History of Contemporary Philosophy
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide the students with substantial basic knowledge of the vocabulary, the notions and the main claims of prominent writers in philosophy from the 18th to the 20th century through the close examination of their texts and related debates.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student
- knows the fundamental aspects of the history of contemporary philosophy
- has gained has a secure knowledge of the texts under scrutiny and their philosophical substance,
- understands the transformations of concepts and argumentative forms over time, and the various interpretations of the texts under scrutiny,
- has a proficient knowledge of the resources and methodological tools of the historical-philosophical research.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the study path, the graduate
- Can apply the knowledge that s/he has acquired in reading a philosophical text,
- Can apply the knowledge that s/he has acquired in framing authors, texts and debates in their philosophical context,
- Can apply the understanding of concepts and argumentative forms to the analysis of problems and to the discussion of competing views,
Can apply the methodological cognitions s/he has gained and the bibliographical resources in writing a short scientific paper on topics from the history of philosophy
At the end of the course, the student
- knows the fundamental aspects of the history of contemporary philosophy
- has gained has a secure knowledge of the texts under scrutiny and their philosophical substance,
- understands the transformations of concepts and argumentative forms over time, and the various interpretations of the texts under scrutiny,
- has a proficient knowledge of the resources and methodological tools of the historical-philosophical research.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the study path, the graduate
- Can apply the knowledge that s/he has acquired in reading a philosophical text,
- Can apply the knowledge that s/he has acquired in framing authors, texts and debates in their philosophical context,
- Can apply the understanding of concepts and argumentative forms to the analysis of problems and to the discussion of competing views,
Can apply the methodological cognitions s/he has gained and the bibliographical resources in writing a short scientific paper on topics from the history of philosophy
Lesson period: Second semester
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
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The class will be devoted to the examination of Kant's "Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals" (1785). Written in one of the most animated phases in Kant's work, the "Groundwork" introduces a new approach to moral philosophy, through a critical discussion with the most significant moral theories in 17th and 18th-century philosophy. Starting off from an examination of ordinary moral thinking, the "Groundwork" sketches a general theory of moral requirements and the thought of the formal character of the moral principle. Main focus of Kant's theory is the innovative conception of the autonomy of the will. Unit 1 and 2 will be devoted to a close reading of the text and a review of the main steps of the argument in the three sections of Kant's work.
The "Groundwork" is also one of the more influential works in the history of moral philosophy, up to the contemporary discussion. Unit 3 of the class will therefore consider Kantian views in the current debate, with specific regard to writers like Christine Korsgaard and Onora O'Neill.
The "Groundwork" is also one of the more influential works in the history of moral philosophy, up to the contemporary discussion. Unit 3 of the class will therefore consider Kantian views in the current debate, with specific regard to writers like Christine Korsgaard and Onora O'Neill.
Prerequisites for admission
A good knowledge of the history of modern philosophy is desirable, especially with regard to most important figures and tendencies in 18th and 19th-century thought.
Teaching methods
Lectures
Debate and discussion
Debate and discussion
Teaching Resources
Reading Assignments for attending students:
Immanuel Kant, "Fondazione della metafisica dei costumi", a cura di Filippo Gonnelli, Laterza; oppure a cura di Pietro Chiodi, in "Scritti morali", Torino, UTET, 1970 (e ristampe successive).
One of the following commentaries:
Jens Timmermann, "Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. A Commentary", Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2007;
Sally Sedgwick, "Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. An Introduction", Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2008;
Dieter Schönecker, Allen W. Wood, "Immanuel Kant's Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals: A Commentary", Cambridge (Mass.), Harvard University Press, 2015.
Stefano Bacin, "Imperativo", Napoli, Guida, 2011: §§ 1-6 e § 9, pp. 7-58, 83-97.
Stefano Bacin, "Legge e obbligatorietà: la struttura dell'idea di autolegislazione morale", "Studi kantiani" 26 (2013), 55-70
Christine Korsgaard, "The Sources of Normativity", Cambridge University Press, 1996. Trad. it.: "Le origini della normatività", Pisa, ETS, 2013: prologo e lezioni 1-4.
Onora O'Neill, "Constructivism in Rawls and Kant", in "Constructing Authorities: Reason, Politics and Interpretation in Kant's Philosophy", Cambridge University Press, 2016, 69-85.
Andrews Reath, "Contemporary Kantian Ethics", in John Skorupski (ed.), "The Routledge Companion to Ethics", London, Routledge, 2010, 456-466.
(disponibile anche on-line: https://philosophy.ucr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Reath-Contemporary-Kantian-Ethics.pdf, e https://philpapers.org/archive/REACKE.pdf)
Carla Bagnoli, "Il ruolo epistemico delle norme costitutive", in C. Bagnoli (a cura di), "Che fare? Nuove prospettive filosofiche sull'azione", Roma, Carocci, 2013, 129-152.
Claudio La Rocca, "Kant", in G. Cambiano, L. Fonnesu e M. Mori (a cura di), "Storia della filosofia occidentale", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, volume quarto: "La filosofia classica tedesca", cap. I (oppure in: G. Cambiano, L. Fonnesu e M. Mori, a cura di, "La filosofia moderna", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2018, cap. XIV.
Roberta Picardi, "Fichte", in G. Cambiano, L. Fonnesu e M. Mori (a cura di), "Storia della filosofia occidentale", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, volume quarto: "La filosofia classica tedesca", cap. III (oppure in: G. Cambiano, L. Fonnesu e M. Mori, a cura di, "La filosofia dell'Ottocento", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2018, cap. II.
