Language and metaphysics
A.A. 2025/2026
Obiettivi formativi
The course aims at an in-depth understanding of a current debate or research topic at the intersection between the philosophy of language and metaphysics.
Risultati apprendimento attesi
Knowledge and understanding
Students will acquire an in-depth knowledge of the main topics of the contemporary debate in the field of metaphysics and / or philosophy of language and the ability to critically discuss them.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students will be able to analyze complex problems in the fields of metaphysics and the philosophy of language and to identify possible solutions to these problems. They will be able to apply the skills and knowledge acquired to various research fields.
Students will acquire an in-depth knowledge of the main topics of the contemporary debate in the field of metaphysics and / or philosophy of language and the ability to critically discuss them.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students will be able to analyze complex problems in the fields of metaphysics and the philosophy of language and to identify possible solutions to these problems. They will be able to apply the skills and knowledge acquired to various research fields.
Periodo: Primo semestre
Modalità di valutazione: Esame
Giudizio di valutazione: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Corso singolo
Questo insegnamento può essere seguito come corso singolo.
Programma e organizzazione didattica
Edizione unica
Responsabile
Periodo
Primo semestre
Programma
Humor and Irony:
The course aims to address the philosophical debates on humor and irony with the help of recent textbooks and essays.
The course aims to address the philosophical debates on humor and irony with the help of recent textbooks and essays.
Prerequisiti
The course is in English. A B2 level of English is assumed.
The grade record of those who take the exam without B2 English certification will be cancelled.
The grade record of those who take the exam without B2 English certification will be cancelled.
Metodi didattici
Interactive lectures in which students will be invited to discuss the theses presented and argue their position.
Materiale di riferimento
The final programme will be made available at the beginning of the course and will be visible on the MyAriel website. This programme is designed for students taking the 9 CFU exam. Students taking the exam for 6 CFUs will need to contact the teacher to obtain the programme.
Reference texts are as follows:
- Noël Carroll (2014), Humour. A very short introduction, Oxford: Oxford University Press
- John Morreall (ed) (1987), The Philosophy of Laughter and Humor, Albany N.Y.: State University of New York Press (texts by Thomas Hobbes, Francis Hutcheson, Roger Scruton, Francis Hutcheson, Michael Clark, Mike W. Martin, Herbert Spencer, Sigmund Freud)
- Levinson, J. (1998). ʻHumourʼ. in Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, E. Craig (ed), London: Routledge, pp. 562-7.
- Noël Carroll (2003), 'Humour' in The Oxford Handbook of Aesthetics, Jerrold Levinson (ed), Oxford: Oxford University Press 2003, pp. 344-365
- John Morreall (2009), Comic Relief: A Comprehensive Philosophy of Humour, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell
- Zoe Walker (2024), A Sensibility of Humour, British Journal of Aesthetics Vol. 64, Number 1, pp. 1-16
- Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson (2012) "Explaining irony" in D. Wilson and D. Sperber, Meaning and Relevance, Cambridge University Press 2012, pp. 123-145
- Gregory Currie (2006) "Why irony is pretence". In S. Nichols (ed.) The Architecture of the Imagination, pp. 111-33. Oxford University Press.
- Gregory Currie (2023) "Kinds of Irony: A General Theory" in Gibbs and Colston (eds), The Cambridge Handbook of Irony and Thought, CUP
- Francisco Yus (2016) "Humorous ironies". Chapter 6 in F. Yus, Humour and Relevance, John Benjamins Publishing Company
- Marta Dynel (2023), "Irony and Humour", in Gibbs and Colston (eds), The Cambridge Handbook of Irony and Thought, CUP
Reference texts are as follows:
- Noël Carroll (2014), Humour. A very short introduction, Oxford: Oxford University Press
- John Morreall (ed) (1987), The Philosophy of Laughter and Humor, Albany N.Y.: State University of New York Press (texts by Thomas Hobbes, Francis Hutcheson, Roger Scruton, Francis Hutcheson, Michael Clark, Mike W. Martin, Herbert Spencer, Sigmund Freud)
- Levinson, J. (1998). ʻHumourʼ. in Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, E. Craig (ed), London: Routledge, pp. 562-7.
- Noël Carroll (2003), 'Humour' in The Oxford Handbook of Aesthetics, Jerrold Levinson (ed), Oxford: Oxford University Press 2003, pp. 344-365
- John Morreall (2009), Comic Relief: A Comprehensive Philosophy of Humour, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell
- Zoe Walker (2024), A Sensibility of Humour, British Journal of Aesthetics Vol. 64, Number 1, pp. 1-16
- Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson (2012) "Explaining irony" in D. Wilson and D. Sperber, Meaning and Relevance, Cambridge University Press 2012, pp. 123-145
- Gregory Currie (2006) "Why irony is pretence". In S. Nichols (ed.) The Architecture of the Imagination, pp. 111-33. Oxford University Press.
- Gregory Currie (2023) "Kinds of Irony: A General Theory" in Gibbs and Colston (eds), The Cambridge Handbook of Irony and Thought, CUP
- Francisco Yus (2016) "Humorous ironies". Chapter 6 in F. Yus, Humour and Relevance, John Benjamins Publishing Company
- Marta Dynel (2023), "Irony and Humour", in Gibbs and Colston (eds), The Cambridge Handbook of Irony and Thought, CUP
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
The attending student will be assessed on:
(i) a written essay (see the instructions below);
(ii) an oral discussion of the examination texts.
Non-attending students will be assessed on:
(i) Two written essays (see instructions below).
(ii) an oral discussion of the examination texts.
Guidance for the essay (for each essay submitted by non-attending students):
- The essay should not exceed 2,000 words (including references).
- The essay should be in .doc format, not .pdf.
- Submit the essay at least 10 days before the oral examination.
- Before submitting the essay, an abstract and a detailed index must be sent to and approved by the lecturer. Do not start writing the essay until you have received the lecturer's approval of the abstract and index.
(i) a written essay (see the instructions below);
(ii) an oral discussion of the examination texts.
Non-attending students will be assessed on:
(i) Two written essays (see instructions below).
(ii) an oral discussion of the examination texts.
Guidance for the essay (for each essay submitted by non-attending students):
- The essay should not exceed 2,000 words (including references).
- The essay should be in .doc format, not .pdf.
- Submit the essay at least 10 days before the oral examination.
- Before submitting the essay, an abstract and a detailed index must be sent to and approved by the lecturer. Do not start writing the essay until you have received the lecturer's approval of the abstract and index.
Moduli o unità didattiche
Parte A e B
M-FIL/05 - FILOSOFIA E TEORIA DEI LINGUAGGI - CFU: 6
Lezioni: 40 ore
Parte C
M-FIL/05 - FILOSOFIA E TEORIA DEI LINGUAGGI - CFU: 3
Lezioni: 20 ore
Siti didattici
Docente/i
Ricevimento:
Martedì dalle 14,30
Studio della docente al secondo piano - Il ricevimento è su appuntamento per email