Translating Latin Philosophical Texts 3800-L25-T

The translating course is intended for students with an intermediate (or at least basic) knowledge of Latin. The aim is to hone one’s Latin reading skills and help students become comfortable with the various conventions in which Latin philosophical texts are written—treatise, quaestio, dialogue, philosophical poem, commentary. During the classes, we will read excerpts from the works of outstanding authors of ancient and medieval philosophy.

[Additional information for the 2025/2026 academic year]
In class, each student reads and proposes a translation of a given sentence, which is then subjected to grammatical and philosophical discussion. After class, participants record and refine their translations in a Google document, where the instructor posts further comments.

The choice of specific texts depends in part on the group’s preferences—you are welcome to suggest your own. The preliminary plan for 2025/2026 is as follows: we will begin by reading two texts by Peter Abelard concerning the concepts of quantity and time: Dialectica and Logica “Ingredientibus.” Then I will prepare a survey in which you can vote on the next text. You may submit your own proposals, which I will add to the survey. My suggestions will include, among others, fragments of philosophical writings by Cicero (dialogue), Lucretius (poem), Seneca (letter), Boethius (commentary), Peter Abelard, William of Conches (treatise, commentary), later scholastics (quaestio), and excerpts from medieval logic manuals.