Learning objectives
A sufficient acquaintance with the main topics of the philosophical debates in XVIth-XVIIIth centuries. A deep acquaintance with the projects of D’Alembert’s and Diderot’s programmatic articles and with Diderot’s philosophical convictions
Course unit content
Sapere Aude. New philosophical perspectives at the age of Encyclopédie.
Kant’s, Horkheimer’s and Adorno’s different opinions on Enlightenment bear witness of the continuous interest of philosophers toward this period. On the basis of D’Alembert’s Discours preliminaire and Diderot’s Prospectus, some of the main reform projects of French Enlightenment will be considered, as well as the main features of Diderot’s philosophy.
Bibliography
Bibliography:
-Antology of philosophical texts to download from the site of the course
or:
-a Handbook on Modern Philosophy:
a) Storia della Filosofia diretta da M. Dal Pra, vol VII: La filosofia moderna dal Quattrocento al Seicento, Milano-Padova, Vallardi-Piccin Nuova Libraria 1999
b) P. Rossi-A. Viano, Storia della filosofia. 3. Dal Quattrocento al Seicento, Roma-Bari, Laterza 1995;
c) N. Abbagnano, Storia della filosofia, Torino Utet, or Milano TEA.
Texts:
D'Alembert, Discorso preliminare
Diderot, Prospectus
edited in: J. D'Alembert, D. Diderot, L'Enciclopedia, a cura di P. Casini, Bari Laterza 1964 (PBE)
for the Encyclopedie's Articles: Enciclopedia o Dizionario ragionato delle scienze, delle arti, dei mestieri (1751-1772), Milano Feltrinelli 1966 (UE)
Assessment methods and criteria
paper and oral examination
