Learning objectives
Knowledge of main tendencies in the history of philosophy from the modern age to the end of the 20th century. Knowledge and understanding of a number of philosophical texts which are read in the lecture-hall (descriptor 1).
Knowledge of at least some terms of the Greek and German philosophical lexicon. Knowledge of main tendencies in the philosophical historiography of philosophy from the 18th to the 20th centuries.
Knowledge of the primary arguments of the History of Philosophy from the 18th to the 20th centuries.
Ability to comprehend the principal lines of argument of a philosophical text, including on the basis of lexical skills that make it possible to comprehend the relevance of given philosophical terms in given historical and cultural contexts (descriptor 2 and 3). Students are asked to demonstrate their skills in argumentation , in interdisciplinary connections and in clear communication by means of compiling essays on the subjects studied (descriptor 3 and 4). It also represents a useful exercise for students, requiring them to apply autonomous their knowledge to a variety of themes chosen (descriptor 5).
Prerequisites
To get knowledge of the themes of the history of philosophy which are treated in the first year of the course.
Course unit content
Subject, Life and Freedom in the philosophy of the twentieth century
The course aims to illustrate and to discuss the relation between life and freedom in the contemporary philosophy by the means of reading parts of works of E. Husserl and K. Jaspers. The course aims to develop main concepts of the history of philosophy from Kant’s thought and to the philosophy of the twentieth century as being, phenomenon, existence, experience.
Full programme
Subject, Life and Freedom in the philosophy of the twentieth century
The course aims to illustrate and to discuss the relation between life and freedom in the contemporary philosophy by the means of reading parts of works of E. Husserl and K. Jaspers. The course aims to develop main concepts of the history of philosophy from
Kant’s thought and to the philosophy of the twentieth century as being, phenomenon, existence, experience.
E. Husserl, Meditazioni cartesiane/ Cartesian Meditations (1931), trad. it. a cura di F. Costa, Bompiani, Milano 2002;
K. Jaspers, Della verità/On Truth (1947), trad. it. di D. D’Angelo, Bompiani, Milano 2015 (parts)
M. De Caro, a cura di, La logica della libertà/Logic of the Freedom, Meltemi, Roma 2002 (parts).
Testi per l'approfondimento (facoltativi):
M. De Caro, Il libero arbitrio/The free will, Carocci, Roma 2013;
M. Mori, Libertà, necessità, determinismo/Freedom, necessity, determinism, il Mulino, Bologna 2001.
V. Costa, Husserl, Carocci, Milano 2009
G. Cantillo, Introduzione a Jaspers, Laterza, Roma Bari.
Bibliography
E. Husserl, Meditazioni cartesiane/ Cartesian Meditations (1931), trad. it. a cura di F. Costa, Bompiani, Milano 2002;
K. Jaspers, Della verità/On Truth (1947), trad. it. di D. D’Angelo, Bompiani, Milano 2015 (parts);
M. De Caro, a cura di, La logica della libertà/Logic of the Freedom, Meltemi, Roma 2002 (parts).
Testi per l'approfondimento (facoltativi):
M. De Caro, Il libero arbitrio/The free will, Carocci, Roma 2013;
M. Mori, Libertà, necessità, determinismo/Freedom, necessity, determinism, il Mulino, Bologna 2001.
Teaching methods
The course syllabus has been designed to develop the conceptual analysis of the proposed topic with direct reference to the writings of the authors examined, including through readings and discussion.
In the classroom, textbooks that have the original text and translations side-by-side will be used; when such texts are not available, original language texts will be used so that students will become familiar with the most important terms and those specific to each author examined. At the end of the course, a list of these terms in their original language accompanied by a translation will be provided.
In addition, within each subject, students are asked to demonstrate their skills in understanding and argumentation by means of compiling essays on the subjects studied.
The course is worth 12 credits.
Modifications and supplementary material for students in other courses of study may be agreed upon.
Assessment methods and criteria
The oral examination tends to verify historical and philosophical knowledge acquired through the class attendance, the study of the texts and bibliography, contextualising them in historical and philosophical tradition (descriptors 1 and 2); the level of critical assimilation of conceptual contents; the property and the adequacy of linguistic expression; skill in autonomous argumentation (descriptors 3, 4, 5).
Assessment criteria and assessment thresholds:
30 cum laude: Excellent, excellent solidity of knowledge, excellent expressive properties, excellent understanding of the concepts
30: Very good. Complete and adequate knowledge, well-articulated and correctly expressed
27-29: Good, satisfactory knowledge, essentially correct expression.
24-26: Fairly good knowledge, but not complete and not always correct.
22-23: Generally sufficient knowledge but superficial. Expression is often not appropriate and confused.
18-21: Sufficient. The expression and articulation of the speech show important gaps.
<18: insufficient knowledge or very incomplete, lack of guidance in discipline, expression seriously deficient. Exam failed.
Other information
In order to know life, works and the historical context of Kant, Husserl, Jaspers, the following texts are recommended:
A. Guerra, Introduzione a Kant, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1998
V. Costa, Husserl, Carocci, Milano 2009
G. Cantillo, Introduzione a Jaspers, Laterza, Roma Bari.
