Teaching code

4S007313

Teacher

Davide Poggi

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

M-FIL/01 - THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY

Period

Sem. 1A dal Sep 23, 2019 al Oct 31, 2019.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

To show the organization of the course that includes this module, follow this link:  Course organization

Learning outcomes

The course intends to be an analytical introduction to key texts of the Western philosophical tradition, with the aim of highlighting the theoretical issues which concern both the philosophy of knowledge and the metaphysics.
The expected learning outcomes are:
- Knowledge:
• knowledge of Western philosophical tradition in its main conceptual lines.

- Abilities:
• students will acquire conceptual foundationds and critical methodology, but also develop their hermeneutical abilities, in order to make them able to
• understand the philosophical texts, their fundamental assumptions, and their problematical implications, so that they could note both its logical structure and the potential contradictions.

At the end of the course, students will acquire:
• conceptual clarity and terminological precision, which are the tools necessary to fully express the critical and speculative abilities and develop the capacity for independent thought;
• capacity to communicate philosophical contents to specialists and non-specialists alike;
• capacity to continue their studies at a higher level.

Program

SYLLABUS
The contents of the First Module of the course of Institutions of Philosophy (during the Sem. IA) will follow the internal division of John Locke’s Essay concerning Human Understanding, which is the subject of both the course and the final examination:
1) General introduction to the course, bio-bibliographical introduction to Locke and to the philosophical context of the Essay concerning Human Understanding;
2) Critical examination of the Essay concerning Human Understanding.
The topics addressed (theory of knowledge, reflections on the spontaneous knowledge of the "world", self-consciousness and human being, etc.), together with the method whereby the issues suggested by Locke's Essay are approached, will make it easier to understand the themes, the language and the notions of Zamboni's "pure gnoseology", which is the subject matter of the Module II of the course.

DIDACTIC METHODS
The teaching methods consist of traditional lectures axed on the reading and the critical examination of Locke’s Essay concerning Human Understanding, with the aim of transmitting: 1) the key concepts of theoretical philosophy in general (with regard to the philosophy of knowledge and the metaphysics); 2) the key concepts of both Lockean philosophy and its exegesis; 3) the critical means that are useful for understanding (and for dealing with) the problematic issues involved in Locke’s thought.
By means of power point presentations, the general introduction (bio-bibliographical) to Locke and his philosophy will be more clear and immediate, especially for the students who approach philosophy for the first time.
Each lesson will be recorded in mp3 format and, together with all the material analysed during the course, will be punctually loaded on the e-learning platform of the University with the aim of easing the study for both attending students and those who can not attend lectures.
During the academic year, an individual consultation service is also available at the teacher's study, at the times indicated on the web pages and readily updated.
At the first lesson, students will receive the full calendar of teaching activities, together with the dates and classroom in which the lessons will take place and a synoptic presentation of the subject of the course.
Any suspension of lectures for academic reasons will be readily communicated in the classroom, on the web site, and on the e-learning platform forum.

REFERENCE TEXTS
The texts required are as follows:
1) John LOCKE, Saggio sull’intelletto umano [Essay concerning Human Understanding], Italian edition with English original text, Introduction by P. Emanuele, translation and notes by V. Cicero and M.G. D’Amico, Milano, Bompiani, 2004 (or newer);
2) Mario SINA, Introduzione a Locke [Introduction to Locke], Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2001 (or newer).

The reference texts are the same for both attending students and those who can not attend lectures.

Additional texts and teaching materials will also be communicated on the e-learning platform of the University website.

Examination Methods

The assessment of the learning outcomes of both the key concepts and the issues which concern the Essay concerning Human Understanding will be done by means of an oral examination concerning the programme carried out during the course. This examination consists of questions to test the critical and argumentative abilities of the students, the textual exegesis, the conceptual clarity, and the acquisition of an adequate philosophical vocabulary.
The grades are expressed in thirtieths (and in special cases the mention of praise is also granted).
The examination is the same for both attending students and non-attending ones.

[[COVID-19 EMERGENCY UPDATE for a.y. 2020-2021: due to the protraction of the COVID-19 emergency for the academic year 2020-2021, examinations will take place only on Zoom. The oral modality of the examination is confirmed. ]]]