Philosophy of Practices
A.Y. 2025/2026
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: 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
A
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
In the present edition of the Philosophy of Practices course we aim to address themes and problems that arise from the reading of a classic text by Edmund Husserl, The Crisis of the European Sciences and Transcendental Phenomenology. The author reasons about the challenge that the sciences pose to philosophy, but also about their crisis and the consequent crisis of European humanity, which only a reasoned analysis and intellectual posture can attempt to overcome. From here we will proceed to the studies of two exponents of the so-called "Milan school" that characterized the life of our Department in the second half of the last century. They are Enzo Paci, a scholar of phenomenology, but also of existentialism and Marxism, and Carlo Sini, who, precisely from this phenomenological background, elaborated a particular perspective of philosophy of practices and still makes it the object of investigation in his theoretical practice.
Prerequisites for admission
None, unless required by the Philosophy Course general rules
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Discussions, debate and replies to questions.
Presentations in class
Discussions, debate and replies to questions.
Presentations in class
Teaching Resources
Program for attending students (9 ECT)
E. Husserl, La crisi delle scienze europee e la fenomenologia trascendentale, Il Saggiatore, Milano, Parte I, parte II, parte III-par. A, fino a p. 204.
E. Paci Funzione delle scienze e significato dell'uomo, Il Saggiatore, Parte I, Parte II, Parte III- parr. 19-23 (pp. 7-110, if unavailable look for it on Ariel).
E. Paci, Diario fenomenologico, Orthotes, Napoli, Milano.
C. Sini, Inizio, Jaca Book
I suggest the reading of C. Sini, Enzo Paci, Feltrinelli, Milano.
Program for attending students (6 ECT)
E. Husserl, La crisi delle scienze europee e la fenomenologia trascendentale, Il Saggiatore, Milano, Parte I, parte II, parte III-par. A, fino a p. 204.
E. Paci Funzione delle scienze e significato dell'uomo, Il Saggiatore, Parte I, Parte II, Parte III- parr. 19-23 (pp. 7-110, if unavailable look for it on Ariel).
E. Paci, Diario fenomenologico, Orthotes, Napoli, Milano.
Non attending students will add: C. Sini, Introduzione alla fenomenologia, ShaKe edizioni
E. Husserl, La crisi delle scienze europee e la fenomenologia trascendentale, Il Saggiatore, Milano, Parte I, parte II, parte III-par. A, fino a p. 204.
E. Paci Funzione delle scienze e significato dell'uomo, Il Saggiatore, Parte I, Parte II, Parte III- parr. 19-23 (pp. 7-110, if unavailable look for it on Ariel).
E. Paci, Diario fenomenologico, Orthotes, Napoli, Milano.
C. Sini, Inizio, Jaca Book
I suggest the reading of C. Sini, Enzo Paci, Feltrinelli, Milano.
Program for attending students (6 ECT)
E. Husserl, La crisi delle scienze europee e la fenomenologia trascendentale, Il Saggiatore, Milano, Parte I, parte II, parte III-par. A, fino a p. 204.
E. Paci Funzione delle scienze e significato dell'uomo, Il Saggiatore, Parte I, Parte II, Parte III- parr. 19-23 (pp. 7-110, if unavailable look for it on Ariel).
E. Paci, Diario fenomenologico, Orthotes, Napoli, Milano.
Non attending students will add: C. Sini, Introduzione alla fenomenologia, ShaKe edizioni
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
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
B
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
So-called classical American pragmatism embodies a theoretical approach aimed at foregrounding the fundamental role of concrete practices, praxis, habits of response, and gestures as instruments of knowledge, radically criticizing the assumptions of a metaphysical vision more traditionally tied to an abstract and theoretical dimension of knowledge.
The present edition of Philosophy of Practices will focus on works by three of the most important representatives of classical American pragmatism. Through some of Charles S. Peirce's essays, the original logico-semiotic foundations of American pragmatism will be shed light on. Subsequently, through texts by William James ("Pragmatism") and John Dewey ("The Need for a Recovery of Philosophy" and "Experience and Nature"), two different and distinctive theoretical paths taken within this philosophical current will be explored. The final part of the course will focus on a specific application of the pragmatist approach (through essays by James, Dewey, and George H. Mead) regarding the nature and evolutionary origin of emotions and their expression, starting from a theoretical comparison with Darwin's masterpiece "The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals."
The present edition of Philosophy of Practices will focus on works by three of the most important representatives of classical American pragmatism. Through some of Charles S. Peirce's essays, the original logico-semiotic foundations of American pragmatism will be shed light on. Subsequently, through texts by William James ("Pragmatism") and John Dewey ("The Need for a Recovery of Philosophy" and "Experience and Nature"), two different and distinctive theoretical paths taken within this philosophical current will be explored. The final part of the course will focus on a specific application of the pragmatist approach (through essays by James, Dewey, and George H. Mead) regarding the nature and evolutionary origin of emotions and their expression, starting from a theoretical comparison with Darwin's masterpiece "The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals."
