Ontology
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
This course introduces students to the language and fundamental concepts of ontology, one of the core disciplines of philosophy concerned with the study of the basic structures of reality. It offers an initial overview of the technical vocabulary, conceptual tools, and main categories employed in ontological reflection. The course will also present the major theoretical approaches, including an introduction to the most recent developments in the debate.
Special attention will be given to the connections between ontology and other areas of philosophical inquiry, such as metaphysics, logic, and epistemology, as well as its intersections with the scientific disciplines. The aim is to provide students with a preliminary understanding of the cross-disciplinary role ontology plays in contemporary philosophical and interdisciplinary research.
Special attention will be given to the connections between ontology and other areas of philosophical inquiry, such as metaphysics, logic, and epistemology, as well as its intersections with the scientific disciplines. The aim is to provide students with a preliminary understanding of the cross-disciplinary role ontology plays in contemporary philosophical and interdisciplinary research.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- understand the basic vocabulary of ontology, with particular attention to its historical development and current uses;
- navigate the main goals and central topics of ontological inquiry;
- distinguish among different approaches and methods used in the study of ontology, understanding their general structure, theoretical assumptions, and practical implications.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- identify ontological dimensions implicit in philosophical problems and in other domains of knowledge;
- critically assess theoretical proposals by evaluating their internal coherence, explanatory power, and applicability;
- compare, even at an introductory level, different theoretical solutions to ontological problems, highlighting their advantages and limitations.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- understand the basic vocabulary of ontology, with particular attention to its historical development and current uses;
- navigate the main goals and central topics of ontological inquiry;
- distinguish among different approaches and methods used in the study of ontology, understanding their general structure, theoretical assumptions, and practical implications.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- identify ontological dimensions implicit in philosophical problems and in other domains of knowledge;
- critically assess theoretical proposals by evaluating their internal coherence, explanatory power, and applicability;
- compare, even at an introductory level, different theoretical solutions to ontological problems, highlighting their advantages and limitations.
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
edizione in blended learning
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course offers a systematic introduction to ontology, with particular emphasis on the foundational vocabulary, essential conceptual tools, and major categorial models employed within the discipline. The syllabus includes the integrated reading of an introductory textbook and three key texts, selected to provide a comparative exploration of differing historical and theoretical perspectives: selected pages from the Postulates of Empirical Thought in General, drawn from Kant's Critique of Pure Reason; the classic essay On What There Is by W.V.O. Quine, representative of the analytic tradition; and Kant's Thesis about Being by Martin Heidegger, which offers a continental commentary on the same Kantian passage.
The extension of the course from 6 to 9 ECTS credits is reserved for students who choose to undertake the third part of the program. This section is devoted to case studies and applications in the domain of so-called regional or special ontologies. It addresses issues concerning the nature and ontological status of abstract, concrete, mathematical, and social entities, with reference both to contemporary literature and to relevant methodological debates.
The extension of the course from 6 to 9 ECTS credits is reserved for students who choose to undertake the third part of the program. This section is devoted to case studies and applications in the domain of so-called regional or special ontologies. It addresses issues concerning the nature and ontological status of abstract, concrete, mathematical, and social entities, with reference both to contemporary literature and to relevant methodological debates.
Prerequisites for admission
Specific preliminary notions are not required.
Teaching methods
In-person:
- lectures, guest lectures, discussions (8 hours)
Online (12 synchronous + 40 asynchronous videolectures)
- asynchronous: video-lectures.
- Synchronous: lectures, Q&A, discussions.
Online course: available on MyAriel and Teams
The teaching is delivered in blended learning (partly in-person and partly online) according to a weekly class schedule that will be presented at the beginning of the course.
The in-person lectures will be distributed in 2 meetings, according to BIP Blended Intensive Program.
Recording of in-person and synchronous classes via videoconferencing: yes, lectures will be recorded and made available for the entire academic year.
- lectures, guest lectures, discussions (8 hours)
Online (12 synchronous + 40 asynchronous videolectures)
- asynchronous: video-lectures.
- Synchronous: lectures, Q&A, discussions.
Online course: available on MyAriel and Teams
The teaching is delivered in blended learning (partly in-person and partly online) according to a weekly class schedule that will be presented at the beginning of the course.
The in-person lectures will be distributed in 2 meetings, according to BIP Blended Intensive Program.
Recording of in-person and synchronous classes via videoconferencing: yes, lectures will be recorded and made available for the entire academic year.
Teaching Resources
COMMON BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR THE 6 AND 9 ECTS EXAMS
1) P. Valore, "L'inventario del mondo. Guida allo studio dell'ontologia", UTET, Torino 2008. Required readings: Part I ("Lessico di base"); Part II ("Strumenti"): chapters 5, 7, and 9 only; Part III ("Categorie"): chapters 10, 11, 13, and 14 only; Part VI ("Esistenza").
2) I. Kant, from the "Critica della ragione pura": "I postulati del pensiero empirico in generale". Available Italian translations: Critica della ragion pura, Bompiani, Milano, 2004, or Critica della ragion pura, Torino, UTET, 1970 (and subsequent reprints).
3) W.V. Quine, "Che cosa c'è", in "Da un punto di vista logico", edited by P. Valore, Cortina, Milano 2006, pp. 13-33.
4) M. Heidegger, "Le tesi di Kant sull'essere", in "Segnavia", edited by F.-W. von Herrmann, Italian edition edited by F. Volpi, Adelphi, Milano 1987, pp. 393-427.
ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR THE 9 ECTS EXAM
P. Valore, L'inventario del mondo. Guida allo studio dell'ontologia, UTET, Torino 2008. Additional required reading: Part VII ("Entità"), pp. 235-296.
PLEASE NOTE:
Students with certified specific learning disabilities (DSA) are required to contact the instructor to arrange a dedicated exam format.
1) P. Valore, "L'inventario del mondo. Guida allo studio dell'ontologia", UTET, Torino 2008. Required readings: Part I ("Lessico di base"); Part II ("Strumenti"): chapters 5, 7, and 9 only; Part III ("Categorie"): chapters 10, 11, 13, and 14 only; Part VI ("Esistenza").
2) I. Kant, from the "Critica della ragione pura": "I postulati del pensiero empirico in generale". Available Italian translations: Critica della ragion pura, Bompiani, Milano, 2004, or Critica della ragion pura, Torino, UTET, 1970 (and subsequent reprints).
3) W.V. Quine, "Che cosa c'è", in "Da un punto di vista logico", edited by P. Valore, Cortina, Milano 2006, pp. 13-33.
4) M. Heidegger, "Le tesi di Kant sull'essere", in "Segnavia", edited by F.-W. von Herrmann, Italian edition edited by F. Volpi, Adelphi, Milano 1987, pp. 393-427.
ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR THE 9 ECTS EXAM
P. Valore, L'inventario del mondo. Guida allo studio dell'ontologia, UTET, Torino 2008. Additional required reading: Part VII ("Entità"), pp. 235-296.
PLEASE NOTE:
Students with certified specific learning disabilities (DSA) are required to contact the instructor to arrange a dedicated exam format.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written test for both attending and non-attending students, in two different versions, for 6 and 9 credits. The exam is aimed at verifying the level of learning in terms of the knowledge and skills included in the educational objectives of the course. The final grade will be expressed on a scale of 30. The test will be in Italian.
The test consists of two phases:
9-CREDIT EXAMS
The first phase consists of 15 multiple choice questions, for a maximum total score of 15/30. Achieving at least 9 correct answers out of 15 allows you to achieve sufficiency and access the second phase of the test. The score for this phase is assigned automatically.
The second phase consists of 3 open-ended questions, each with a score from 0 to 3, for a maximum total of 15/30. The score of this phase is assigned manually by the teacher, who will evaluate the completeness and clarity of each answer.
The overall grade is given by the sum of the results in the two phases of the test, up to a maximum of 30/30. The exam is considered passed if the score of 18/30 is reached.
6-CREDIT EXAMS
The first phase consists of 10 multiple choice questions, for a maximum total score of 15/30. Achieving at least 6 out of 10 correct answers allows you to achieve sufficiency and access the second phase of the test. The score for this phase is assigned automatically.
The second phase consists of 3 open-ended questions, each with a score from 0 to 5, for a maximum total of 15/30. The score of this phase is assigned manually by the teacher, who will evaluate the completeness and clarity of each answer.
The overall grade is given by the sum of the results in the two phases of the test, up to a maximum of 30/30. The exam is considered passed if the score of 18/30 is reached.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International students or students on an Erasmus program are invited to promptly contact the professor in charge of the course.
DSA STUDENTS
Students with SLD and/or disabilities must agree, as soon as possible, on the examination methods with the teacher and the competent office, scrupulously following the procedures described at the following links (in the section Teaching support and contact with teachers \u2012 compensatory measures):
(in the section Support for teaching and contact with the teachers - compensatory measures):
https://www.unimi.it/it/studiare/servizi-gli-studenti/servizi-studenti-con-dsa
https://www.unimi.it/it/studiare/servizi-gli-studenti/servizi-studenti-con-disabilita
The test consists of two phases:
9-CREDIT EXAMS
The first phase consists of 15 multiple choice questions, for a maximum total score of 15/30. Achieving at least 9 correct answers out of 15 allows you to achieve sufficiency and access the second phase of the test. The score for this phase is assigned automatically.
The second phase consists of 3 open-ended questions, each with a score from 0 to 3, for a maximum total of 15/30. The score of this phase is assigned manually by the teacher, who will evaluate the completeness and clarity of each answer.
The overall grade is given by the sum of the results in the two phases of the test, up to a maximum of 30/30. The exam is considered passed if the score of 18/30 is reached.
6-CREDIT EXAMS
The first phase consists of 10 multiple choice questions, for a maximum total score of 15/30. Achieving at least 6 out of 10 correct answers allows you to achieve sufficiency and access the second phase of the test. The score for this phase is assigned automatically.
The second phase consists of 3 open-ended questions, each with a score from 0 to 5, for a maximum total of 15/30. The score of this phase is assigned manually by the teacher, who will evaluate the completeness and clarity of each answer.
The overall grade is given by the sum of the results in the two phases of the test, up to a maximum of 30/30. The exam is considered passed if the score of 18/30 is reached.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International students or students on an Erasmus program are invited to promptly contact the professor in charge of the course.
DSA STUDENTS
Students with SLD and/or disabilities must agree, as soon as possible, on the examination methods with the teacher and the competent office, scrupulously following the procedures described at the following links (in the section Teaching support and contact with teachers \u2012 compensatory measures):
(in the section Support for teaching and contact with the teachers - compensatory measures):
https://www.unimi.it/it/studiare/servizi-gli-studenti/servizi-studenti-con-dsa
https://www.unimi.it/it/studiare/servizi-gli-studenti/servizi-studenti-con-disabilita
Modules or teaching units
Parte A e B
M-FIL/01 - THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Parte C
M-FIL/01 - THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday from 5:00 PM
On line (Teams). Please send an email to book your appointment