THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY AND CRITICAL THEORY
cod. 1008582

Academic year 2020/21
2° year of course - Second semester
Professor
- Italo TESTA
Academic discipline
Filosofia teoretica (M-FIL/01)
Field
Istituzioni di filosofia
Type of training activity
Related/supplementary
30 hours
of face-to-face activities
6 credits
hub: PARMA
course unit
in ITALIAN

Learning objectives

In-depth knowledge and understanding of theoretical philosophy, its
relation to socio-philosophical questions and critical theory, and its application to contemporary
debates. Ability to discuss in an argumentative form the subject-matters
proposed in the lessons and to critically compare different interpretations
of the assigned texts. Development of communicative and learning skills,
and of the ability to make autonomous judgments on theoretical
questions. Ability to compose a written work in argumentative
form on the course themes

Prerequisites

Knowledge of the fundamental concepts and the principal authors in the
history of theoretical philosophy.
Attendance of the course "Theoretical and Social Philosophy" held in the first part of the second semester is recommended even if not mandatory.

Course unit content

Theories of Poetry

The course will focus on models of poetry and literature theory in different families of contemporary philosophical thought.

Full programme

- - -

Bibliography

Bibliography:


Roman Jakobson, “Linguistica e poetica”, in R. Jakobson, Saggi di linguistica generale, Feltrinelli, 1966, pp.181-281

Kate Hamburger, The Logic of Literature, Indiana University Press, 1993 (trad. It. La Logica della letteratura, Pendragon, 2015), capp. 1, 2, 4

Jonathan Culler, Theory of the Lyric, Harvard University Press, 2015 (capp.VI-V-VI)

Marshall Brown, “Negative Poetics: On Skepticism and the Lyric Voice”, Representations 86 (2004), pp. 120-140

Brian Boyd, Patterns of Thought: Narrative and Verse, in Cognitive Literary Science: Dialogues between Literature and Cognition, edited by Michael Burke and Emily T. Troscianko, Oxford University Press, pp. 93-109

Eugen Wassiliwizky, Stefan Koelsch, et. Al. “The emotional power of poetry: neural circuitry, psychophysiology and compositional principles”, Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci, . 2017 Aug 1;12(8):1229-1240.


Kendall Walton, “Thought Writing in Poetry and Music”, New Literary History, 42 (2011), pp. 455-476

Franco Brioschi, “Critica della ragion poetica”, in Critica della ragion poetica, Bollati Boringhieri, 2002, pp. 149-176

Christopher Hanna, Poésie action directe, Al Dante, 2003 (traduzione italiana: https://gammmorg.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/hanna-christophe_-poesia-azione-diretta.pdf)

Further readings:
Letture di approfondimento:

V. Jackson and Y. Prins (a cura di), The Lyric Theory Reader, John Hopkins University Press, 2014

P. Giovannetti e A. Inglese (a cura di) Teoria e poesia, Biblion, 2018

Teaching methods

teacher up-front lesson
Guided discussion
Seminar

Assessment methods and criteria

The final exam involves the composition of an argumentative paper (max 20,000 characters) on the topics and texts of the course, previously agreed with the teacher. Students who also attend the "Theoretical and Social Philosophy" will be allowed to present a single two-part paper (max. 30.000 characters) for both courses.
The final grade will consist of the paper evaluation (70%) and the oral exam (30%: discussion of the bibliography of the course). For students who have attended at least 70% of the lessons, the oral exam will be performed through the assessment of participation in the class discussion and a report held during the course. For other students, the oral exam on the bibliography will be held on the occasion of the final exam

The final evaluation (on a scale of 0-30) will be determined on the basis of four factors: 1) Expressive accuracy; 2) argumentative capacity and independence of judgment; 3) Ability to read, understand, and critically analyze philosophical texts; 4) Ability to identify theoretical links between different concepts and philosophical positions.
The exam is considered passed if it reaches the minimum grade of 18/30. The final mark will be determined according to the following parameters:
30 e Lode: Cum Laude; Outstanding expressive skills, brilliant ability to argue a thesis in a convincing way and to identify its weaknesses, terrific understanding and critical analysis of the texts assigned and the main concepts involved
30: Excellent; accurate and very well articulated expression skills, excellent understanding of the texts assigned and the concepts and topics involved
27-29: Very Good; correct and orderly expression skills, adequate capacity for argumentation and critical analysis of texts and concepts
24-26: Good: Good but not always correct expression skills, satisfactory ability to argue a philosophical thesis and to analyze texts and concepts, knowledge of texts not always complete
21-23: Discreet: not always appropriate expression skills, discreet argumentative ability, sometimes unsatisfactory understanding of texts and concepts
18-21: Sufficient: expressive skills often not adequate, unsatisfactory argumentative capacity, acceptable but often superficial knowledge and understanding of texts and concepts
0-18: Insufficient: Serious expressive gaps, inability to philosophically argue a thesis, inadequate knowledge and understanding of texts and concepts

Other information

The course is linked to the course of "Theoretical Philosophy and Critical Theory" which takes place in the first part of the second semester. Students who will attend both courses will agree specific exam methods and bibliography with the teacher. The two courses can however be followed individually.