A messy garden. A History of the Cultural Values of Europe

The course is intended to provide an understanding of the basic aspects of what we may call a European civilization. Europe has a long and rich history and has contributed decisively to what our world is today. Europe has invented many ideas and beliefs about man and his world, has spread this ideas and beliefs to other continents, and many of its values are still today guiding our actions and ruling our attitudes towards life. The understanding of this particular legacy seems an important issue for young students coming from different cultural and historical backgrounds and spending a course in a European country. Each session will discuss in detail some of these different aspects and elements of European civilization in order to recognize that particular legacy. It will be essential to consider also the darker sides of our long history, to be critical towards our past, in order to get aware, as Stefan Wilkanowicz claimed, of the richness of our heritage, drawing from the wealth of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Greek philosophy, Roman law, and humanism with both religious and non-religious roots; aware of the values of Christian civilization, which is the basic source of our identity; aware of the frequent betrayals of these values by both Christians and non-Christians; aware of the good and the evil that we have spread to the inhabitants of other continents; bemoaning the social catastrophe caused by the totalitarian systems that have originated within our civilization.