Syllabus Information

5.1. Methodological overview

At the beginning of the course a dossier of classical texts and critics, updated

bibliography, maps, paintings and iconography is delivered. The sessions,

whose schedule is set by the Centre last for two hours and is divided into two

parts. In the first, the issues and problems are presented and in the second,

proceed to reading texts related to the subject . In the schedule of meetings , the

dates for a monographic seminar, which will last for 6 hours (four sessions) will

be fixed.

5.2. Learning tasks

• Theoretical lectures.
• Practical lectures.
• Individual work.
• Personal study.
• Assessment activities.

5.3. Syllabus

1. The meaning of "origin" in Philosophy. Naturalist/culturalist vs. essentialist

aproach.

2. Origin in modern Enlightenment. The Darwinian reversal. The Nietzschean,

Marxist and Freud interpretation. Postmodern reaction.

3. The cosmological origin; origin of humanity and woman; fire, social contract,

religion, language and fine arts.

4. Function and speech in the mythical versions of origin.

5. Rationalization of origin in pre-Socratic thought.

6. The Illustrated Beginnigs.

7. Platonic aproach: transmundane ontology corrected by cosmology.

8. The naturalist Epicurean tradition.

5.4. Course planning and calendar

See the academic calendar of the University of Zaragoza (http://academico.unizar.es/calendario-academico/calendario) and the website of the Faculty of Philosophy and Arts (Schedule of classes: https://fyl.unizar.es/horario-de-clases#overlay-context=horario-de-clases; Examination schedule: https://fyl.unizar.es/calendario-de-examenes#overlay-context=)

More information will be provided on the first day of class.

5.5. Bibliography and recommended resources

Alberto BERNABÉ & Jorge PÉREZ DE TUDELA (eds.), Mitos sobre el origen del hombre,

Ediciones Pensamiento-Circulo de Bellas Artes, Madrid, 2010.

S. BLUNDELL, The Origins of Civilisation in Greek and Roman Thought, Londres, _,

1986.

T. COLE, Demócritus and the Sources of Greek Anthropology, Míchigan,

Monografías de la Amer. Phil. Assoc., XXV, 1967.

Jean-Michel GALY & Antoine THIVEL (eds.), Les Origines de l’Home d’après les

Anciens, Universidad de Niza, 1998.

W.K.C. GUTHRIE, In the Beginning. Some Greek Views on the Origins of Life and the

Early State of Man, Methuen, 1957.

Charles H. KAHN, “The Origins of Social Contract Theory”, en G.B. Kerferd

(ed.), The Sophists and their legacy, Franz Steiner, Weisbaden, 1981.

Arthur O. LOVEJOY & George BOAS, Primitivism and Related Ideas in Antiquity,

Johns Hopkins Press, 1935, reedición Johns Paperback, Londres, 1997.

Francisco MARCO SIMÓN, Illud Tempus, Mito y cosmogonía en el mundo antiguo,

Prensas Universitarias de Zaragoza, 1988.

Jorge MARTÍNEZ-PINNA (ed.), Initia Rerum. Sobre el concepto del origen en el mundo

antiguo, Universidad de Málaga, 2006.

Jacqueline de ROMILLY, Histoire et Raison chez Thucydide, Les Belles Lettres, París,

1967.