This is an introduction to medieval philosophy and medieval thinkers (with reference to the notion of "Long Middle Ages", c. 200-1700), across various linguistic and religious backgrounds in the Mediterranean area (Christian, Jewish and Muslim authors writing in Greek, Latin, Arabic, Hebrew). In particular, we will study what John Marenbon has recently called "The Problem of Paganism" - namely, a "tension" inherent in medieval philosophy between the fact that certain authors (including philosophers from antiquity) were admired and revered as wise and virtuous, and yet the fact that such authors belonged to a different religion and were therefore, for medieval thinkers, "pagans". The topic allows to consider how ancient philosophy developed in the new medieval contexts, and to address encouters of different faiths and cultural backgrounds. We will consider how the Problem of Paganism emerges and develops, and the main strategies and solutions that were put in place for addressing it, some of which challenged received views of the Middle Ages.

J. Marenbon, Pagans and Philosophers. The Problem of Paganism from Augustine to Leibniz, Princeton University Press, Princeton 2015. (printed copy available at BAUM library; e-book fully available on Cerca' Foscari)

Should more background be necessary, cf. J. Marenbon, Medieval Philosophy. An historical and philosophical introduction. Routledge 2006. E-book fully available on Cerca' Foscari.