Theoretical Philosophy
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course has the goal to discuss in depth problems in the general area of theoretical philosophy, focusing not just on the different forms of human experience, on the theories of mind, on the origin and structure of notions, stressing the connections with other disciplines, both scientific (psychology, biology, etc) and not (literature, visual arts) ‒ thereby helping students to develop their analytical skills and recognize the connections between philosophical research and the world of culture in general.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the study path, the student:
- knows the theoretical fundamentals of contemporary philosophy and understands its vocabulary;
- understands the nature of philosophical problems;
- understands the nature and strength of philosophical arguments;
- knows the basic methodological elements of intellectual work in the field of theoretical philosophy,
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the study path, the student:
- can put forward and outline the main conceptual contributions of theoretical philosophy
- is able to identify philosophical topics and problems in philosophical and non-philosophical contexts;
- can frame the key authors and related themes in a historical and contemporary perspective ù
- is able to support her /his claims with arguments;
- can approach general issues by adopting the appropriate methodological perspectives and discuss the
arguments of various authors making use of an adequate lexicon.
- can apply knowledge for the purpose of making comments to the texts pertaining to the discipline.
At the end of the study path, the student:
- knows the theoretical fundamentals of contemporary philosophy and understands its vocabulary;
- understands the nature of philosophical problems;
- understands the nature and strength of philosophical arguments;
- knows the basic methodological elements of intellectual work in the field of theoretical philosophy,
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the study path, the student:
- can put forward and outline the main conceptual contributions of theoretical philosophy
- is able to identify philosophical topics and problems in philosophical and non-philosophical contexts;
- can frame the key authors and related themes in a historical and contemporary perspective ù
- is able to support her /his claims with arguments;
- can approach general issues by adopting the appropriate methodological perspectives and discuss the
arguments of various authors making use of an adequate lexicon.
- can apply knowledge for the purpose of making comments to the texts pertaining to the discipline.
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 can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
[edizione del primo semestre]
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The theme of the relationship between man and the world in modern and contemporary thought will be analysed now by following the diversity of forms in which the philosophy of perception from Locke to Stroud and Wittgenstein has understood the object of perception and the nature of percipient subjectivity, now in Deleuze's reading of Spinoza's and Leibniz's philosophy - a reading that aims at a radical philosophical understanding of what is the body and what is consciousness and that in general questions how every form of relation between man and the world is to be understood, also from an ethical point of view.
Lectures will be shared via streaming, if necessary. Recordings will be available on the course team (Theoretical Philosophy (Spinicci) LT 2023-24) at this address: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/team/19%3aTtR2OVK7gGjbVVmsA1lg5nEJeB5ccpU-qh1lLbjBiFA1%40thread.tacv2/conversations?groupId=cde22dfc-f7f0-404d-9f4a-814926810de9&tenantId=13b55eef-7018-4674-a3d7-cc0db06d545c
The team code is: v1egfev
All necessary information pertaining to the course will be given on the course team.
Lectures will be shared via streaming, if necessary. Recordings will be available on the course team (Theoretical Philosophy (Spinicci) LT 2023-24) at this address: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/team/19%3aTtR2OVK7gGjbVVmsA1lg5nEJeB5ccpU-qh1lLbjBiFA1%40thread.tacv2/conversations?groupId=cde22dfc-f7f0-404d-9f4a-814926810de9&tenantId=13b55eef-7018-4674-a3d7-cc0db06d545c
The team code is: v1egfev
All necessary information pertaining to the course will be given on the course team.
Prerequisites for admission
No prior knowledge is needed
Teaching methods
Lectures
Debate and discussion
Debate and discussion
Teaching Resources
The common part of the 6 and 9 cfu programme will focus on the following theses
- J. Locke, Essay on Human Understanding, Book II, Chapters 1-12.
- G. Berkeley, An Essay toward a new Theory of vision;
- J.L. Austin, Sense and Sensibilia, OUP, 1962
The Additional Part for the 9 cfu programme will consist in
- Barry Stroud, - Barry Stroud, The Goal of Transcendental Arguments, in: Understanding human Knowledge, Oxford University Press, 2002.
The lectures are, however, an integral part of the programme.
- J. Locke, Essay on Human Understanding, Book II, Chapters 1-12.
- G. Berkeley, An Essay toward a new Theory of vision;
- J.L. Austin, Sense and Sensibilia, OUP, 1962
The Additional Part for the 9 cfu programme will consist in
- Barry Stroud, - Barry Stroud, The Goal of Transcendental Arguments, in: Understanding human Knowledge, Oxford University Press, 2002.
The lectures are, however, an integral part of the programme.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Both for attending and non-attending students, the final examination consists of an oral exam of about 30 minutes, divided into two equal parts. The first part has to test the knowledge and the understanding of the program., where the second part has to text the ability to analyze and discuss short quotes from the readings of the examination program.
Attending students can submit a short paper (about 5000 words) on topics related to the class. The clarity in the exposition and the solidity in argumentative construction will be taken in account for evaluating the paper. Essays will not receive an autonomous mark. They will be discussed during the oral examination and they will contribute to the definition of the final grade.
Evaluation criteria:
- knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the topics discusses during the course (exposition);
- ability to exemplify concepts (understanding);
- ability to apply concepts (development);
- linguistic skills
Attending students can submit a short paper (about 5000 words) on topics related to the class. The clarity in the exposition and the solidity in argumentative construction will be taken in account for evaluating the paper. Essays will not receive an autonomous mark. They will be discussed during the oral examination and they will contribute to the definition of the final grade.
