Ancient and Medieval Scientific Thought (20131)

Degree/study:  Degree in Humanities
Year: 3rd
Term: 2nd
Number of ECTS credits: 5 credits
Hours of studi dedication: hours
Teaching language or languages: Spanish
Teaching Staff: Daniele Cozzoli

1. Presentation of the subject

The aim of this subject is to study the most relevant aspects of ancient and medieval scientific thought in relation to its historical and cultural context. The subject will be based on seminars, reading and analysing primary sources and secondary literature articles.

2. Competences to be attained

General competences	Specific competences
1. Using bibliographic resources both in paper and in electronic format 2. Ability to coherently discuss and defend arguments 3. Ability to see reviews in an accurate and documented way 4. Use of scientific and historical terminology when reviewing scientific texts 5. Ability to develop an analytical mind	1. Knowing the most relevant events from ancient and medieval scientific history 2. Studying critical articles about ancient and medieval scientific history 3. Analysing the latest debates about ancient and medieval science and their connections with modern science 4. Having an analytical mind when making connections between the past and the present 5. Having an analytical awareness of history

3. Contents

Unit 1: The origins of Greek science: cosmology and ancient physics, Hippocrates of Chios and the ancient method of analysis

Unit 2: Greek medicine: Hippocrates of Cos and the Corpus Hippocraticum

Unit 3: Plato's mathematics and philosophy: cosmology in the Timaeus

Unit 4: Aristotle's natural philosophy: physics, cosmology, biology and psychology

Unit 5: Philosophy and science during the Hellenistic period: axiomatic systematization of Geometry in Euclid's Elements, Pseudo-Euclid's Optics, Pseudo-Aristotle's Mechanical Problems and the Ptolemaic system

Unit 6: Greek scientific culture transfer to the Latin world

Unit 7: Galen's medicine

Unit 8: Greek scientific culture transfer to the Arab culture

Unit 9: The Medieval Cosmos

Unit 10: Medieval scientific culture: pure mathematics, mixed mathematics and natural philosophy 

  

*The full version with the sections 4. Assessment, 5. Bibliography and teaching resources, 6. Methodology and 7. Planning of activities is available in the original version.

4. Assessment

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5. Bibliography and teaching resources

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5.1. Basic bibliography

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5.2. Complementary bibliography

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5.3. Teaching resources

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6. Metodology

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7. Planning of activities

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