Teaching code

4S007323

Teacher

Laura Anna Macor

Coordinator

Laura Anna Macor

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

M-FIL/06 - HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY

Period

Sem. 2A dal Feb 13, 2023 al Mar 30, 2023.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

History of Modern Philosophy
The course aims to provide an overview of the history of early-modern philosophy, seen as an essential moment of the wider history of Western thought, and its terminology. Special attention will be given to developing a critical approach to the most important texts as well as their central issues and concepts.
The anticipated learning objectives are as follows:
Knowledge:
1) Knowledge and understanding of early-modern philosophical contexts (historical-cultural contexts, philosophical traditions);
2) Knowledge and understanding of the theories developed by the major early-modern philosophers;
3) Knowledge and understanding of the lexicon of early-modern philosophy.
-Skills:
1) Applying knowledge and understanding to the critical reading of and commentary on philosophical texts, possibly in the original or at least with some reference to it; this should be demonstrated by the mastery of an appropriate vocabulary and the ability to identify interpretative problems and suggest possible solutions;
2) Making autonomous judgments and engaging in independent reasoning;
3) Developing communication skills, also according to the recipient, in the following areas: participating in guided discussions, generating and explaining ideas and defending these through arguments, and possibly delivering short presentations;
4) Enacting autonomous learning skills through the development of an appropriate study and interpretation methodology in relation to both texts and contexts;
5) Developing the ability to connect study outcomes with personal experience and today’s world, wherein particular attention will be paid to ability to differentiate between historical circumstances and contexts.
6) Developing the capacity to communicate philosophical contents to specialists and non-specialists alike;
7) Developing the capacity to continue their studies at a MA level.

Prerequisites and basic notions

Basic knowledge of western culture.

Program

COURSE CONTENT: The practical conception of philosophy in the late German Enlightenment.

The course aims to offer a new image of the late German Enlightenment in the aftermath of the ancient model of philosophy. "Art of living" ("ars vitae", "techne tou biou"), "spiritual exercises" and "care" are the notions, which best describe the task then assigned to philosophy in contrast to speculation and theory. Socrates is the guiding figure for such a way of philosophizing, given the centrality ascribed to the "place" and "function" of man in the world and the priority given to wisdom over knowledge.

The course intende to follow the rise and success of this paradigm in four steps, three being devoted to as many authors, the last to a plural debate:
1) Johann Joachim Spalding (1714-1804): religion and philosophy as a way of life;
2) Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-1781): philosophy as gymnastic of the spirit;
3) Immanuel Kant (1724-1804): ethic ascetic and philosophy as a never-ending quest;
4) Answers to the question: what is Enlightenment? (1784): "enlightenment" as theoretical discourse and a way of life.

MANDATORY READING FOR BOTH ATTENDING AND NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS:
1) Learning materials published on e-learning;
2) L. A. Macor, Il mestiere di uomo. La concezione pratica della filosofia nel tardo illuminismo tedesco, Morcelliana, Brescia 2022 (in press).

Bibliography

Didactic methods

The modality of course delivery will depend on the University’s measures against COVID-19. In any case, video recordings of all lectures will be available online.

The course will consist of lectures as well as discussions guided by the professor and short (optional) papers given by students on topics previously agreed on. Special attention will be given to the reading of and commentary on texts.

The plurality of teaching methods is conceived of as a way of helping students, who will be offered as wide a range of learning paths as possible with a view to enabling them to attain both the knowledge- and the skills-related learning outcomes outlined above.

Learning assessment procedures

Oral exam (face to face or online depending on the University’s measures against COVID-19) + optional paper.

The exam aims to assess the attainment of the course’s twofold learning outcomes (knowledge/understanding and skills) with special attention being given to ability to compare the authors studied and to analyze texts. Students will have to prove capacity to orient themselves historically, and both to provide general explanations and to formulate precise definitions; furthermore, they will have to prove acquisition of a robust methodology for analyzing texts and reflecting on their theoretical implications.
Students who will have presented an optional short paper will be exempt from a part of the exam, and the paper’s assessment will contribute a half of the final total.

No distinction will be made between attending and non-attending students, but the latter are invited to contact the professor should they have any doubts or need further readings.

Evaluation criteria

The evaluation criteria are as follows:
1) possession of basic facts and notions;
2) ability to present clearly and using appropriate terminology;
3) ability to analyze texts;
4) autonomy of thought.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final mark will be in 30/30.
Students who will have presented an optional short paper will be exempt from the part of the exam corresponding to the nature of the work already done, and the paper’s assessment will contribute a half of the final total.

Exam language

Italiano/Italian. Studenti Erasmus incoming possono chiedere di sostenere l'esame in inglese o in tedesco. Erasmus incoming students can ask to do the exam in English or German.