Learning objectives
Evolving an ability to analyze the presented texts and discuss them in the light of different interpretations (I).
Evolving the ability to produce a written text on some aspect of Wittgenstein's philosophy and to present it critically in a well-argued way (II).
Acquiring some degree of autonomy of judgment and a good level of clarity in communication.
Becoming able to integrate the lectures and the texts with a personal examination of the secondary literature on the relevant topics (III,IV,V).
Course unit content
Metaphilosophical themes in Ludwig Wittgenstein.
Module 1: 6 cfu.
The first part of the module will discuss criticism of Wittgenstein's views by analytic philosophers, particularly on the relation between science and philosophy (Wittgenstein vs. Quine) and on metaphysics (Wittgenstein vs. Kripke and Putnam).
The second part will consist of a critique of the "New Wittgenstein" interpretation of Wittgenstein's philosophy.
Module 2: 6 cfu.
«Work on philosophy is... rather work on oneself, on one's own way of thinking». This module will present different readings of this sentence from Wittgenstein's text Philosophy: issues will be the role of the first person as well as ethical and aesthetical consequences of philosophical understanding.
Bibliography
R. Monk, How to Read Wittgenstein, W.W.Norton & Company, 2005.
- L. Wittgenstein, Tractatus logico-philosophicus, Einaudi, 1995.
- L. Wittgenstein, Ricerche filosofiche, Einaudi, 1995.
- L. Wittgenstein, Lezioni e conversazioni sull'etica, l'estetica e la credenza religiosa, Adelphi,1980.
- L. Wittgenstein, Filosofia, Donzelli, 1996.
- Paolo Tripodi, Dimenticare Wittgenstein, Il Mulino, 2009.
- J. Conant , C. Diamond, Rileggere Wittgenstein, Carocci, 2010.
- A.A.V.V., Wittgenstein, l'estetica e le arti, Carocci 2013.
- McGinn M. and Kuusela O.(eds), The Oxford Handbook of Wittgenstein, Oxford University Press, 2011 - saggi scelti.
- G.Hagberg, Wittgenstein’s Aesthetics, 2007 (http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/wittgenstein-aesthetic).
Teaching methods
The course will mostly consist of lectures. In addition, topics will be suggested for written papers and oral presentations, to be discussed in class.
Assessment methods and criteria
The exam comes in two parts: (a) a written paper on one of the topics that were presented in the lectures, (b) an oral examination including questions on the materials covered in the course as well as discussion of the written paper.
Final evaluation will reflect
- command of the course contents,
- ability to critically elaborate on them,
- expository and argumentative abilities.
