.

Bibliography

Mendatory readings:


  • Plató, República, Llibre I. La Casa dels Clàssics (català) / Gredos (castellà)
  • Epicur, Carta a Meneceu i Màximes Capitals. Casal del Mestre (català; open access version in the web: loliba.cat) / Catedra (castellà)


To follow the course, it is recommended to read Pierre Hadot’s What Is Ancient Philosophy? (1995), Mexico: FCE.


General bibliography


  • Annas, Julia (2020), Introducció a la filosofia antiga. Barcelona: Enoanda.
  • Bréhier, Émile (1998), Història de la filosofia i de la ciència. Barcelona: UAB.
  • Copleston, F. (2001), Historia de la Filosofía, 9 vols. Barcelona: Ariel.
  • Ferrater Mora, José (1981), Diccionario de Filosofía, 4 vols. Madrid: Alianza.
  • Garfield, J.L. & Edelglass, W. (Eds.) (2014), The Oxford Handbook of World Philosophy. Oxford: OUP.
  • Geymonat, L. (1998), Història de la filosofia i de la ciència. Barcelona: Crítica.
  • Hadot, Pierre (1995), ¿Qué es la filosofía antigua? Mèxic: FCE.
  • Reale, Giovanni; Antiseri, Dario (1995), Historia del pensamiento filosófico y científico I. Antigüedad y Edad Media. Barcelona: Herder.
  • Taylor, C.C.W. (ed.) (1997), Routledge History of Philosophy. Vol. I. From the beginning to Plato. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Terricabras, J. M. (Ed.) (2001), El pensament filosòfic i científic. I i II. Barcelona: Pòrtic.
  • Zubiri, Xavier (2018), Introducción a la Filosofía de los Griegos. Madrid: Alianza
  • Zubiri, Xavier (1994), Cinco lecciones de filosofía. Madrid: Alianza.


Presocratics


  • Burnet, John (2010), L'aurora de la filosofia grega. Barcelona: Barcelonesa d'Edicions.
  • Burnet, John (2013), La Filosofia grega: de Tales a Plató.Barcelona: IEC.
  • Ferrer, Joan (2011), De Tales a Demòcrit. El pensament presocràtic. Girona: Ela Geminada.
  • Guthrie, W.K.C., Historia de la Filosofía Griega, Vol. I i II. Madrid: Gredos.
  • Hülz Piccone, Enrique (ed./trad.) (2021), De Heráclito. Discurso Acerca de la Naturaleza (fragmentos). Mèxic: UNAM.
  • Jaeger,Werner (1936), The Theology of the Early Greek Philosophers.Oxford University Press.
  • Kirk, G. S.; Raven, J. E.; Schofield, M. (1994), Los filósofos presocráticos. Madrid: Gredos.
  • Long, Anthony (ed.) (1999), The Cambridge Companion to Early Greek Philosophy. Cambridge University Press.
  • Osborne, Catherine (2020), Introducció a la filosofia presocràtica. Barcelona: Enoanda.
  • Pòrtules, Jaume & Grau, Sergi (2011), Saviesa grega arcaica. Barcelona: Adesiara.
  • Vernant, Jean-Pierre (1992), Los orígenes del pensamiento griego. Barcelona: Paidós.
  • Warren, James (2007), Presocratics. Acumen Publishing.
  • Zubiri, Xavier (2018), Introducción a la filosofía de los griegos. Madrid: Alianza.


Sophistic and Socrates


  • Bonazzi, Mauro (2020), The Sophists. Cambridge University Press.
  • Cornford, Francis (2023), Abans i després de Sòcrates. Barcelona: Enoanda.
  • De Romilly, Jacqueline (1988), Les Grands Sophistes dansl’Athènes de Périclès. Paris: Fallois.
  • Dillon,J.M. & Gergel, T. (2003), The Greek Sophists. London.
  • Hadot, Pierre (1998), Elogio de Sócrates. Barcelona: Paidós.
  • Luri, Gregorio (2004), Guía para no entender a Sócrates. Madrid: Trotta.
  • Patocka, Jan (1991), Platón y Europa. Barcelona: Península.
  • Piqué, Antoni (ed./trad.) (1985), Sofistas. Testimonios y fragmentos. Barcelona: Bruguera.
  • Strauss, Leo (1989), El problema de Sòcrates. Barcelona: Barcelonesa d’Edicions.
  • Vlastos, Gregory (1991), Socrates, Ironist and Moral Philosopher. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
  • VV.AA. (2000), Més enllà de Sòcrates i Plató. Sofistes, cirenaics i altres. Barcelona: Enoanda.
  • Zubiri, Xavier (1981), “Sócrates y la sabiduría griega”, a Naturaleza, Historia, Dios. Madrid: Editora Nacional.


