Philosophy of Practices
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims at an in-depth discussion of issues in the general area of theoretical philosophy, discussing also their relationship with other disciplines, both scientific and not. Contemporary philosophical traditions will be dealt with, regarding the analysis of the founding practices of abstract thought, i.e. discursive, scientific, economical, scriptural and relate-to-habits-of-experience and way-of-life-practices.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
- In-depth knowledge of problems in genealogical, existentialist, and pragmatist thinking, and all the related fields of the philosophy of practices, as well as ability to critically evaluate the results studied and their eventual connection to specific moments of ancient and modern thought.
- Development of a better familiarity with the research methods in the area of theoretical philosophy; special attention is devoted to opportunities to employ ideas and concepts from other disciplines.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
- Ability to apply the knowledge and critical skills acquired, also outside the specific area of the course and also outside philosophy.
- Ability to critically assess the methods employed in philosophical research and apply them to new problems.
- In-depth knowledge of problems in genealogical, existentialist, and pragmatist thinking, and all the related fields of the philosophy of practices, as well as ability to critically evaluate the results studied and their eventual connection to specific moments of ancient and modern thought.
- Development of a better familiarity with the research methods in the area of theoretical philosophy; special attention is devoted to opportunities to employ ideas and concepts from other disciplines.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
- Ability to apply the knowledge and critical skills acquired, also outside the specific area of the course and also outside philosophy.
- Ability to critically assess the methods employed in philosophical research and apply them to new problems.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
[A-K]
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Pragmatist philosophy proposes an approach radically oriented towards concrete practice, work, praxis, as opposed to a more traditional vision of knowledge understood in an abstract and theoretical sense. This edition of Philosophy of Practices will focus on the pragmatist thinking of Charles Sanders Peirce and William James, the two founders of the school. In particular, in the first twenty lessons the various versions of the pragmatic maxim that Peirce elaborated in the course of his life will be examined and the reinterpretation offered by William James, later contested by Peirce, will be considered. At the center of attention will be the notion of meaning linked to the analysis of its effects on conduct and the theme of "self-control" within the normative sciences.
The last teaching unit will bring together students enrolled with the letters L-K, in ten lessons common to all those who participate in the teaching of Philosophy of Practices (both A-K and L-Z), and will be dedicated to the text Pragmatism, in which William James presents his particular declination of pragmatist thought and pragmatic rule.
The last teaching unit will bring together students enrolled with the letters L-K, in ten lessons common to all those who participate in the teaching of Philosophy of Practices (both A-K and L-Z), and will be dedicated to the text Pragmatism, in which William James presents his particular declination of pragmatist thought and pragmatic rule.
Prerequisites for admission
Specific preliminary notions are not required
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Debate and discussions.
Students' essays on programme related subjects, or on specific texts of the programme (they will be part of the final evaluation).
Debate and discussions.
Students' essays on programme related subjects, or on specific texts of the programme (they will be part of the final evaluation).
Teaching Resources
READINGS FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS (9 ECTS)
The texts that we will consult by Peirce and James are available in the original language on the Opac- University Library Service under Digital Library, Past Masters Commons. We will select from here published material of the authors. In particular, I point out the following texts that must be brought to the exam, present on this site in the six digitally accessible volumes entitled "Collected Papers of Charles Sanders Peirce" (CP).
The fixation of belief (CP 5.358-387),
How to make our ideas clear (CP 5.388-410),
The doctrine of chances (CP 2.645-660),
Philosophy and the conduct of life (CP 1.616-677)
The maxim of Pragmatism (CP 5.14-40),
The three normative sciences (CP 5.120-150),
What pragmatism is (CP 5.411-437),
Issues of Pragmaticism (CP 5.438-463),
Pragmatism (CP 5.464-494),
An essay toward reasoning in security and uberty (Manoscritto 682. Partially in English on the site Ariel).
The following must be added:
R. Fabbrichesi, Introduzione a Peirce, Laterza, Bari.hesi, Einaudi, Torino (Capp. III -without the study of the key-words - and IV).