Prerequisites for admission
None, unless required by the Philosophy Course general rules
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Discussions, debate and replies to questions.
Presentations in class
Discussions, debate and replies to questions.
Presentations in class
Teaching Resources
PROGRAM FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS
Common part for 6 ECT and 9 ECT programs:
1) The texts by Peirce and James are available in their original language on the OPAC (University Library Service) "Minerva", under "Digital Library, Past Masters Commons." We will select the necessary study materials for the first part of the course from there. Specifically, regarding Peirce, the following studies should be examined, found on the aforementioned website in the six digitally accessible volumes entitled "Collected Papers of Charles Sanders Peirce" (hereinafter indicated by CP followed by the volume and paragraph numbers):
The Fixation of Belief (CP 5.358-387),
How to Make Our Ideas Clear (CP 5.388-410),
What Pragmatism Is (CP 5.411-437),
Issues of Pragmaticism (CP 5.438-463),
The volume by W. James we will analyze is entitled "Pragmatism," of which lectures 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 should be examined, along with the essay "Philosophical Conceptions and Practical Results." Both this and the volume "Pragmatism" are included in the collection "Works of William James," vol. 1 (also on the same site under Past Masters Commons).
2) For the second part, the reference texts are:
- J. Dewey, The Need for a Recovery of Philosophy, It. tr. in Id., Per una filosofia risanata, ed. by G. Matteucci, Armando, Roma 2009, pp.23-87.
- J. Dewey, Experience and Nature, It. tr. Experience and Nature, Mursia, Milan (selected sections, to be communicated prior to the start of the course).
Additional section for the 9 ECT program:
3) G. Baggio, F. Caruana, A. Parravicini, M. Viola (eds.), Emozioni. Da Darwin al pragmatismo, Rosenberg & Sellier, Turin 2020.
PROGRAM FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Non-attending students will study the same texts indicated in the respective programs (6 ECT and 9 ECT) for attending students, in addition to reading the entire text by J. Dewey, Experience and Nature.
Common part for 6 ECT and 9 ECT programs:
1) The texts by Peirce and James are available in their original language on the OPAC (University Library Service) "Minerva", under "Digital Library, Past Masters Commons." We will select the necessary study materials for the first part of the course from there. Specifically, regarding Peirce, the following studies should be examined, found on the aforementioned website in the six digitally accessible volumes entitled "Collected Papers of Charles Sanders Peirce" (hereinafter indicated by CP followed by the volume and paragraph numbers):
The Fixation of Belief (CP 5.358-387),
How to Make Our Ideas Clear (CP 5.388-410),
What Pragmatism Is (CP 5.411-437),
Issues of Pragmaticism (CP 5.438-463),
The volume by W. James we will analyze is entitled "Pragmatism," of which lectures 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 should be examined, along with the essay "Philosophical Conceptions and Practical Results." Both this and the volume "Pragmatism" are included in the collection "Works of William James," vol. 1 (also on the same site under Past Masters Commons).
2) For the second part, the reference texts are:
- J. Dewey, The Need for a Recovery of Philosophy, It. tr. in Id., Per una filosofia risanata, ed. by G. Matteucci, Armando, Roma 2009, pp.23-87.
- J. Dewey, Experience and Nature, It. tr. Experience and Nature, Mursia, Milan (selected sections, to be communicated prior to the start of the course).
Additional section for the 9 ECT program:
3) G. Baggio, F. Caruana, A. Parravicini, M. Viola (eds.), Emozioni. Da Darwin al pragmatismo, Rosenberg & Sellier, Turin 2020.
PROGRAM FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Non-attending students will study the same texts indicated in the respective programs (6 ECT and 9 ECT) for attending students, in addition to reading the entire text by J. Dewey, Experience and Nature.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is oral, consisting of a discussion lasting approximately 30 minutes on the syllabus topics. It is designed to assess students' understanding, as well as knowledge, of the theoretical topics covered, and their ability to present the material clearly and with reasoning, using language that is both formally correct and relevant to the subject matter. This method applies to both attending and non-attending students.
Evaluation criteria:
- knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the topics presented (exposition);
- ability to exemplify concepts (understanding);
- ability to apply concepts (development);
- linguistic skills.
Evaluation criteria:
- knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the topics presented (exposition);
- ability to exemplify concepts (understanding);
- ability to apply concepts (development);
- linguistic skills.
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
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday, h 15,00-18,00
Please contact me by email ([email protected]) to make an appointment - I receive at the Department of Philosophy, Ice House Courtyard, II floor - alternatively on Teams