Evaluation criteria:
- knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the topics discusses during the course (exposition);
- ability to exemplify concepts (understanding);
- ability to apply concepts (development);
- linguistic skills
Unita' didattica A
M-FIL/01 - THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-FIL/01 - THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-FIL/01 - THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
[edizione del secondo semestre]
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The theme of the relationship between man and the world in modern and contemporary thought will be analyzed from one side following the multiplicity of forms in which the philosophy of perception from Locke to Stroud and Wittgenstein understood the object of perception and the nature of percipient subjectivity, from the other in Deleuze's reading of the philosophy of Spinoza and Leibniz - a reading that aims at a radical philosophical understanding of what is body and what is conscience and that in general questions itself on how every form of relationship between man and the world should be understood, also from an ethical point of view.
The second semester edition will deal with the ontological and metaphysical conception of two classic authors of modernity: Leibniz and Spinoza. We will develop the theme accompanied by a thinker who projects both philosophers into today's theoretical debate, carrying out original reflections on their philosophies: Gilles Deleuze. We will focus in particular on the treatment of the monad in Leibniz and on the Deus-Sive-Natura in Spinoza, trying to clarify how these powerful, radically anti-Cartesian interpretations are constructed not for merely metaphysical purposes, but to explain what a body is, what a consciousness is, how ethics and every form of relationship between man and the world should be understood.
Recordings: No
Teaching proposal for non-attending students: 1/2 lessons dedicated to non-attending students in videoconference (Teams). These lectures will be recorded and made available on the Ariel website
The second semester edition will deal with the ontological and metaphysical conception of two classic authors of modernity: Leibniz and Spinoza. We will develop the theme accompanied by a thinker who projects both philosophers into today's theoretical debate, carrying out original reflections on their philosophies: Gilles Deleuze. We will focus in particular on the treatment of the monad in Leibniz and on the Deus-Sive-Natura in Spinoza, trying to clarify how these powerful, radically anti-Cartesian interpretations are constructed not for merely metaphysical purposes, but to explain what a body is, what a consciousness is, how ethics and every form of relationship between man and the world should be understood.
Recordings: No
Teaching proposal for non-attending students: 1/2 lessons dedicated to non-attending students in videoconference (Teams). These lectures will be recorded and made available on the Ariel website
Prerequisites for admission
None, unless required by the Philosophy Course general rules
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Dialogue and discussion
Dialogue and discussion
Teaching Resources
Readings for attending students (9 credits):
G. W. Leibniz, Monadologia (recommended edition Bompiani, Milan)
B. Spinoza, Ethics, in particular Part I and II (recommended edition: Editori Riuniti, Rome)
G. Deleuze, The fold. Leibniz and the Baroque, Einaudi, Turin (the chapters on which to focus attention are: I and II of the first part, VII and VIII of the third part).
R. Fabbrichesi, Vita e potenza. Marcus Aurelius, Spinoza, Nietzsche, Cortina, Milan (Chapter 2).
Readings for attending students (6 credits):
G. W. Leibniz, Monadologia (recommended edition Bompiani, Milan)
B. Spinoza, Ethics, in particular Part I and II, (recommended edition: Editori Riuniti, Rome)
R. Fabbrichesi, Vita e potenza. Marcus Aurelius, Spinoza, Nietzsche, Cortina, Milan (Chapter 2).
Non-attending students, in both cases, will take the exam Il primo libro di filosofia teoretica, edited by R. Fabbrichesi, Einaudi, Turin (excluding chap. III and IV)
G. W. Leibniz, Monadologia (recommended edition Bompiani, Milan)
B. Spinoza, Ethics, in particular Part I and II (recommended edition: Editori Riuniti, Rome)
G. Deleuze, The fold. Leibniz and the Baroque, Einaudi, Turin (the chapters on which to focus attention are: I and II of the first part, VII and VIII of the third part).
R. Fabbrichesi, Vita e potenza. Marcus Aurelius, Spinoza, Nietzsche, Cortina, Milan (Chapter 2).
Readings for attending students (6 credits):
G. W. Leibniz, Monadologia (recommended edition Bompiani, Milan)
B. Spinoza, Ethics, in particular Part I and II, (recommended edition: Editori Riuniti, Rome)
R. Fabbrichesi, Vita e potenza. Marcus Aurelius, Spinoza, Nietzsche, Cortina, Milan (Chapter 2).
Non-attending students, in both cases, will take the exam Il primo libro di filosofia teoretica, edited by R. Fabbrichesi, Einaudi, Turin (excluding chap. III and IV)
Assessment methods and Criteria
Both for attending and non-attending students, the final examination consists of an oral exam of about 30 minutes, divided into two equal parts. The first part has to test the knowledge and the understanding of the program., whereas the second part has to test the ability to analyze and discuss short quotes from the readings of the examination program.
Evaluation criteria:
- knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the topics discussed during the course (exposition);
- ability to exemplify concepts (understanding);
- ability to apply concepts (development);
- linguistic skills
Evaluation criteria:
- knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the topics discussed during the course (exposition);
- ability to exemplify concepts (understanding);
- ability to apply concepts (development);
- linguistic skills
Unita' didattica A
M-FIL/01 - THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-FIL/01 - THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-FIL/01 - THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours