Learning objectives
1- Knowledge and understanding
On the basis of the programme described students will gain understanding of active and passive moments that characterize human action as well as of the methodological outlooks to approach the relation between intersubjectivity and moral conflict.
2- Applying knowledge and understanding
Reading and discussing philosophical texts in the seminar will guide students to elaborate a written paper on an argument discussed in class. The discussion of and contrast with the contemporary debate in ethics pertinent to the argument will be encouraged.
3- Making judgments
At the end of the course the students should have acquired the capacity to collect data, interpret texts, formulate autonomous and motivated judgments on human action in intersubjective contexts.
4-5 communication and learning skills
The course develops the capacity to discuss in oral and written form ethical and philosophical problems, pertinent for teaching, educational training, and the production of texts.
Course unit content
The course will focus in the experience of the other in French phenomenology and will focus particularly on the contribution of Merleau-Ponty that will be contrasted with J-P. Sartre’s analysis of the look.
We will discuss Merleau-Ponty’s concept of behaviour, the relation between perception and action, the role of the perception of the other in the dynamics of the living corporeity, as well as the transformation of the relation to the other mediated by language.
Rediscovering nature in us and reflecting on language allows Merleau-Ponty to revise Sartre’s theory of choice and freedom. Based on the readings of chosen texts students will have the possibility to grasp and deepen their understanding of these two phenomenological positions.
Bibliography
M.Merleau-Ponty, La struttura del comportamento, Mimesis, Milano 2010 (with particular attention to part III and IV and to the relations between perception and action discussed on pp. 176-201).
M.Merleau-Ponty, Fenomenologia della percezione, Studi Bompiani, Milano 2003 (Foreword and first part; Il sentire; L’altro e il mondo umano; La libertà)
J-P.Sartre, L’Essere e il Nulla, EST, Milano 1997 (readings selected from the third part: Il Per-Altri).
Introductory text on the topic and on the philosopher:
F.Worms, Il problema del vivente e la filosofia del XX secolo in Francia, in “Discipline filosofiche” XIX, I, 2009.
R.Kirchmayr, Merleau-Ponty. Una sintesi, Marinotti, Milano 2008.
L.Vanzago, Merleau-Ponty, Carocci , Roma 2012.
Further readings:
S.Gallagher, D.Zahavi, La mente fenomenologica, Filosofia della mente e scienze cognitive, Raffaello Cortina, Milano 2009.
R.Lanfredini, Qualia e sensazioni. Merleau-Ponty e la nozione di esperienza, in Divenire di Merleau-Ponty. Filosofia di un soggetto incarnato, a cura di R.Lanfredini, Guerini e Associati, Milano 2011.
M. Meletti Bertolini, Tra Sartre e Merleau-Ponty: la vita irriflessa e i suoi significati etici, in Percorsi etici. Studi in memoria di A.Lambertino, FrancoAngeli, Milano 2007.
M.Meletti Bertolini, Percezione e azione, La pluralità degli stili percettivi secondo M.Merleau-Ponty e I. Murdoch, in “ Chiasmi” n.14, 2012, pp. 471-488.
Teaching methods
Lectures
Close readings of texts and discussion
Seminars
Assessment methods and criteria
Term paper
At the end of the course students present a written paper of 10-12 pages on an argument of their choice among those discussed in class. It is recommended to choose a precise and clearly delineated argument and to pay attention to elaborate it in a clear and concise manner.
The paper should contain a table of content, a short introduction, a bibliography at the end of the text and show a correct use of footnotes. The paper will be evaluated in grades up to 30. In case of a negative evaluation the student has to rewrite the paper.
Oral exam
The oral part of the exam consists of a discussion of the paper and on questions that test the comprehension of the themes discussed in class.
The final grade is the average of the grade for the paper and the one for the oral exam.
