Learning objectives
By the end of the class the student will be able: 1) to discuss the
groundlines of Descartes' Metaphysics; 2) to apply the methodologies and arguments of Descartes' Metaphysics to specific situations and examples; 3) to analyze
passages from Descartes' Metaphysics; 4) to communicate
the groundlines of the philosophical debate discussed during the course;
5) to read a philosophical text and to highlight its most important logical
passages.
Prerequisites
none
Course unit content
Descartes' Metaphysics.
The course analyzes the groundlines of Descartes' Metaphysics as well as the objections that Descartes' contemporary thinkers addressed to it. It deals particularly with the nature of subject, the concepts of evidence and truth, the notion of error, the relationship mind-body.
Full programme
Descartes' Metaphysics.
The course analyzes the groundlines of Descartes' Metaphysics as well as the objections that Descartes' contemporary thinkers addressed to it. It deals particularly with the nature of subject, the concepts of evidence and truth, the notion of error, the relationship mind-body.
Literature.
R. Cartesio, Meditazioni metafisiche. Obbiezioni e risposte, in: Id., Opere filosofiche, vol. 2, Roma-Bari, Laterza 1990 (or later).
The student can also read:
1) S. Landucci, La mente in Cartesio, Milano, Franco Angeli 2002.
2) There are some Introductions into Descartes' Meditations: by S. Di Bella (Roma, Carocci 1997), E. Scribano (Roma-Bari, Latera 2010), M. Valsania (Torino, Utet 2012).
Students who cannot attend the lecture could read the following Introduction: G. Mori, Cartesio, Roma, Carocci 2010.
Bibliography
Literature.
R. Cartesio, Meditazioni metafisiche. Obbiezioni e risposte, in: Id., Opere filosofiche, vol. 2, Roma-Bari, Laterza 1990 (or later).
The student can also read:
1) S. Landucci, La mente in Cartesio, Milano, Franco Angeli 2002.
2) There are some Introductions into Descartes' Meditations: by S. Di Bella (Roma, Carocci 1997), E. Scribano (Roma-Bari, Latera 2010), M. Valsania (Torino, Utet 2012).
Students who cannot attend the lecture could read the following Introduction: G. Mori, Cartesio, Roma, Carocci 2010.
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Lecture and analysis of texts.
Active interaction between the teacher and the students in form of discussion of particular problems of the course.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral examination. Criteria of Evaluation. Less than 18: Insufficient comprehension of the topics, insufficient expository clarity and insufficient competence in the use of the philosophical vocabulary. Threshold for 18: sufficient
comprehension of the topics, sufficient expository clarity and sufficient
competence in the use of the philosophical vocabulary. Threshold for 24:
discrete comprehension of the topics, discrete expository clarity and
discrete competence in the use of the philosophical vocabulary.
Threshold for 27: good comprehension of the topics, good expository
clarity and good competence in the use of the philosophical vocabulary.
Threshold for 30: excellent comprehension of the topics, excellent
expository clarity and excellent competence in the use of the
philosophical vocabulary. Threshold for 30 cum laude: as for 30, plus
elements of originality (e.g. critical assessment of the course topics)
and/or particularly in-depth analysis of the course topics.
Other information
The student will find the texts in the Biblioteca Paolotti.
