Teaching Workshop: Homo Ridens: Laughing, Smiling, Mocking/scorning, Irony.
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The workshop's aims are the following ones:
to learn a critical attitude in the reading of a philosophical text, and an adequaete method in order to take possession of its contents
to learn an adequate philosophical writing and speaking.
to learn a critical attitude in the reading of a philosophical text, and an adequaete method in order to take possession of its contents
to learn an adequate philosophical writing and speaking.
Expected learning outcomes
The workshop aims to develop the following skills:
Critical thinking skills:
By the end of the workshop, students will display a sufficiently independent critical approach in selecting and interpreting the notions that are most relevant their area of study and to the broader socio-cultural context in which they operate
Communication skills:
By the end of the workshop:
- students will be able to effectively communicate the acquired knowledge and disseminate it to the general public;
- student will have developed basic IT skills concerning knowledge preservation and transfer.
Learning skills:
By the end of the workshop, students will have developed the learning skills required to continue their studies in keeping with their own research interests. In order to meet this objective, students will also develop relevant skills in the independent interpretation of sources and in the use of basic IT tool for bibliographic research.
Critical thinking skills:
By the end of the workshop, students will display a sufficiently independent critical approach in selecting and interpreting the notions that are most relevant their area of study and to the broader socio-cultural context in which they operate
Communication skills:
By the end of the workshop:
- students will be able to effectively communicate the acquired knowledge and disseminate it to the general public;
- student will have developed basic IT skills concerning knowledge preservation and transfer.
Learning skills:
By the end of the workshop, students will have developed the learning skills required to continue their studies in keeping with their own research interests. In order to meet this objective, students will also develop relevant skills in the independent interpretation of sources and in the use of basic IT tool for bibliographic research.
Lesson period: Second semester
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
Lesson period
Second semester
During the ongoing Covid emergency, the course syllabus will be maintained with the following changes made to enhance the effectiveness of the online version of the workshop, which was originally designed for face-to-face taching. Online environment used: Mycrosoft Teams. Any updates to the schedule will be posted in Notices for the students on Department's site.
Course syllabus
Workshop is a sequel to that one proceeded last year. Within the period considered (from Kierkegaard to René Girard, i.e. from Ninetenth to Twentieth century) it will be mainly focussed and debated René Girard's thought concerning the link between laughter and Dyonisiac thrill. Girard gives about this matter an interpretation which is sharply antithetical to Nietzsche's one. He puts an essenzial link between Dyonisiac worship and a scapegoating human violence, expressed in Greek mith and tragedy.
Prerequisites for admission
No previous knowledge required
Teaching methods
Debate and discussion
On line writing exercises
On line group work
The workshop's aims are the following ones:
to learn a critical attitude in the reading of a philosophical text, and an adequaete method in order to take possession of its contents
to learn an adequate philosophical writing and speaking.
On line writing exercises
On line group work
The workshop's aims are the following ones:
to learn a critical attitude in the reading of a philosophical text, and an adequaete method in order to take possession of its contents
to learn an adequate philosophical writing and speaking.
Teaching Resources
R. GIRARD, La violenza e il sacro (particularly the chapter 3: Edipo e la vittima espiatoria, and the chapter 5: Dioniso), Adelphi 1980, pp.1-189
R. GIRARD, G. FORNARI, Il caso Nietzsche, Marietti 2002, the following essays by Girard : Il superuomo nel sottosuolo. Strategie della follia: Nietzsche, Wagner, Dostoevskij (pp. 13-45); La contraddizione di Nietzsche (pp. 47-62); Dioniso contro il Crocifisso (pp. 63-88); Nietzsche, la decostruzione e la moderna preoccupazione per le vittime (pp. 89-124); Nietzsche e il destino della cultura europea (pp. 105-132)
R. GIRARD, Dionysos et la genèse violente du sacré, "Poetique, 3, 1970, pp. 266-281 (the photocopy of the article will be provided)
F. NIETZSCHE, La filosofia all'epoca dei greci e scritti 1870-1873 (edited by G. Colli), Adelphi 1991
F. NIETZSCHE, La nascita della tragedia dallo spirito della musica (edited by P. Chiarini e R. Venuti), Laterza 1995
SOFOCLE, Edipo Re (edited by di Guido Paduano), Sansoni 1989
EURIPIDE, Le Baccanti, ibidem.
R. GIRARD, G. FORNARI, Il caso Nietzsche, Marietti 2002, the following essays by Girard : Il superuomo nel sottosuolo. Strategie della follia: Nietzsche, Wagner, Dostoevskij (pp. 13-45); La contraddizione di Nietzsche (pp. 47-62); Dioniso contro il Crocifisso (pp. 63-88); Nietzsche, la decostruzione e la moderna preoccupazione per le vittime (pp. 89-124); Nietzsche e il destino della cultura europea (pp. 105-132)
R. GIRARD, Dionysos et la genèse violente du sacré, "Poetique, 3, 1970, pp. 266-281 (the photocopy of the article will be provided)
F. NIETZSCHE, La filosofia all'epoca dei greci e scritti 1870-1873 (edited by G. Colli), Adelphi 1991
F. NIETZSCHE, La nascita della tragedia dallo spirito della musica (edited by P. Chiarini e R. Venuti), Laterza 1995
SOFOCLE, Edipo Re (edited by di Guido Paduano), Sansoni 1989
EURIPIDE, Le Baccanti, ibidem.
Assessment methods and Criteria
In order to pass, students are required to actively participate in practical in-class activities and to write a final report about one (or a part of one) of the analysed texts.
Students will not receive a specific grade for the workshop (pass/fail only).
Attendance is compulsory.
Students will not receive a specific grade for the workshop (pass/fail only).
Attendance is compulsory.
- University credits: 3
Humanities workshops: 20 hours
Professor:
Morigi Silvio