Learning objectives
This course offers in-depth knowledge of some crucial problems in
theoretical philosophy, such as the nature of rationality and rational agency. It
aims to provide adequate analityc, logic and argumentative skills. In
particular, it aims to train to critically assess theories and models of
rationality. Seminars are devoted to train students to build valid
arguments and assess their logical tenability (Descriptor I).
To this purpose, students are strongly encouraged to participate to class
discussion with a presentation about a critical review of a chapter in
bibliography, and a final essay with a critical and argumentative account
of the philosophical problem chosen (Descriptor II and III).
To further develop argumentative and communication skills, there will be
a workshop in philosophical writing (Descriptor IV and V).
Prerequisites
Requirements satisfied with enrollment.
Course unit content
This course concerns a fundamental problem in the philosophy of action, namely, the nature of rationality. In particular, the course focuses on the current debate about naturalistic approaches such as Kantian and Humean constructivism and Michael Bratman’s planning theory.
Full programme
LANGUAGE
I module in Italian, II module in English
CONTENTS
This course concerns a fundamental problem in the philosophy of action, namely, the nature of rationality. In particular, the course focuses on the current debate about naturalistic approaches such as Kantian and Humean constructivism and Michael Bratman’s planning theory.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Carla Bagnoli, “Il ruolo epistemico delle norme costitutive”, in Bagnoli
(a cura di), Che fare? Nuove prospettive filosofiche sull’azione, Carocci,
Roma, 2013, cap. 3.
2. Bratman, Michael E. (2014). Shared Agency: A Planning Theory of Acting Together. OUP
3. Bratman, Michael E. (2007). Structures of Agency: Essays. Oxford University Press.
4. Smith, Michael (2013). “A Constitutivist Theory of Reasons: Its Promise and Parts”, Law, Ethics, and Philosophy 1, pp. 9–30.
5. Bratman, Michael E. (2012). Constructivism, agency, and the problem of alignment. In Jimmy Lenman & Yonatan Shemmer (eds.), Constructivism in Practical Philosophy. Oxford University Press. pp. 81.
6. Dorsey, Dale (2018). “A Perfectionist Humean Constructivism”, Ethics, 128/3.
7. Driver, Julia (2017). “Constructivism and Contingency”, in Simon Kirchin ed. Reading Parfit, London: Routledge.
8. Sharon Street, (2012). Coming to terms with contingency: Humean constructivism about practical reason. In Jimmy Lenman & Yonatan Shemmer (eds.), Constructivism in Practical Philosophy. Oxford University Press.
Letture introduttive per non frequentanti
1. Carla Bagnoli,“Constructivism in Meta-ethics”, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Edward N. Zalta ed., (Winter 2017 Substantially Revised Edition), URL https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2017/entries/constructivism-metaethics/
2. Carla Bagnoli “Introduzione”, Che fare? Nuove prospettive filosofiche sull’ azione, Carocci, Roma, 2013
3. Carla Bagnoli “Construttivismo kantiano” in Oggettività in etica, G. Bongiovanni ed., Mondadori, Milano, 2007, 257-276
4. Christine M. Korsgaard, “Realismo e costruttivismo nel XX secolo”, in Carla Bagnoli (a cura di), Che fare? Nuove prospettive filosofiche sull’azione, Carocci, Roma, 2013, cap. 1.
Sharon Street, “Constructivism about reasons”. Oxford Studies in Metaethics (2008) 3: 207-45.
EDUCATIONAL GOALS
This course offers in-depth knowledge of some crucial problems in
theoretical philosophy, such as the nature of rationality and rational agency. It
aims to provide adequate analityc, logic and argumentative skills. In
particular, it aims to train to critically assess theories and models of
rationality. Seminars are devoted to train students to build valid
arguments and assess their logical tenability (Descriptor I).
To this purpose, students are strongly encouraged to participate to class
discussion with a presentation about a critical review of a chapter in
bibliography, and a final essay with a critical and argumentative account
of the philosophical problem chosen (Descriptor II and III).
To further develop argumentative and communication skills, there will be
a workshop in philosophical writing (Descriptor IV and V).
METHODS
Lectures and Seminars.
Lectures offer a critical analysis of problems and philosophical texts.
Seminars are devoted to three kinds of activities:
a) seminars with class discussion on specific arguments of the course
b) students’ presentations consisting in a critical account of a chapter in
bibliography
c) workshop in philosophical communication and writing.
EVALUATIVE CRITERIA
Students with regular attendance:
• Final essay of 6000 words (bibliography excluded) in Italian or English),
on a topic chosen in consultation with the professor.
NB Outline of the paper must be in English.
• Oral examination on the main topics of the course and defense of the
final essay.
For students not attending classes:
• Oral examination on the full bibliography of the course.
• Final essay of 6000 words (bibliography excluded) in Italian or English),
on a topic assigned by the instructor.
For students not attending classes:
• Oral examination on the full bibliography of the course.
• Final essay of 3000 words (bibliography excluded) in Italian or English),
on a topic assigned by the instructor.
International Students
International Students have the opportunity to be examined in English.
(All other requirements above apply)
Criteria of Evaluation
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 or new personal contribution to
them) and/or particularly in-depth analysis of the course topics.
Bibliography
1. Carla Bagnoli, “Il ruolo epistemico delle norme costitutive”, in Bagnoli
(a cura di), Che fare? Nuove prospettive filosofiche sull’azione, Carocci,
Roma, 2013, cap. 3.
2. Bratman, Michael E. (2014). Shared Agency: A Planning Theory of Acting Together. OUP
3. Bratman, Michael E. (2007). Structures of Agency: Essays. Oxford University Press.
4. Smith, Michael (2013). “A Constitutivist Theory of Reasons: Its Promise and Parts”, Law, Ethics, and Philosophy 1, pp. 9–30.
5. Bratman, Michael E. (2012). Constructivism, agency, and the problem of alignment. In Jimmy Lenman & Yonatan Shemmer (eds.), Constructivism in Practical Philosophy. Oxford University Press. pp. 81.
6. Dorsey, Dale (2018). “A Perfectionist Humean Constructivism”, Ethics, 128/3.
7. Driver, Julia (2017). “Constructivism and Contingency”, in Simon Kirchin ed. Reading Parfit, London: Routledge.
8. Sharon Street, (2012). Coming to terms with contingency: Humean constructivism about practical reason. In Jimmy Lenman & Yonatan Shemmer (eds.), Constructivism in Practical Philosophy. Oxford University Press.
Letture introduttive per non frequentanti
1. Carla Bagnoli,“Constructivism in Meta-ethics”, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Edward N. Zalta ed., (Winter 2017 Substantially Revised Edition), URL https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2017/entries/constructivism-metaethics/
2. Carla Bagnoli “Introduzione”, Che fare? Nuove prospettive filosofiche sull’ azione, Carocci, Roma, 2013
3. Carla Bagnoli “Construttivismo kantiano” in Oggettività in etica, G. Bongiovanni ed., Mondadori, Milano, 2007, 257-276
4. Christine M. Korsgaard, “Realismo e costruttivismo nel XX secolo”, in Carla Bagnoli (a cura di), Che fare? Nuove prospettive filosofiche sull’azione, Carocci, Roma, 2013, cap. 1.
5. Sharon Street, “Constructivism about reasons”. Oxford Studies in Metaethics (2008) 3: 207-45.
Teaching methods
Lectures and Seminars.
Lectures offer a critical analysis of problems and philosophical texts.
Seminars are devoted to three kinds of activities:
a) seminars with class discussion on specific arguments of the course
b) students’ presentations consisting in a critical account of a chapter in
bibliography
c) workshop in philosophical communication and writing.
Assessment methods and criteria
Students with regular attendance:
• Final essay of 6000 words (bibliography excluded) in Italian or English),
on a topic chosen in consultation with the professor.
NB Outline of the paper must be in English.
• Oral examination on the main topics of the course and defense of the
final essay.
For students not attending classes:
• Oral examination on the full bibliography of the course.
• Final essay of 6000 words (bibliography excluded) in Italian or English),
on a topic assigned by the instructor.
For students not attending classes:
• Oral examination on the full bibliography of the course.
• Final essay of 3000 words (bibliography excluded) in Italian or English),
on a topic assigned by the instructor.
International Students
International Students have the opportunity to be examined in English.
(All other requirements above apply)
Criteria of Evaluation
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 or new personal contribution to
them) and/or particularly in-depth analysis of the course topics.
Other information
Lectures are held at the University of Modena, and available in streaming (blended).
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