Learning objectives
By the end of the class the student will be able: 1) to know the groundlines of the debate on mind-body, read some basic texts and learn how to analyze their most important moments (1st Dublin Descriptor); 2) to apply to concrete situations and examples the methodologies and the argumentative techniques developed during German idealism; to reconstruct the genesis of the concepts under discussion (2nd Dublin Descriptor); 3) to critically analyze steps taken from the texts (3rd Descriptor of Dublin); 4) to communicate the coordinates of the philosophical debate examined in the course (4th Descriptor of Dublin); 5) to read a philosophical text highlighting the relevant logical steps (5th Descriptor of Dublin).
Prerequisites
None
Course unit content
The mind-body problem in Descartes and Spinoza in the light of contemporary debate
We will deal with two classical theories of the mind-body relationship, Descartes and Spinoza, framing them with respect to contemporary discussions on the same theme.
Full programme
The mind-body problem in Descartes and Spinoza in the light of contemporary debate
We will deal with two classic modern theories of the mind-body relationship, Descartes and Spinoza, framing them with respect to contemporary discussions on the same theme.
Bibliography:
1) Cartesio, Meditazioni metafisiche, in Id., Id., Opere filosofiche, vol. 2, Roma-Bari, Laterza 1990 (or later), Meditazioni 1-3, 6.
2) Spinoza, Etica, a cura di Sergio Landucci, Roma-Bari, Laterza 2009, Libri I e II.
3) A. Damasio, Alla ricerca di Spinoza. Emozioni, sentimenti e cervello, Milano, Adelphi 2003, some parts.
Students who cannot attend the course could read:
1) G. Mori, Cartesio, Roma, Carocci 2010.
2) L. Vinciguerra, Spinoza, Roma, Carocci 2015.
Bibliography
Bibliography:
1) Cartesio, Meditazioni metafisiche, in Id., Id., Opere filosofiche, vol. 2, Roma-Bari, Laterza 1990 (or later), Meditazioni 1-3, 6.
2) Spinoza, Etica, a cura di Sergio Landucci, Roma-Bari, Laterza 2009, Libri I e II.
3) A. Damasio, Alla ricerca di Spinoza. Emozioni, sentimenti e cervello, Milano, Adelphi 2003, some parts.
Students who cannot attend the course could read:
1) G. Mori, Cartesio, Roma, Carocci 2010.
2) L. Vinciguerra, Spinoza, Roma, Carocci 2015.
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 exam can also be taken as a non-attending student. Some texts will be made available to students on the platform Elly.
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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