READINGS FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS (6 ECTS)
The texts that we will consult by Peirce and James are available in the original language on the Opac- University Library Service under Digital Library, Past Masters.Commons. We will select from here published material of the authors. In particular, I point out the following texts that must be brought to the exam, present on this site in the six digitally accessible volumes entitled "Collected Papers of Charles Sanders Peirce" (CP).
The fixation of belief (CP 5.358-387),
How to make our ideas clear (CP 5.388-410),
The doctrine of chances (CP 2.645-660),
Philosophy and the conduct of life (CP 1.616-677)
The maxim of Pragmatism (CP 5.14-40),
The three normative sciences (CP 5.120-150),
What pragmatism is (CP 5.411-437),
Issues of Pragmaticism (CP 5.438-463),
Pragmatism (CP 5.464-494),
An essay toward reasoning in security and uberty (Manoscritto 682. Partially in English on the site Ariel).
The following must be added:
R. Fabbrichesi, Introduzione a Peirce, Laterza, Bari.
R. Fabbrichesi (ed., Il primo libro di filosofia teoretica, Einaudi, Torino (Capp. III -without the study of the key-words - and IV).
Non-attending students, in both cases, will take "Il primo libro di filosofia teoretica", edited by R. Fabbrichesi, Einaudi, Turin (entirely).
The texts that we will consult by Peirce and James are available in the original language on the Opac- University Library Service under Digital Library, Past Masters Commons. We will select from here published material of the authors. In particular, I point out the following texts that must be brought to the exam, present on this site in the six digitally accessible volumes entitled "Collected Papers of Charles Sanders Peirce" (CP).
The fixation of belief (CP 5.358-387),
How to make our ideas clear (CP 5.388-410),
The doctrine of chances (CP 2.645-660),
Philosophy and the conduct of life (CP 1.616-677)
The maxim of Pragmatism (CP 5.14-40),
The three normative sciences (CP 5.120-150),
What pragmatism is (CP 5.411-437),
Issues of Pragmaticism (CP 5.438-463),
Pragmatism (CP 5.464-494),
An essay toward reasoning in security and uberty (Manoscritto 682. Partially in English on the site Ariel).
The following must be added:
R. Fabbrichesi, Introduzione a Peirce, Laterza, Bari.hesi, Einaudi, Torino (Capp. III -without the study of the key-words - and IV).
READINGS FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS (6 ECTS)
The texts that we will consult by Peirce and James are available in the original language on the Opac- University Library Service under Digital Library, Past Masters.Commons. We will select from here published material of the authors. In particular, I point out the following texts that must be brought to the exam, present on this site in the six digitally accessible volumes entitled "Collected Papers of Charles Sanders Peirce" (CP).
The fixation of belief (CP 5.358-387),
How to make our ideas clear (CP 5.388-410),
The doctrine of chances (CP 2.645-660),
Philosophy and the conduct of life (CP 1.616-677)
The maxim of Pragmatism (CP 5.14-40),
The three normative sciences (CP 5.120-150),
What pragmatism is (CP 5.411-437),
Issues of Pragmaticism (CP 5.438-463),
Pragmatism (CP 5.464-494),
An essay toward reasoning in security and uberty (Manoscritto 682. Partially in English on the site Ariel).
The following must be added:
R. Fabbrichesi, Introduzione a Peirce, Laterza, Bari.
R. Fabbrichesi (ed., Il primo libro di filosofia teoretica, Einaudi, Torino (Capp. III -without the study of the key-words - and IV).
Non-attending students, in both cases, will take "Il primo libro di filosofia teoretica", edited by R. Fabbrichesi, Einaudi, Turin (entirely).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The oral examination consists, both for attending and non-attending students, in a series of questions relating to the programme, answering to which the student will show knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the topics discussed during the course (exposition);- ability to exemplify and evaluate concepts (understanding); capacity of using and applying concepts (development); use of technical lexicon.
