Seminars WiSe 26/27 – History of Philosophy

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Mario Meliadò

Times: Tue, 13.10.2026 – 02.02.2026, 2–4 p.m., c.t.

Location: AR-HB 0118

Description: The introductory module “History of Philosophy” consists of two interrelated lectures. The aim of the module is, on the one hand, to provide students with a systematic overview of the historical development of philosophy from antiquity to the modern era and, on the other hand, to familiarize them with the central questions, methods, and debates that shape the history of philosophy as a modern discipline.

The first course, “Introduction to the History of Philosophy: Fundamental Questions and Methods” (summer semester), introduces students to the theoretical and methodological foundations of the history of philosophy. Building on this foundation, it then provides a critical overview of ancient philosophy, giving students a nuanced understanding of the subject area as well as the central issues in the history of philosophy. Among other things, the course focuses on questions regarding the relationship of philosophy to its own history and historicity, the origin and definition of philosophy, its relationship to other forms of knowledge, and the meaning and value of studying the history of philosophy. In addition, issues related to the formation of the canon, as well as perspectives on a global and transcultural history of philosophy, are discussed and examined through various approaches.

In the winter semester, the second lecture, “Introduction to the History of Philosophy: Epochs and Intellectual Traditions,” follows directly after this introductory course. It focuses on exemplary historical periods, authors, and philosophical movements, and examines how philosophical theories and practices have emerged and evolved in various cultural, political, social, and religious contexts. Starting with ancient philosophy, the course reconstructs central positions and traditions of thought from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance to the modern era, while also highlighting fundamental transformations, processes of transmission, and paradigm shifts in the history of thought.

The two lectures are coordinated in terms of content but can also be taken independently of one another if necessary or—for example, for academic scheduling reasons—in a different order.

Lecturer: Dr. Francesco Molinarolo

Times: Tue, 13.10.2026 – 02.02.2027, 12–2 p.m., c.t.

Location: AR-HB 0117

Description: The question “Is it permissible to think anything?” significantly shapes public, political, and cultural debate today. In and of itself, freedom of conscience does not encompass unrestricted freedom of action and expression: freedom of thought can be guaranteed, yet various (social and legal) norms may restrict the expression and realization of one’s own thoughts. This seminar will not address the question of whether such restrictions are justified. Rather, we will examine how freedom of conscience was conceived in the modern era—the period in which the philosophical debate on tolerance emerged. Freedom and tolerance are historically complex concepts. The concept of tolerance, in particular, has long been examined in terms of its negative implications as well. One example of this is its inherent imbalance: the fact that someone can tolerate certain opinions implies a higher degree of authority and power. In this seminar, we will examine various perspectives on the relationship between the freedom to philosophize (“libertas philosophandi”) and tolerance from a historical-philosophical standpoint. By examining authors from diverse backgrounds—from Nicholas of Cusa to Giordano Bruno, from Hobbes to Voltaire—we will explore the complex relationship between freedom of thought, philosophy, freedom of expression, and political practice.

Lecturer: Dr. Francesco Molinarolo

Times: Mon, 12.10.2026 – 01.02.2026, 2–4 p.m., c.t.

Location: AR-M 0216

Description: Nowadays, magic is considered the complete opposite of science. While science relies on precise methodologies and fields of inquiry, magic is relegated to the realm of fantasy and the unreal. In the past, the situation was entirely different. From the Middle Ages to the early modern period, magic served, in part, as the practical application of theoretical thought regarding nature and its constituents. Conversely, the modern concept of "science" has traditionally a clearly identifiable historical origin: "scientific" thought began to develop between the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, driven by figures such as Galileo Galilei. In this seminar, we will examine the relationship between magical and scientific thought during the Renaissance. During this period, magic was theorized in various ways and for diverse purposes: on one hand, it corresponds to what we might today define as proto-scientific thought; on the other, it retained certain demonological premises that sparked debates regarding the orthodoxy of its practice. By examining key authors involved in this discourse, we will critically explore this relationship, discussing the practical and theoretical value of knowledge models within the framework of natural philosophy.

Classes will be given in English. Nonetheless, the German translation of the examined works will be constantly used for discussion. Furthermore, students will be able to participate in the discussion in English or German, at their own discretion.

