OVERVIEW

The lectures will focus on one of the main topics of theoretical philosophy with reference to one or more texts of classic thinkers of the past and of the most relevant among the contemporary philosophers.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will further analyze some classic and contemporary theoretic themes in philosophy; they will learn to master the methods and tools needed to approach such problems; they will learn to discuss classic texts through a seminar method.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course the student should be able: to master the terminology of the subject; to treat and discuss its distinctive issues at an advanced level; to assimilate the fundamental concepts and arguments used in the presented texts in a critical and personal form.

PREREQUISITES

The course is destined for students who have acquired the philosophical knowledge and competences corresponding to the bachelor degree in Philosophy.

TEACHING METHODS

Lecture: introduction and presentation of the themes, reading and commentary of the main texts, clarification of the doubts and answers to the students' questions. A part of the course will be performed through seminar discussions, with the active contribution of the students.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Contents for students who are taking the 6-CFU course

Part I (6 CFU)

Lecturer: Gerardo CUNICO

Content:

Philosophy as wisdom between Aristotle, Kant and the thought of the last century

The first part of the course will present a line of the theoretical thought of modernity which with reference to the Greek idea of philosophy as a search for theoretical and practical wisdom develops into a reflection oriented through ethical-practical consciousness and the meaning this reverberates on the understanding of oneself, society and world. The teacher will analyse the standard texts of Aristotle on philosophy-wisdom and the distinction between sophia and phronesis, the main texts of Kant on philosophy in cosmopolitan sense and on Weisheit as practical wisdom, as well as a few texts of Bloch which take up Kant’s view in updated and radical terms within a broader reconstruction of the (mainly Western) tradition of the idea of wisdom.

Contents for students who are taking the 9-CFU course

Part I (6 CFU)

Lecturer: Gerardo CUNICO

Content:

Philosophy as wisdom between Aristotle, Kant and the thought of the last century.

The first part of the course will present a line of the theoretical thought of modernity which with reference to the Greek idea of philosophy as a search for theoretical and practical wisdom develops into a reflection oriented through ethical-practical consciousness and the meaning this reverberates on the understanding of oneself, society and world. The teacher will analyse the standard texts of Aristotle on philosophy-wisdom and the distinction between sophia and phronesis, the main texts of Kant on philosophy in cosmopolitan sense and on Weisheit as practical wisdom, as well as a few texts of Bloch which take up Kant’s view in updated and radical terms within a broader reconstruction of the (mainly Western) tradition of the idea of wisdom.

Part II (3 CFU)

Lecturer: Francesco CAMERA

Content:

The teacher will deepen and discuss the convergence proposed by Gadamer between hermeneutical understanding (as a transformation of classical theoria) and practical wisdom (as praxis and phronesis) conceived as a form of knowledge capable of orienting human action in its search for a meaningful life of individuals and communities.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The reading list for this course, together with the lecturer's suggestions and instructions are available on the Italian version of the web page.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GERARDO CUNICO (President)

FRANCESCO CAMERA

ROBERTO CELADA BALLANTI (Substitute)

EDOARDO SIMONOTTI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

February 18, 2020.

Class schedule

PHILOSOPHICAL THEORIES

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral interview. Students who actively participate to the seminar discussions by submitting an individual presentation (oral or written) will be exempted from a part of the programme.
Exam material:
for students who are taking the 6-CFU course:
Texts A and B (of Part I)
for students who are taking the 9-CFU course:
Part I: texts A and B.
Part II: texts A and B.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The expected learning outcomes will be assessed according to the following criteria: the acquisition of the specific terminology of the subject; the understanding and presentation of the fundamental concepts and arguments used in the texts indicated in the programme and commented in the lectures; the active participation in the seminar discussions.

Pre-registrationisrequired.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Attendance is strongly recommended. Those who are unable to attend, please contact the teacher.