M-FIL/01 - THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Fabbrichesi Rossella
[L-Z]
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
American Pragmatism philosophy proposes an approach radically oriented to the level of concrete practice, of work, of praxis in opposition to a more traditional view of knowledge, which is understood as a purely abstract and theoretical activity.
The present edition of Philosophy of Practices is dedicated to three important representatives of the so-called classic American pragmatism: John Dewey, George Herbert Mead and William James. Their thought is examined through three fundamental works. With "Democracy and education", we examine the interweaving between philosophy, democracy and education, in which Dewey affirms the centrality of active praxis, where knowledge becomes inseparable from doing and philosophy itself is to be understood as education for life, in ever-to-come construction of a democratic society. The dimension of gestures and social practices becomes in "Mind, self and society" the fundamental key to understand Mead's view of the genesis of the symbolic mind and of the human self, which in its deepest fabric turns out to be made up of threads intertwined with community responses.
The third teaching unit (Didactic Unit C) will be held by Prof. Fabbrichesi, and it will consist of 10 lessons, common to all the students attending the course of Philosophy of Practices (both to the A-K course and to L-Z). It is dedicated to "Pragmatism", in which James' peculiar declination of pragmatist thinking and the pragmatic rule is presented. During the course, short papers and oral presentations will be carried out by the students, accompanied by discussions on the different aspects addressed in the lessons.
Online environment available on MyAriel: https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=742#section-0
Those who choose the 6 credits exam must attend the first 40 hours of lessons, those who choose the 9 credits exam must attend all 60 hours of lessons.
Lecture recording: No
Didactic proposal for non-attending students: 2 lessons dedicated to non-attending students by videoconference (Teams). The lessons will be recorded and made available in the online environment. All the details in MyAriel
Validity of the program: 1 academic year, as per the didactic regulations of the degree course.
The present edition of Philosophy of Practices is dedicated to three important representatives of the so-called classic American pragmatism: John Dewey, George Herbert Mead and William James. Their thought is examined through three fundamental works. With "Democracy and education", we examine the interweaving between philosophy, democracy and education, in which Dewey affirms the centrality of active praxis, where knowledge becomes inseparable from doing and philosophy itself is to be understood as education for life, in ever-to-come construction of a democratic society. The dimension of gestures and social practices becomes in "Mind, self and society" the fundamental key to understand Mead's view of the genesis of the symbolic mind and of the human self, which in its deepest fabric turns out to be made up of threads intertwined with community responses.
The third teaching unit (Didactic Unit C) will be held by Prof. Fabbrichesi, and it will consist of 10 lessons, common to all the students attending the course of Philosophy of Practices (both to the A-K course and to L-Z). It is dedicated to "Pragmatism", in which James' peculiar declination of pragmatist thinking and the pragmatic rule is presented. During the course, short papers and oral presentations will be carried out by the students, accompanied by discussions on the different aspects addressed in the lessons.
Online environment available on MyAriel: https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=742#section-0
Those who choose the 6 credits exam must attend the first 40 hours of lessons, those who choose the 9 credits exam must attend all 60 hours of lessons.
Lecture recording: No
Didactic proposal for non-attending students: 2 lessons dedicated to non-attending students by videoconference (Teams). The lessons will be recorded and made available in the online environment. All the details in MyAriel
Validity of the program: 1 academic year, as per the didactic regulations of the degree course.
Prerequisites for admission
None
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Debate and discussions.
Students' essays on programme related subjects, or on specific parts of the programme (they will be part of the final evaluation).
Debate and discussions.
Students' essays on programme related subjects, or on specific parts of the programme (they will be part of the final evaluation).
Teaching Resources
READING AND ASSIGNMENTS FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS
Reading and assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
1) J. Dewey, Democrazia e educazione. Un'introduzione alla filosofia dell'educazione. Roma: Anicia, 2020 (chapters 16, 18, 21, 23 are excluded). Any other edition of the text will be fine. The original version in English language is available online (both in the digital library of the University OPAC, under the heading Digital library, "Past Masters", and in the digital library "Internet Archive").
