Teaching code

4S007313

Teacher

Ferdinando Luigi Marcolungo

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

M-FIL/01 - THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY

Period

Sem. 1B dal Nov 19, 2018 al Jan 12, 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

Prerequisites: for the attendance of the course it is advisable to attend also the course of the History of Philosophy I, during the first semester.
Content of the Second Module: the key concepts of metaphysics with reference to Aristotle’s text. What is the influence of this work in the history of Western thought? What is the difference with the Platonic approach? And is it possible to re-read Aristotle today, in order to rediscover the essential core of philosophical reflection? These and other fundamental issues will be discussed in this second part of the course.

Reference Texts: 1) Aristotle, Metaphysics, edited by Enrico Berti, Laterza, Bari 2018. 2) G. Reale, Reader’s Guide to Aristotle’s Metaphysics, Laterza, Bari 2014 (recommended text for those who need of a general introduction). Every indication will be provided to the students during the course and will be online available at the e-learning section of the University of Verona website, where any further deepening texts and teaching materials will be indicated.

Examination Methods

Didactic Methods
The teaching methods consist of traditional lectures axed on the reading and the comment on the text of the Aristotle's Metaphysics, 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 Aristotle's philosophy and its exegesis; 3) the critical means that are useful for understanding (and for dealing with) the problematic issues involved in Aristotle’s thought. By means of power point presentations, the general introduction (bio-bibliographical) to Aristotle 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.

Examination arrangements
The assessment of the learning outcomes of both the key concepts and the issues which concern the Aristotle's Metaphysics, as well as the interpretation offered by Enrico Berti, will be done by means of an oral examination concerning the program 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. The examination is the same for both attending students and non-attending ones.