Lecturers: Prof. Dr. Mario Meliadò and Prof. Dr. Gregor Nickel

Times: Wed, 21.10.2026 – 03.02.2026, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., c.t.

Location: AR-K 100

Description: “Only the wise are truly human”: With this provocative yet time-honored thesis, Charles de Bovelles (1479–1566)—one of the most fascinating figures of the French Renaissance—makes it clear that, unlike all other living beings, human nature is not simply predetermined for human beings, but rather that its realization becomes their life’s mission. This freedom means that human beings do not occupy a fixed place in the cosmos, but rather become the beings they choose to be and shape themselves into through virtue and knowledge. But what constitutes that wisdom which, in Bovelles’s view, appears as a kind of “anthropotechnology”—an art of human education and self-formation? And how do knowledge of the world and self-knowledge relate to one another within the human being?

This seminar is devoted to a reading of Charles de Bovelles’ "Book on the Wise Man" ("Liber de sapiente"), which was published in 1511 and has been described as “the most remarkable and, in some respects, the most characteristic creation of Renaissance philosophy” (Ernst Cassirer). Bovelles’ work, which emerged at the intersection of various traditions and influences—including those of Nicholas of Cusa, Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, and Marsilio Ficino—serves as an introduction to the thought of an era that historiography typically identifies as the transition from the “Middle Ages” to the “Modern Era.” Two aspects are the focus of our interest: first, the central role of mathematics, which Bovelles—the author of his own geometric treatises—regards as a field of knowledge inseparable from philosophy; and second, the significance of illustrations, which Bovelles not only artfully employs as a means of illustrating his ideas but also conceives of as an integral and indispensable component of human thought.

The course is designed to be interdisciplinary, bridging the fields of the history of philosophy and the philosophy of mathematics. It is specifically aimed at students of both philosophy and mathematics and seeks to integrate and build upon diverse perspectives in the learning and teaching dialogue, drawing on a seminar group with a diverse academic background.

Additional Information

1. This course is part of the lecture series “The Book Garden: Readings from the History of Philosophy.” Two sessions in the second half of the semester will be led by visiting specialists in the philosophy of the early modern period and will be devoted to the collective reading and interpretation of selected texts.

2. The seminar includes a third weekly session devoted to close reading. However, depending on the selected credit option and degree program, the course can also be taken as a two-hour course if necessary.

3. The seminar begins on October 21, 2026, i.e., during the second week of classes.

Lecturer: Fabian Marx, M.A.

Times: Mon, 12.10.2026 – 01.02.2026, 4–6 p.m., c.t.

Location: AR-B 2210

Description: Plato introduces his readers to philosophical thinking and never lets them go. He stages philosophical dialogues—not for the sake of highbrow entertainment, but to cultivate uncompromising intellectual integrity. Philosophy, in Plato’s sense, is dialectic, the science of dialogue, ἐπιστήμη διαλεκτική. A philosopher is someone who pays attention to their own speech while speaking, by asking: What do the terms used presuppose? What distinguishes them? What do they have in common? Such care is a fundamental prerequisite for any speech that aims to be persuasive. For speech can only be objectively acceptable if it reveals ambiguities, avoids contradictions, and is consistent. Anyone who speaks otherwise deceives themselves and others, becoming a “sophist.” In this seminar, we will engage intensively with the dialogue of the same name (Sophist), but we will also consult excerpts from other dialogues (e.g., Phaedrus, Philebus, Parmenides). We will ask: What does a philosopher do in Plato’s sense? What methods does he follow? What ethos does he embody?

The seminar serves as an introduction to Plato’s thought and to the reading of classical texts within the tradition.

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Mario Meliadò

Times: Tue, 13.10.2026 – 02.02.2026, 4–6 p.m., c.t.

Location: AR-NB 0104

Description: I interpret a certain ringtone on my cell phone as a sign that I’ve received a message, and you, in turn, can interpret my sudden smile as a sign of my hope to finally hear from a friend. Small graphic symbols on the screen represent letters, which I use to form words that describe things, emotions, or situations. At the same time, I interpret a pleasant smell coming from the kitchen as a sign that dinner will be ready soon, while I use certain sounds in my voice as acoustic signs to tell you what my friend just wrote to me.