2) G.H. Mead, Mente, sé e società. Firenze: Giunti, 2010 (paragraphs 33, 35, 37, 38, 40 of the IV part are excluded). Any other edition will be fine. The original version in English language is available online (in the digital library "Internet Archive").
Additional reading for 9 ECTS exam:
3) W. James, Pragmatismo. Torino: Aragno, 2007. The original English version of the text is available on the University Opac under the heading Digital Library, Past Masters.
READING AND ASSIGNMENTS FOR NON ATTENDING STUDENTS
Reading and assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
1) J. Dewey, Democrazia e educazione. Un'introduzione alla filosofia dell'educazione. Roma: Anicia, 2020. Any other edition of the text will be fine. The original version in English language is available online (both in the digital library of the University OPAC, under the heading Digital library, "Past Masters", and in the digital library "Internet Archive").
2) G.H. Mead, Mente, sé e società. Firenze: Giunti, 2010. Any other edition of the text will be fine. The original version in English language is available online (in the digital library "Internet Archive").
3) R. Calcaterra, G. Maddalena, and G. Marchetti (edited by), Il pragmatismo. Dalle origini agli sviluppi contemporanei. Rome: Carocci, 2015. Only chapters 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the Part I are to be done (on Peirce, James, Dewey and Mead respectively).
Additional reading for the 9 ECTS exam:
4) W. James, Pragmatismo, Aragno, Turin 2007. The original English version of the text is available on the University Opac under the heading Digital Library, Past Masters.
Reading and assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
1) J. Dewey, Democrazia e educazione. Un'introduzione alla filosofia dell'educazione. Roma: Anicia, 2020 (chapters 16, 18, 21, 23 are excluded). Any other edition of the text will be fine. The original version in English language is available online (both in the digital library of the University OPAC, under the heading Digital library, "Past Masters", and in the digital library "Internet Archive").
2) G.H. Mead, Mente, sé e società. Firenze: Giunti, 2010 (paragraphs 33, 35, 37, 38, 40 of the IV part are excluded). Any other edition will be fine. The original version in English language is available online (in the digital library "Internet Archive").
Additional reading for 9 ECTS exam:
3) W. James, Pragmatismo. Torino: Aragno, 2007. The original English version of the text is available on the University Opac under the heading Digital Library, Past Masters.
READING AND ASSIGNMENTS FOR NON ATTENDING STUDENTS
Reading and assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
1) J. Dewey, Democrazia e educazione. Un'introduzione alla filosofia dell'educazione. Roma: Anicia, 2020. Any other edition of the text will be fine. The original version in English language is available online (both in the digital library of the University OPAC, under the heading Digital library, "Past Masters", and in the digital library "Internet Archive").
2) G.H. Mead, Mente, sé e società. Firenze: Giunti, 2010. Any other edition of the text will be fine. The original version in English language is available online (in the digital library "Internet Archive").
3) R. Calcaterra, G. Maddalena, and G. Marchetti (edited by), Il pragmatismo. Dalle origini agli sviluppi contemporanei. Rome: Carocci, 2015. Only chapters 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the Part I are to be done (on Peirce, James, Dewey and Mead respectively).
Additional reading for the 9 ECTS exam:
4) W. James, Pragmatismo, Aragno, Turin 2007. The original English version of the text is available on the University Opac under the heading Digital Library, Past Masters.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The oral examination consists, both for attending and non-attending students, of a series of questions relating to the programme, answering to which the student will show knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the topics discussed during the course (exposition); ability to exemplify and evaluate concepts (understanding); capacity of using and applying concepts (development); use of technical lexicon.
M-FIL/01 - THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professors:
Fabbrichesi Rossella, Parravicini Andrea
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Tuesday, h 9,00-12,00
Please contact me by email to make an appointment