Luca Fonnesu, "Hegel", in G. Cambiano, L. Fonnesu e M. Mori (a cura di), "Storia della filosofia occidentale", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, volume quarto: "La filosofia classica tedesca", cap. VI (oppure in: G. Cambiano, L. Fonnesu e M. Mori, a cura di, "La filosofia dell'Ottocento", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2018, cap. V).
Additional reading assignments for non-attending students:
Manfred Kuehn, "Kant. A Biography", Cambridge University Press, 2001. Trad. it.: "Kant. Una biografia", Bologna, il Mulino, 2011, cap. 7, 409-479.
John Rawls, "Lectures on the History of Moral Philosophy", Harvard University Press, 2000. Trad. it.: "Lezioni di storia della filosofia morale", Milano, Feltrinelli, 2004, cap. Kant I-IV, 155-232.
Luca Fonnesu, "Etica", in S. Besoli, C. La Rocca e R. Martinelli (ed.), "L'universo kantiano", Macerata, Quodlibet, 2010, 147-187.
Carla Bagnoli, "Introduzione", in C. Bagnoli (a cura di), "Che fare? Nuove prospettive filosofiche sull'azione", Roma, Carocci, 2013, 11-68.
Immanuel Kant, "Fondazione della metafisica dei costumi", a cura di Filippo Gonnelli, Laterza; oppure a cura di Pietro Chiodi, in "Scritti morali", Torino, UTET, 1970 (e ristampe successive).
One of the following commentaries:
Jens Timmermann, "Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. A Commentary", Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2007;
Sally Sedgwick, "Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. An Introduction", Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2008;
Dieter Schönecker, Allen W. Wood, "Immanuel Kant's Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals: A Commentary", Cambridge (Mass.), Harvard University Press, 2015.
Stefano Bacin, "Imperativo", Napoli, Guida, 2011: §§ 1-6 e § 9, pp. 7-58, 83-97.
Stefano Bacin, "Legge e obbligatorietà: la struttura dell'idea di autolegislazione morale", "Studi kantiani" 26 (2013), 55-70
Christine Korsgaard, "The Sources of Normativity", Cambridge University Press, 1996. Trad. it.: "Le origini della normatività", Pisa, ETS, 2013: prologo e lezioni 1-4.
Onora O'Neill, "Constructivism in Rawls and Kant", in "Constructing Authorities: Reason, Politics and Interpretation in Kant's Philosophy", Cambridge University Press, 2016, 69-85.
Andrews Reath, "Contemporary Kantian Ethics", in John Skorupski (ed.), "The Routledge Companion to Ethics", London, Routledge, 2010, 456-466.
(disponibile anche on-line: https://philosophy.ucr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Reath-Contemporary-Kantian-Ethics.pdf, e https://philpapers.org/archive/REACKE.pdf)
Carla Bagnoli, "Il ruolo epistemico delle norme costitutive", in C. Bagnoli (a cura di), "Che fare? Nuove prospettive filosofiche sull'azione", Roma, Carocci, 2013, 129-152.
Claudio La Rocca, "Kant", in G. Cambiano, L. Fonnesu e M. Mori (a cura di), "Storia della filosofia occidentale", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, volume quarto: "La filosofia classica tedesca", cap. I (oppure in: G. Cambiano, L. Fonnesu e M. Mori, a cura di, "La filosofia moderna", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2018, cap. XIV.
Roberta Picardi, "Fichte", in G. Cambiano, L. Fonnesu e M. Mori (a cura di), "Storia della filosofia occidentale", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, volume quarto: "La filosofia classica tedesca", cap. III (oppure in: G. Cambiano, L. Fonnesu e M. Mori, a cura di, "La filosofia dell'Ottocento", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2018, cap. II.
Luca Fonnesu, "Hegel", in G. Cambiano, L. Fonnesu e M. Mori (a cura di), "Storia della filosofia occidentale", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, volume quarto: "La filosofia classica tedesca", cap. VI (oppure in: G. Cambiano, L. Fonnesu e M. Mori, a cura di, "La filosofia dell'Ottocento", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2018, cap. V).
Additional reading assignments for non-attending students:
Manfred Kuehn, "Kant. A Biography", Cambridge University Press, 2001. Trad. it.: "Kant. Una biografia", Bologna, il Mulino, 2011, cap. 7, 409-479.
John Rawls, "Lectures on the History of Moral Philosophy", Harvard University Press, 2000. Trad. it.: "Lezioni di storia della filosofia morale", Milano, Feltrinelli, 2004, cap. Kant I-IV, 155-232.
Luca Fonnesu, "Etica", in S. Besoli, C. La Rocca e R. Martinelli (ed.), "L'universo kantiano", Macerata, Quodlibet, 2010, 147-187.
Carla Bagnoli, "Introduzione", in C. Bagnoli (a cura di), "Che fare? Nuove prospettive filosofiche sull'azione", Roma, Carocci, 2013, 11-68.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final examination consists of a computer-based test and an oral exam, both of which are mandatory. The written part of the exam consists in a short paper (max. 8000 characters) commenting on a passage from Kant's "Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals". The students shall e-mail their paper to the teacher at least three working days before the day of the oral exam. The purpose of the oral exam will be to test the knowledge and skills acquired by the students in light of the activities and course topics. The oral exam will include a discussion of the written paper of the student.
Unita' didattica A
M-FIL/06 - HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-FIL/06 - HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-FIL/06 - HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)