Learning outcomes

The course does not intend to learn by rote about philosophers and theories, but aims primarily to motivate the interest of students to cope with some of the core issues of philosophy. Classroom discussions, in addition to exercising critical skills of argumentation, are preparatory to the development of a short written text, to better refine the tools and terminology necessary for philosophical practice.

Program

This course addresses three issues that are closely intertwined with each other:
1) How does our memory work? It will refer to the research of Kandel (Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2000) on the synaptic plasticity of our brain;
2) What are the emotions? It will refer in particular to studies from the mid-eighties which have questioned the intellectualist thesis according to which emotions be merely a by-product of a perceptual and cognitive process;
3) What role do emotions play in the process of formation and of trans-formation of a person?

Reading list:
- G. Cusinato, Periagoge, Verona 2014
- E. Kandel, Alla ricerca della memoria. La storia di una nuova scienza della mente, Torino 2007, pp. 153-257;

In addition, students not attending the lectures should study one of the following texts:
- J. LeDoux, Il cervello emotivo, Milano 2003
- A. Damasio, L’errore di Cartesio, Milano 1995
- J. LeDoux, Il Sè sinaptico, Milano 2002 (in particular pp. 277-327)
- G. Hüther, Il cervello compassionevole, Roma 2014
- R. J. Davidson, La vita emotiva del cervello, Milano 2014

Examination Methods

The exam is in oral form and foresees discussion of the short thesis about 18,000 characters on the issue agreed with the professor during the reception hour and to be handed in by ten days before the exam.