Learning objectives
The discipline of History of Ideas studies the philosophical and scientific thought and its connections in the historical, political and even artistic fields. Its research is mainly carried out by reading and analysing classic texts of Western thought. The aim is reaching a full understanding and evaluation of the texts, also referring on critical literature. In other words, History of Ideas is a philosophical subject on an interdisciplinary basis, and it allows to discover the connections between different fields. So it contributes to the achievement of independence of judgment and also provides the conceptual tools to consider and evaluate the complex contemporary issues. The aims of the course include a critical approach to philosophical concepts and to the texts, to be able to explain the content of them and discuss them, and ultimately to strengthen the ability to learn.
Prerequisites
None specific competence required. It is required some general knowledge of the major historical events and philosophical movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Course unit content
History of Ideas (M-Fil/06) 6 cfu
The course will be about the Nietzsche’s thought on ‘Uebermensch’ and the Spengler’s work on the ‘Decline of the West’. An age of crisis of culture and civilization that lead to the rise of Hitler. Also the course will be about the question of the influence of the philosophies of Nietzsche and Spengler in the emergence of Nazi ideology. Ultimately aim is to provide the conceptual tools and critical knowledge of the texts to analyze the complexity of this important and controversial moment in the history of philosophy, culture and society.
Bibliography
- G. Mosse, Le origini culturali del Terzo Reich, Milano, il Saggiatore 2008 (chapters from 1 to 14).
- F. Nietzsche, Così parlò Zarathustra, trad. di M. Montinari, Milano, Piccola Biblioteca Adelphi 1998 (pages 1-26, 49-51, 72-76, 87-96, 115-128, 143-154, 177-186, 220-231, 244-245, 253-260, 271-287, 292-323, 333-341, 346-350, 378-382).
- O. Spengler, Il Tramonto dell’Occidente, Milano, Guanda 2008 (some chapters).
- M. Ferraris, Storia della Volontà di Potenza, in F. Nietzsche, La Volontà di Potenza, ed. by M. Ferraris and P. Kobau, Milano, Bompiani 1995 (the text by Ferraris and pages by Nietzsche: 74-75, 129, 384-385, 406-409, 430-431, 464-466, 472-475, 504-505, 508-509, 514-521).
- D. Losurdo, Nietzsche, il ribelle aristocratico, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri 2004 (the Fifth Part only).
- G. Scarpelli, La scimmia, l’uomo e il Superuomo. Nietzsche: evoluzioni e involuzioni, Milano, Mimesis 2008 (chapters 1, 2, 3, 6, 7,8).
- A. La Vergata e F. Trabattoni, Filosofia e cultura, Scandicci, La Nuova Italia 2007 (the chapters on Nietzsche and Spengler in volumes 3a and 3b).
Furthermore, one choice-book taken from this list:
- Y. Sherratt, I filosofi di Hitler, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri 2014 (six chapters of your choice).
- C.G. Jung, Lo Zarathustra di Nietzsche, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri 2011 (150 pages of your choice).
- G. Cocks, Psicoterapia nel Terzo Reich, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri 1988 (200 pages of your choice).
- R. Waite, The Psychpathic God: Adolf Hitler, Cambridge (Mass.), Da Capo Press 1993 (100 pages of your choice).
- P. Gay, La cultura di Weimar, Bari, Dedalo 2002 (all the text).
- E.D. Weitz, La Germania di Weimar. Utopia e tragedia, Torino, Einaudi 2008 (al the text).
Books recommended (but not required):
- O. Spengler, Eraclito, Milano, Mimesis 2003.
- E.M. Remarque, Tre Camerati, Milano, Neri Pozza 2013.
- J. El-Hai, Il nazista e lo psichiatra, Milano, Rizzoli 2014.
- G. Vattimo, Introduzione a Nietzsche, Bari, Laterza 2003.
- M. Montinari, Che cosa ha detto Nietzsche, Milano, Piccola Biblioteca Adelphi 1999.
- F.M. Cacciatore, Indagini su Oswald Spengler, Soveria Mannelli, Rubbettino 2005.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons. Lecture and discussion of texts.
Assessment methods and criteria
Final verbal examination. It will be judged the level of learning, the ability to discuss the contents of the course and the critical analysis of the texts, and lexical competences.
Other information
Some more materials will be provided during the course, including the screening of a film.