We live in a world full of signs. Without constantly producing and using signs, we would be unable to communicate; without the ability to interpret signs, we would be disoriented in the world and isolated from one another. But what, exactly, is a sign? Is sign-ness a natural property of things, a relation, or the result of convention and habit? And above all: In what sense is language—whether spoken or written—a system of signs, and how does it differ from other forms of sign use?

In this seminar, we will explore these questions by examining philosophical theories of language and signs in antiquity and the Middle Ages. Drawing on six representative positions—Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Roger Bacon, William of Ockham, and Nicholas of Cusa—we will trace the history of a philosophical problem and investigate how it evolves in different historical and cultural contexts. In doing so, we will ask how reflection on signs evolved from the ancient debate over names, words, and meaning to medieval theories of signification, and how it ultimately extended beyond language to address humanity’s relationship to the world, to God, and to itself.

Lecturer: Dr. Francesco Molinarolo

Times: Fri, 23.10.2026, 4–6 p.m., c.t. (online); Mon, 08.02.2027, 2–6 p.m., c.t.; Tue, 09.02.2027, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., c.t.; Tue/Fri, 11./12.02.2027, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., c.t.

Location: t.b.a.

Description: Pietro Pomponazzi (1462-1525) is one of the most important philosophers of the early modern era, and his thought has influenced many subsequent philosophical currents. An Aristotelian philosopher, Pomponazzi developed a complex body of theory encompassing the theory of the soul, natural philosophy, cosmology, and political theory. One of his most important works is the “Treatise on the Immortality of the Soul” (1516). In it, Pomponazzi argues that the immortality of the soul cannot be rationally proven. This premise entails far-reaching consequences: the potential denial of heaven and hell – and thus of an afterlife-based foundation for morality – as well as a re-evaluation of human dignity. In this seminar, we will analyze this work in depth, comparing its contents with other relevant contemporary readings on the nature of the human soul, and the heated reactions it stirred. The aim of our reading is to familiarize with key pillars of early modern philosophy, its relationship to medieval philosophy, and its influence on subsequent thought. We will concurrently discuss themes raised by Pomponazzi that remain relevant today, including the necessity of a moral basis for action; the philosophical-anthropological question of the human being’s place in the world; the metaphysical foundation for understanding human functions and potentials; and the religious implications of philosophical thought, in its relationship with theological doctrines.

The seminar will take place in February (February 8-12, 2027). During the seminar, visiting scholars will give presentations and interact with students to deepen the discussion. Given the presence of and interaction with expert guests, the sessions will be held mainly in English. Nonetheless, the German translation of the examined works will be constantly referred to. Furthermore, students will be able to participate in the discussion in English or German, at their own discretion.

An introductory meeting will take place at the beginning of the semester, on October 23, 2026 (h. 16-18). The introductory meeting will be held online, via Webex. During this meeting, the structure and contents of the seminar will be presented, and students will receive all the texts and materials needed to prepare for the meetings in February.

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Mario Meliadò

Times: Thu, 15.10.2026 – 10.12.2026, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., c.t. (fortnightly); Thu, 14.01.2027 – 28.01.2027, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., c.t. (fortnightly)

Location: AR-NB 0104

Description: The working group meets every two weeks to discuss recent publications in the field of the history of philosophy. This semester, the group will focus on the scholarly practice of writing reviews and the critical discussion of current research literature. At each session, two selected publications are presented and discussed in the spirit of an academic review: with regard to central theses, methodological assumptions, problems of argumentation, and the research context, as well as through joint reading and commentary on selected passages. No later than two weeks before each session, an excerpt (10–12 pages) from the book to be discussed is provided to all participants for preparation. At the end of the semester, students have the opportunity to present a publication related to their research interests.

Doctoral candidates and students interested in topics and questions related to the history of philosophy are cordially invited to participate. You will have the opportunity to gain insights into our research practices and actively contribute to the working group’s scholarly exchange. The event is workshop-style and aims to foster a fruitful dialogue between advanced students and researchers in the field of the history of philosophy, as well as to introduce students to current debates and methods of scholarly work.