LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Outcomes

Addressing the complex topic of understanding and interpreting as an independent philosophical problem. Learning how to read correctly philosophical texts (with special attention to the classics of western philosophical tradition) through different approaches to texts (literal vs. allegorical method, authorial intent principle, historical contextualization, problematization).

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course the student should be able to: use the basic vocabulary of the discipline; assimilate the fundamental concepts in a critical and personal form; discuss in an original way the contents, the evolutionary lines, the permanent problems.

PREREQUISITES

The course is mainly addressed to second and third year students who have acquired the necessary basic knowledge in the field of reading, commenting and interpreting philosophical texts in their historical-cultural context.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Contents

Contents for students who are taking the 6-CFU course

Understanding as a philosophical problem

The course will outline the main features of the complex phenomena of understanding and interpreting in a hermeneutic perspective; it will refer especially to the text-centered approach (in authors such as Schleiermacher and Dilthey) and the philosophers who outgrew it: Heiddeger, Gadamer, Ricoeur and Derrida.

Contents for students who are taking the 9-CFU course

Part 1: Understanding as a philosophical problem

The course will outline the main features of the complex phenomena of understanding and interpreting in a hermeneutic perspective; it will refer especially to the text-centered approach (in authors such as Schleiermacher and Dilthey) and the philosophers who outgrew it: Heiddeger, Gadamer, Ricoeur and Derrida.

Part 2: Interpretation and reality

Language as a medium of intercultural dialogueWhat do we mean when we say that something “is not”? What role does this “not” play in our understanding of reality? Is this negation just a mere logical or linguistic construction? Or is it rather the case that our language can express a negation because it ‘cor-responds’ to a more original experience? During classes we’ll address these and other related fundamental theoretical questions by creating a dialogical exchange between three authors from the Western and Eastern tradition: Martin Heidegger, Emanuele Severino and Nagarjuna. The goal of the seminar is to set up a philosophical reflection across West and East focused on one of the key themes in today’s theoretical thought.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Readings/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.