Aesthetics in the Middle Ages

Code:

MFIL035

Acronym:

EIM

Instance: 2016/2017 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	http://moodle.pt
Responsible unit:	Department of Philosophy
Course/CS Responsible:	Masters in Philosophy

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MFIL	6	MFIL - Study Plan	1	-	10	58	270

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Under the theme "image and likeness" medieval doctrines on the visibility of the absolute will be discussed from the ontological and epistemological point of view.

Texts chosen for analysis are focused on texts by medieval phiosophers explaining on the concept of image. The main goals are to identify and understand the categories of beauty that arise in this period. The doctrines explained allow students to understand the emergence of aesthetic categories (beauty and beautiful) and the way they are use to understand the link between human beings, the material world and the Absolute. Student should be able to identify positions on the aesthetic in central texts by medieval authors; to understand the different historiographical interpretations of the existence of an aesthetic philosophical thought in the Middle Ages; and to identifying and explain the doctrines of the authors studied.

Learning outcomes and competences

The student will be aible to:
1- analyse and distinguish the folowing concepts, in the work of the medieval texts and authors analysed in the syllabus:
a) image; b) phenomena linked to sense perception and to the perception of beauty; c) expressions and construction of the beautiful (arts and nature).
2 - understand the ontological and epistemological roots of medieval doctrines on beauty explained by relevant authors and to identify and define the concept of beauty stated by these authors and texts.
3. grasp  the emergence and formation of the theoretical categories of beautiful and the way this emergence is linked with the question on man ultimate end and the ways toward the absolute.
4. distinguish the different paradigms of beauty in the middle ages and analyse the main theoretical problems they are concerned with.
5- acquire the technical vocabulary of the doctrines of each author studied and to manage the main skills for scientific research in the field.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1.Augustine of Hippo: Definition of image, similitude and identity. The ontological statute of image. 2. Three types of vision: corporeal, spiritual and intellectual. Degrees of perception and ways of human mind toward the absolute.

2. Visibility and in-visibility of the absolute - opposite paradigms: Augustine and Pseudo-Dionysius Areopagite

3. The controversy on the images in the time of Charlemagne (Teodulfo d'Orleans: Libri carolini).

4.Metaphysics of light. Forms of things, sense perception. The experience of light and color and its function in the perception of beauty. The contemplation of forms in the Book of Nature in the Middle Ages: Hildegard of Bingen, Robert Grosseteste, Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, Thomas Aquinas, .

5.Creation, production and reproduction: the concept of beauty in nature and in the arts - Hugo of St. Victor, Thomas Aquinas.

6. The concept of beauty in the Renaissance: Francisco de Holanda.

Mandatory literature

Agostinho, Santo, 354-430; Agostinho de Hipona. ISBN: 978-972-36-1288-2
Agostinho de Hipona; Comentário Literal ao Livro do Génesis, Livro XII, Civitas Augustiniana, 2012
Boaventura, Santo, 1217-1270; Itinerário da mente para Deus. ISBN: 978-989-96485-0-0
Francisco de Holanda, 1518-1584; Da pintura antiga
Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite; The Complete Works,, London: Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge., 1987
Hildegarde de Bingen; Scivias
Grosseteste, Robert, 1175-1253; Tratado da luz e outros opúsculos sobre a cor e a luz. ISBN: 978-972-36-1290-5
Agostinho de Hipona; 83 Questões Diversas, q. 74 (Portuguese translationby Paula Oliveira e Silva, available o Moodle elearning page)

Complementary Bibliography

Boulnois, Olivier; Au-delà de l.image. ISBN: 978-2-02-096647-4
De Bruyne, Edgar; Études d.esthétique médiévale. ISBN: 2-226-09967-0 2-226-09968-9
Garnier, François; Le langage de l.image au Moyen Age. ISBN: 2-86377-014-4
Grabar, André; Les^origines de l.esthétique médiévale. ISBN: 2-86589-039-2

Comments from the literature

Other bibliography will be available both on Moodle elearning page and in class.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Seminar. Lecture and commentary on the texts proposed in the program.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	20,00
Prova oral	20,00
Trabalho escrito	60,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	100,00
Frequência das aulas	52,00
Trabalho de investigação	118,00
Total:	270,00

Calculation formula of final grade

Average mark based on the somatory of the mark given to the wrtitten work, to the oral work and to the participation, transferred to a quantitative scale.

Classification improvement

weighted average resulting from the written work mark (70%) plus the oral exam mark (30%)