Learning objectives
A sufficient acquaintance with the main topics of the philosophical debates in XVIth-XVIIIth centuries (knowledge and understanding; learning skills). Reading and learning ability, related mainly to philosophical texts; good acquaintance with philosophical terms and with different philosophical schools (making judgements). Doing research and writing papers on the principal philosophical topics (applying knowledge and understanding; communication skills)
Prerequisites
- - -
Course unit content
«L’homme n’est malheureux que parce qu’il méconnoît la Nature». Paul-Henry Thiry d’Holbach's "Système de la Nature" and XVIIIth Century materialism.
Paul-Henry Thiry d’Holbach used the penn name of M. Mirabaud for his "Système de la Nature", published in 1770 in London (a counterfeit place of publication). This work is regarded as the manifesto of XVIIIth Century either materialism or atheism. Natural philosophy will be the focus of the course, and only some hints will be dedicated to moral and theological problems. The critical remarks of Nicolas Sylvestre Bergier’s "Examen du Materialisme" (Paris, chez Humblot 1771), which was translated in Italian (Venezia, Bettinelli 1772-1773), will be taken into account, in order to have an idea of an immediate response.
The first part of the course will be dedicated to the analysis of the contribution to natural philosophy by the outstanding modern philosophers.
Full programme
A./J. 2017-2018
Exam schedule:
!) -Antology of philosophical texts from Descartes to Kant (texts are available on the course's site);
or:
-A textbook on modern philosophy from the following list:
a) Storia della Filosofia diretta da MARIO DAL PRA, vol VII: La filosofia moderna dal Quattrocento al Seicento (capitoli 16-18, 20-21, 23-25, 31-32); vol. VIII: Il Settecento (capitoli 8-10, 15), , Milano-Padova, Vallardi-Piccin Nuova Libraria 1999.
b) PIETRO ROSSI-AUGUSTO VIANO, Storia della filosofia. 3. Dal Quattrocento al Seicento, Roma-Bari, Laterza 1995 (capitoli XX-XXI); 4. Il Settecento, Roma-Bari, Laterza 1996 (capitoli II, IV, XII-XXIV).
c) N. ABBAGNANO, Storia della filosofia, Torino Utet, oppure Milano TEA vari anni di edizione: i capitoli da Descartes a Kant ( compreso).
2) -Paul-Henry Thiry d’Holbach, Il sistema della natura, a cura di Antimo Negri, Torino, UTET 1978
Exam schedule for students who can not attend the lectures:
For students who can not attend the lectures the recording of lectures consents to follow explanations, comments and discussions.
To integrate the above exam schedule:
-R. Descartes, Meditazioni metafisiche
-
Exam schedule for the Prefit course on "Metodologie e Tecnologie didattiche":
1) E. Ruffaldi, Insegnare Filosofia, Il Giardino dei pensieri, 2012
or
E. Ruffaldi, M. Trombino, L’officina del pensiero. Insegnare e apprendere filosofia, LED, Milano 2004: I Filosofia in aula; II Capire la filosofia
or
L. Messina, M. De Rossi, Tecnologie, formazione e didattica, Carocci, Roma 2015
2) N.Abbagnano-G.Fornero, Protagonisti e Testi della Filosofia, Paravia, Torino 2000 e ristampe
or
Hospers, Introduzione all’analisi filosofica, Milano, Mondadori 2003
3) Descartes, Meditazioni metafisiche
4) Scribano, Guida alla lettura delle "Meditazioni filosofiche" di Cartesio, Roma-Bari, Laterza 2010
Bibliography
Bibliography:
first part:
-Antology of philosophical texts from Renaissancce to I. Kant to download from the site of the course
or:
-a Handbook of Modern Philosophy; suggested handbooks:
a) Storia della Filosofia diretta da M. Dal Pra, vol VII: La filosofia moderna dal Quattrocento al Seicento (chap. 16-18, 20-21, 23-25, 31-32); vol. VIII: Il Settecento (chap. 8-10, 15), , Milano-Padova, Vallardi-Piccin Nuova Libraria 1999
b) P. Rossi-A. Viano, Storia della filosofia. 3. Dal Quattrocento al Seicento, Roma-Bari, Laterza 1995 (chap. XX-XXI); 4. Il Settecento, Roma-Bari, Laterza 1996 (chap. II, IV, XII-XXIV)
c) N. ABBAGNANO, Storia della filosofia, Torino Utet, oppure Milano TEA vari anni di edizione: chapters from Descartes a Kant.
Second part:
- Paul-Henry Thiry d’Holbach, Il sistema della natura, ed. by Antimo Negri, Torino, UTET 1978
-Nicolas Sylvestre Bergier, Esame del materialismo, ossia confutazione del Sistema della Natura, Venezia, Bettinelli 1772 -1773 (digitalized copy fom Biblioteca di Filosofia, Università la Sapienza, Rome Giovanni Gentile collection):
- https://books.google.it/books?vid=RMS:RMS2lGEN000000220$$$G
- https://books.google.it/books?vid=RMS:RMS2lGEN000000221$$$H
Teaching methods
lectures
Assessment methods and criteria
The finals is oral; to be admitted to the exam the student is requested to prepare two papers: 1) a bio-bibliographical note on the author commented in the second part of the course (no more than 4000 strokes); 2) a paper on a topic (some topics) discussed in the philosophical text commented in the second part of the course (no more than 10.000 strokes). Papers are prepared autonomously, discussing eventually with the teacher.
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 in the web site of the course:
http://www.didaschein.net/corsiuniversitari/2017-2018
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
- - -
