Learning objectives
By the end of the course, the Student of History of Culture and Values will have:
1. acquired a sound knowledge of Scheler’s theory of shared feelings focusing on the historical-philosophical implications of that theory;
2. mastered the philosophical lexicon and developed skills required for understanding phenomenological works. He/She will improve his/her ability to orientate him/herself within the history of ideas;
3. developed the capacity to take a stance on the philosophical issues discussed in class;
4. developed the ability to argue for the supported thesis considering the historical-philosophical context;
5. read and understood autonomously the works of author analyzed in class.
Prerequisites
none
Course unit content
Ressentiment and negative empathy. Scheler in dialogue with Nietzsche.
The analysis Scheler addresses to resentment and to the key-role it plays in the development of moral systems does not only provide an opportunity for heated debate on Nietzsche’s ethics but also provides an interesting perspective in the understanding specifically of Scheler’s investigation of shared-feelings. Starting from the assumption according to which resentment is a disorder of emotional and cognitive function of the subject, the course aims to outline the thesis developed by Scheler in his Essence and Forms of Sympathy (1923). In other words, this assumption is based on the idea that a human being lives more in others than in himself, more in the community than in his individuality. The inability of emotional-sharing shows itself as structurally intertwined to resentment.
Full programme
F. Nietzsche, Umano troppo umano. Volume primo, Adelphi, Milano 1979.
M. Scheler, Il risentimento, Chiarelettere, Milano 2019.
M. Scheler, Essenza e forme della simpatia, FrancoAngeli, Milano 2010 (selected pages).
Further suggested reading:
E. Simonotti, La svolta antropologica. Scheler interprete di Nietzsche. ETS, Pisa 2006;
E. Stein, L'empatia, FrancoAngeli, Milano 2002;
G. Cusinato, Periagoge, Teoria della singolarità e filosofia come esercizio di trasformazione, II edizione, QuiEdit, Verona 2017, pp. 87-104; 283- 310;
A. Zhok, Intersoggettività e fondamento in Max Scheler, La Nuova Italia, Firenze 1997.
Bibliography
F. Nietzsche, Umano troppo umano. Volume primo, Adelphi, Milano 1979.
M. Scheler, Il risentimento, Chiarelettere, Milano 2019.
M. Scheler, Essenza e forme della simpatia, FrancoAngeli, Milano 2010 (passi scelti).
Teaching methods
Lectures. Reading, analysis and discussion of the authors' works, written training.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral examination. The oral examination is aimed to verify: I) command of the topics and of the texts presented in class; II) the ability to contextualize issues within the historical-philosophical reference-horizon
Assessment criteria and assessment thresholds:
30 cum laude: Excellent, excellent solidity of knowledge, excellent expressive properties, excellent understanding of the concepts
30: Very good. Complete and adequate knowledge, well-articulated and correctly expressed
27-29: Good, satisfactory knowledge, essentially correct expression.
24-26: Fairly good knowledge, but not complete and not always correct.
22-23: Generally sufficient knowledge but superficial. Expression is often not appropriate and confused.
18-21: Sufficient. The expression and articulation of the speech show important gaps.
<18: insufficient knowledge or very incomplete, lack of guidance in discipline, expression seriously deficient. Exam failed.
Other information
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