Learning objectives
Purpose
The programme intends to provide students with an introduction in the area of the philosophical Hermeneutics in 20th century, through the concepts of "narrative identity" and of "personal identity" in Paul Ricoeur's philosophy. Its purpose is to develop ability to understanding: a new hermeneutical approach to knowledge; the concept of historical understand; to intersect of the "tradition" and "innovation"; a concept of reason able to unite the "objectivity" and "historicity" of the human knowledge.
Knowledge and understanding: knowledge and understanding of the essential problems of Hermeneutics in 20th century; knowledge the debates risen about the subject of personal identity in 20th century: criteria of identity vs the hermeneutical concept of attestation;use of appropriate terminology and modes of expression of the discipline in oral and written form in one's own language.
Applying and understanding: capability to address a philosophical problem, retrieving the appropriate sources and bibliography, and to expose and discuss the results in a clear and precise language.
Making judgments: awareness of the standards and the mind-set required for scientific inquiry and publication, including critical awareness and intellectual honesty.
Communications skills: ability to write, speak, and listen according to various registers in one's own language, presenting complex problems to specialists and non-specialists.
Learning skills: demonstrate a systematic comprehension and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or an area of professional practice.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of contemporary Hermeneutics issues.
Course unit content
The hermeneutical subject on Paul Ricoeur
The programme intends to explain the concept of "self" presented by Paul Ricoeur in Oneself as Another (1990), delimiting his own meaning through a strict comparison with Descartes's "cogito" and with Nietzsche's deconstruction. "Self", "idem", "ipse", "narrative identity" are the concepts introduced by philosopher to develop a concept of personal identity referring to a person and not an object.
Bibliography
Texts:
Paul Ricoeur, "L'identité narrative", Esprit, 1988, n.7-8
Paul Ricoeur, La vita in cerca di narratore, in Filosofia e linguaggio, tr. it., Milano, Guerini associati, 1994, pp. 169-185.
Paul Ricoeur, Sé come un altro, Milano, Jaca Book, 1994. Di tale opera dovranno essere preparate le parti seguenti: Prefazione; Studio quinto, L'identità personale e l'identità narrativa; Studio sesto, Il sé e l'identità narrativa.
Paul Ricoeur, La persona, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2002.
Secondary literature
Daniela Jannotta, Studio introduttivo al vol. Sé come un altro.
Domenico Jervolino, L'amore difficile, Introduzione, I: Paul Ricoeur e l'ermeneutica del sé, Roma, Ed. Studium, 1995, pp. 21-66.
Jacques Etienne, "La question de l'intersubjectivité. Une lecture de Soi-meme comme un autre de Paul Ricoeur", Revue théologique de Louvain, 28, 1997, pp. 189-215.
Teaching methods
Learning & teaching approaches: oral lessons, lectures on the texts, oral accounts of the texts analysed.
Assessment methods and criteria
Assessment methods: the student presents a term paper of around 15 pages on a subject of the programme.
Methods of evaluation: three accomplishment to get a positive grade: understanding the philosophical texts; ability to present theirs essential arguments; written in clear and precise language. The final grade will be determined by calculating the average of the grade in the exam of theoretical philosophy.
