The Language of Philosophy
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
This course aims to introduce students to the fundamental concepts and terminology of philosophy, to guide them in reading texts of primary importance in the history of the discipline—with particular attention to their argumentative structures—and to present some of the major philosophical debates.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
-Clearly and accurately explain the meaning of fundamental philosophical concepts and terms;
-Critically analyze a philosophical text;
-Thoughtfully present the philosophical debates covered in the course, comparing different positions and the most relevant objections;
-Identify and explain the vocabulary and debates addressed in the course.
Applying Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
-Critically analyze a philosophical text;
-Analyze debates in the fields of philosophy of action and philosophy of language;
-Apply methods and tools for understanding the texts studied.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
-Clearly and accurately explain the meaning of fundamental philosophical concepts and terms;
-Critically analyze a philosophical text;
-Thoughtfully present the philosophical debates covered in the course, comparing different positions and the most relevant objections;
-Identify and explain the vocabulary and debates addressed in the course.
Applying Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
-Critically analyze a philosophical text;
-Analyze debates in the fields of philosophy of action and philosophy of language;
-Apply methods and tools for understanding the texts studied.
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
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Title: Can a war be just? How to defend a thesis with a good argument.
It is extremely important to be able to distinguish between good and bad arguments, but it is not easy to do so and a specific training in critical thinking helps to acquire this competence. Great philosophers are masters in the art of arguing.
In the class students will engage in critical thinking. This means that they will be able to identify the arguments developed by philosophers as well as the arguments one can find in newspapers. They will acquire the capacity to reconstruct of arguments, which involves the capacity to identify premises and conclusions even when implicit, they will recognize fallacies and avoid them, they will construct counterexamples.
In the first part of the course the students will analyze arguments in defense of pacifism and arguments in defense of the claim that there can be just wars. In the second part of the course the students will acquire the techniques for constructing and evaluating arguments. In the third part of the course the students will read and analyze relevant papers in the literature on just war theories.
It is extremely important to be able to distinguish between good and bad arguments, but it is not easy to do so and a specific training in critical thinking helps to acquire this competence. Great philosophers are masters in the art of arguing.
In the class students will engage in critical thinking. This means that they will be able to identify the arguments developed by philosophers as well as the arguments one can find in newspapers. They will acquire the capacity to reconstruct of arguments, which involves the capacity to identify premises and conclusions even when implicit, they will recognize fallacies and avoid them, they will construct counterexamples.
In the first part of the course the students will analyze arguments in defense of pacifism and arguments in defense of the claim that there can be just wars. In the second part of the course the students will acquire the techniques for constructing and evaluating arguments. In the third part of the course the students will read and analyze relevant papers in the literature on just war theories.
Prerequisites for admission
No requirements
Teaching methods
Lectures and students's presentations. Q & A at the end of each lecture.
Teaching Resources
The program is the same for attending and non-attending students.
6 CFU Bibliografia A e B:
1. T. Bowell, R. Cowan, G. Kemp (2020), Critical Thinking. A Concise Guide, Routledge, quinta edizione, capitoli 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.
2. A. Fiala, J. King (2023) Can War Be Justified? A Debate, Routledge oppure M. Walzer, Guerre giuste e ingiuste. Un discorso morale con esemplificazioni storiche, tr. it. Laterza.
3. G.E.M. Anscombe, "War and Murder", in In: Walter Stein (ed.), Nuclear Weapons: Catholic Response (London, 1961), pp. 44-52 oppure: T. Nagel, "Guerra e Massacro" in Questioni mortali, tr. it Il Saggiatore.
4. J. MacMahan (2006), "On the Moral Equality of Combatants", The Journal of Political Philosophy: 14, 4, pp. 377-393.
5. J.MacMahan (2004), "The Ethics of Killing in War," Ethics 114, 4, pp. 693-733.
9 CFU: Bibliografia delle unità A e B + unità C:
6. J. J. Thomson, (1976), "Killing, Letting Die and the Trolley Problem", The Monist, 59 (2), 204-217, https://www-jstor-org.pros1.lib.unimi.it/stable/pdf/27902416.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A895306a3160676516d29244c43defad6&ab_segments=&origin=
7. Philippa Foot (1967), "The Problem of Abortion and the Doctrine of the Double Effect", Oxford Review, No. 5.
8. J.J. Thomson, (1971), "A Defense of Abortion", Philosophy and Public Affairs, 1(1), 47-66.
9. T. Hurka, (2005) "Proportionality in the Morality of War," Philosophy and Public Affairs 33,
10. J. McMahan (2009) "Intention, Permissibility Terrorism and War", Philosophical Perspectives, Vol. 23, pp. 345-372
11. M. Davies (2012), "Imaginary Cases in Ethics", International Journal of Applied Philosophy.
6 CFU Bibliografia A e B:
1. T. Bowell, R. Cowan, G. Kemp (2020), Critical Thinking. A Concise Guide, Routledge, quinta edizione, capitoli 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.
2. A. Fiala, J. King (2023) Can War Be Justified? A Debate, Routledge oppure M. Walzer, Guerre giuste e ingiuste. Un discorso morale con esemplificazioni storiche, tr. it. Laterza.
3. G.E.M. Anscombe, "War and Murder", in In: Walter Stein (ed.), Nuclear Weapons: Catholic Response (London, 1961), pp. 44-52 oppure: T. Nagel, "Guerra e Massacro" in Questioni mortali, tr. it Il Saggiatore.
4. J. MacMahan (2006), "On the Moral Equality of Combatants", The Journal of Political Philosophy: 14, 4, pp. 377-393.
5. J.MacMahan (2004), "The Ethics of Killing in War," Ethics 114, 4, pp. 693-733.
9 CFU: Bibliografia delle unità A e B + unità C:
6. J. J. Thomson, (1976), "Killing, Letting Die and the Trolley Problem", The Monist, 59 (2), 204-217, https://www-jstor-org.pros1.lib.unimi.it/stable/pdf/27902416.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A895306a3160676516d29244c43defad6&ab_segments=&origin=
7. Philippa Foot (1967), "The Problem of Abortion and the Doctrine of the Double Effect", Oxford Review, No. 5.
8. J.J. Thomson, (1971), "A Defense of Abortion", Philosophy and Public Affairs, 1(1), 47-66.
9. T. Hurka, (2005) "Proportionality in the Morality of War," Philosophy and Public Affairs 33,
10. J. McMahan (2009) "Intention, Permissibility Terrorism and War", Philosophical Perspectives, Vol. 23, pp. 345-372
11. M. Davies (2012), "Imaginary Cases in Ethics", International Journal of Applied Philosophy.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written exam (open questions). The student should show ability to analyze and construct arguments.
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Calabi Clotilde
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday 10.00 - 13.00. Covid emergency: office hours are held online via Skype or by telephone. Please send me an e-mail to make an appointment.
Festa del Perdono, 7 - Cortile Ghiacciaia, II piano. Please write an e-mail to make an appointment