Moral Philosophy
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with some groundwork of moral philosophy, with special reference to foundational issues concerning the theory of value and applications in the areas of philosophy of history, bioethics and political philosophy.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course the student is expected to:
- . knows the theoretical fundamentals of moral philosophy;
- knows the most significant ethical and value issues in their historical evolution
- know the core concepts, and the technical terms involved in the contemporary debate on the issues examined during the course;
- have a clear and critical understanding of the moral and axiological questions raised during the course, with special reference to the following theoretical oppositions: individualism and collectivism, freedom and justice, tradition and reason, deontology and utilitarianism, rights and duties.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student is further expected to:
- be able to apply the knowledge and the conceptual tools in moral philosophy that have been provided to him/her.
- be able to provide a critical and informed approach to some of the main themes debated in moral philosophy.
- be able to read and to successfully interpret philosophical sources in the field of moral and political philosophy.
- can frame the key authors of ethical and value-related debates and related themes in a historical perspective
At the end of the course the student is expected to:
- . knows the theoretical fundamentals of moral philosophy;
- knows the most significant ethical and value issues in their historical evolution
- know the core concepts, and the technical terms involved in the contemporary debate on the issues examined during the course;
- have a clear and critical understanding of the moral and axiological questions raised during the course, with special reference to the following theoretical oppositions: individualism and collectivism, freedom and justice, tradition and reason, deontology and utilitarianism, rights and duties.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student is further expected to:
- be able to apply the knowledge and the conceptual tools in moral philosophy that have been provided to him/her.
- be able to provide a critical and informed approach to some of the main themes debated in moral philosophy.
- be able to read and to successfully interpret philosophical sources in the field of moral and political philosophy.
- can frame the key authors of ethical and value-related debates and related themes in a historical perspective
Lesson period: Activity scheduled over several sessions (see Course syllabus and organization section for more detailed information).
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
[A]
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course aims to present, first of all, a historical and theoretical framework of the "crisis of values" which has been highlighted on several occasions in the context of Western modernity. In the second instance, a phenomenologically based path will be taken with the dual objective of bringing order to the causes of this crisis and proposing a founding model capable of providing in outline a renewed capacity for ethical and behavioral orientation.
· The course is open to all students of the degree course in Philosophy, for the number of ECTS planned by the relevant curricula.
· The course is open to all students of the degree course in Philosophy, for the number of ECTS planned by the relevant curricula.
Prerequisites for admission
Students are required to have a basic philosophical knowledge, at a high school level, and equally a high school knowledge of modern and contemporary history.
Teaching methods
Lectures
Debate and discussion
Debate and discussion
Teaching Resources
Readings and assignments for attending students
Assignments both for 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
· Y. N. Harari, Homo Deus. Una breve storia del futuro, Bompiani, Milano 2017 [I° ed. Homo Deus. The History of Tomorrow, 2015] - Il testo può essere portato in originale o traduzione italiana, in ogni edizione.
· A. Zhok, Il senso dei valori. Fenomenologia, etica, politica, Mimesis, Milano 2024.
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
· A. MacIntyre, Dopo la virtù. Saggio di teoria morale, Roma, Armando, 2009 [After Virtue. A Study in Moral Theory, di A. MacIntyre, Duckworth & Co., London 1981.] - The text can be brought in the original or Italian translation, in any available edition.
---
Readings and assignments for non-attending students
Assignments both for 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
· Y. N. Harari, Homo Deus. Una breve storia del futuro, Bompiani, Milano 2017 [I° ed. Homo Deus. The History of Tomorrow, 2015] - The text can be brought in the original or Italian translation, in any available edition.
· A. Zhok, Il senso dei valori. Fenomenologia, etica, politica, Mimesis, Milano 2024.
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
· A. MacIntyre, Dopo la virtù. Saggio di teoria morale, Roma, Armando, 2009 [After Virtue. A Study in Moral Theory, di A. MacIntyre, Duckworth & Co., London 1981.] - The text can be brought in the original or Italian translation, in any available edition.
· A. MacIntyre, Enciclopedia, genealogia e tradizione. Tre versioni rivali di ricerca morale, Editrice Massimo, Milano 1993 [Three Rival Versions of Moral Enquiry. Encyclopaedia, Genealogy and Tradition, University of Notre Dame press, Notre Dame - Indiana, 1990] - The text can be brought in the original or Italian translation, in any available edition.
Assignments both for 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
· Y. N. Harari, Homo Deus. Una breve storia del futuro, Bompiani, Milano 2017 [I° ed. Homo Deus. The History of Tomorrow, 2015] - Il testo può essere portato in originale o traduzione italiana, in ogni edizione.
· A. Zhok, Il senso dei valori. Fenomenologia, etica, politica, Mimesis, Milano 2024.
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
· A. MacIntyre, Dopo la virtù. Saggio di teoria morale, Roma, Armando, 2009 [After Virtue. A Study in Moral Theory, di A. MacIntyre, Duckworth & Co., London 1981.] - The text can be brought in the original or Italian translation, in any available edition.
---
Readings and assignments for non-attending students
Assignments both for 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
· Y. N. Harari, Homo Deus. Una breve storia del futuro, Bompiani, Milano 2017 [I° ed. Homo Deus. The History of Tomorrow, 2015] - The text can be brought in the original or Italian translation, in any available edition.
· A. Zhok, Il senso dei valori. Fenomenologia, etica, politica, Mimesis, Milano 2024.
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
· A. MacIntyre, Dopo la virtù. Saggio di teoria morale, Roma, Armando, 2009 [After Virtue. A Study in Moral Theory, di A. MacIntyre, Duckworth & Co., London 1981.] - The text can be brought in the original or Italian translation, in any available edition.
· A. MacIntyre, Enciclopedia, genealogia e tradizione. Tre versioni rivali di ricerca morale, Editrice Massimo, Milano 1993 [Three Rival Versions of Moral Enquiry. Encyclopaedia, Genealogy and Tradition, University of Notre Dame press, Notre Dame - Indiana, 1990] - The text can be brought in the original or Italian translation, in any available edition.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral test on the topics discussed during the course. The general criteria for evaluating the exam are: 1) the correctness of the answers (adequacy of the contents), 2) the ability to synthesize the essential conceptual issues, 3) the comprehensiveness and richness of the answers, 4) the expressive quality (terminological appropriateness, fluency, precision), and 5) the critical capacity of the student.
Unita' didattica A
M-FIL/03 - MORAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-FIL/03 - MORAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-FIL/03 - MORAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
[B]
Lesson period
Second semester
Unita' didattica A
M-FIL/03 - MORAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-FIL/03 - MORAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-FIL/03 - MORAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)