Plato


  • Burnet, John (2018), Platonisme. Trad. Harold Roig Gorina. Barcelona: Enoanda.
  • García Baró, Miguel (2008), El Bien perfecto. Invitación a la filosofía platónica. Salamanca: Sígueme.
  • Guthrie, W. K. C. (1987), Historia de la filosofía griega, vols. IV–V. Madrid: Gredos.
  • Hadot, Pierre (1995), ¿Qué es la filosofía antigua? Mèxic: FCE.
  • Hadot, Pierre (1999), Éloge de la philosophie antique. Paris: Allia.
  • Monserrat Molas, Josep (ed.) (2002), Hermenèutica i platonisme. Barcelona: Barcelonesa d’Edicions (open access version in the web: loliba.cat).
  • Patočka, Jan (1991), Platón y Europa. Barcelona: Península.
  • Ross, David (1993), Teoría de las ideas de Platón. Madrid: Cátedra.
  • Strauss, Leo (1989), El problema de Sócrates. Barcelona: Barcelonesa d’Edicions.
  • Taylor, A. E. (2025), Plató. L’home i la seva obra. Trad. Harold Roig Gorina. Barcelona: Enoanda.
  • Vlastos, Gregory (1991), Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosopher. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.


Aristotle

  • Aubenque, Pierre (1974), El problema del ser en Aristóteles. Trad. Valentín Peña. Madrid: Taurus.
  • Berti, Enrico (2009), En el principio era la maravilla. Trad. H. Aguilar. Madrid: Gredos.
  • Berti, Enrico (2012), Aristóteles. Madrid: Gredos.
  • Berti, Enrico (2018), Estructura i significat de la Metafísica d’Aristòtil. Trad. Harold Roig Gorina. Barcelona: Enoanda.
  • Calvo Martínez, Tomás (1996), Aristóteles y el aristotelismo. Madrid: Akal.
  • Düring, Ingemar (1990), Aristóteles. Trad. B. Navarro. Mèxic: UNAM.
  • Guthrie, W. K. C. (1988), Historia de la filosofía griega, vol. VI. Madrid: Gredos.
  • Reale, Giovanni (1985), Introducción a Aristóteles. Barcelona: Herder.



Hellenistic Philosophy


  • Bailey, Cyril (2020), Els atomistes grecs i Epicur. Trad. Harold Roig Gorina. Barcelona: Enoanda.
  • Bevan, Edwyn (2023), Estoics i escèptics. Trad. Harold Roig Gorina. Barcelona: Enoanda.
  • Bridoux, André (1966), Le stoïcisme et son influence. Paris: Vrin.
  • García Gual, Carlos & Imaz, María Jesús (1986), La filosofía helenística: éticas y sistemas. Madrid: Cincel.
  • Hadot, Pierre (2011), Ejercicios espirituales y filosofía antigua. Barcelona: Siruela.
  • Hicks, Robert (2019), Estoics i epicuris. Trad. Harold Roig Gorina. Barcelona: Enoanda.
  • Long, Anthony A. (2007), La filosofía helenística: estoicos, epicúreos, escépticos. Madrid: Alianza.
  • Maccoll, Norman (2019), Els escèptics grecs. Trad. Harold Roig Gorina. Barcelona: Enoanda.
  • Nussbaum, Martha (1995), La fragilidad del bien. Madrid: Visor.
  • VV. AA. (2000), Més enllà de Sòcrates i Plató. Trad. Harold Roig Gorina. Barcelona: Enoanda.


Medieval philosophy


  • Gilson, Étienne (1965), La filosofía en la Edad Media. Madrid: Gredos.
  • Lagerlund, Henrik (ed.) (2011), Encyclopedia of Medieval Philosophy. Dordrecht: Springer.
  • Marenbon, John (2016), Medieval Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • McGrade, A. S. (ed.) (2006), The Cambridge Companion to Medieval Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Mensa i Valls, Jaume (2012), Introducció a la filosofia medieval. Bellaterra: UAB.


Digital resources:


  • Peter Adamson, History of philosophy, "without any gaps":https://historyofphilosophy.net/
  • VV.AA. Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://plato.stanford.edu



Software

During the course we will work with documents in .doc, .docs, .pdf and .ppt formats.

If we have to do online sessions, we will use the Teams and Meet programs

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed