Learning objectives
General acquaintance on medieval and modern discussions on matter and its function (knowledge and understanding; learning skills).
Reading and learning ability, related mainly to philosophical texts; good acquaintance with philosophical terms and with different philosophical schools. Writing in clear and argued form of papers on philosophical texts and problems (making judgements). Gaining abilities in doing research through the acquaintance with the sources and the main bibliographical instruments (applying knowledge and understanding; communication skills).
Prerequisites
A sufficient acquaintance with XIVth-XVIIIth Century discussions on natural philosophy.
Course unit content
Changing wiews on matter, from Democritus to Cabanis.
The notion of matter and its function is the topic of the course, beginning with ancient atomism up to XVIIIth Century materialism.
Full programme
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Bibliography
Passages from Democritus’, Plato’s, Aristotle’s, Augustinus’, Thomas Aquinas’, Gassendi’s an Leibniz’s works will be analysed in the class, as well as the italian translation of Pierre Jean Georges Cabanis', "Rapports du physique et du moral de l’homme" (Paris, imprimerie de Crapelet : chez Crapart, Caille et Ravier1802/ Napoli, Marotta e Vaspandoch 1820).
They can be found in the web site of the course:
-http://www.didaschein.net/corsiuniversitari/2017-2018/MAGISTRALE
Teaching methods
Lectures
Assessment methods and criteria
The finals is oral; to be admitted to the exam the student is requested to prepare a paper on a topic (some topics) discussed in the philosophical text commented in the second part of the course (no more than 14.000 strokes). Papers are prepared autonomously, discussing eventually with the teacher the content of the second paper.
The oral proof is directed to establish the understanding of topics discussed.
Marks:
30 cum laude: excellent, excellent and sound knowledge of the philosophical topics, excellent reasoning skill, high understanding of topics and reasoning, involvement discussions during the lectures;
30: very good, very good acquaintance with philosophical topics, ability in correctly and properly explaining and commenting philosophical textsi;
27/29 good, , good knowledge of philosophical topics, essentially proper ability in oral expression;
24/26: satisfactory knowledge of philosophical topics, even though not complete and with some inaccuracies;
21/23: acceptable knowledge of philosophical topics, even though superficial and with an improper way of oral expression;
18/21: passing, with problems in acquaintance with philosophical texts and improper way of oral expression;
> 18: insufficient, with evident and serious gaps in the knowledge of philosopphical topics and in oral expression as well.
Other information
Further informations and educational material on the course's web site:
http://www.didaschein.net/corsiuniversitari/2017-2018
