LEARNING OUTCOMES

Acquiring a general knowledge of theoretical philosophy, moral philosophy, and metaphysics. Mastering the basic philosophical terminology (Being vs. beings, is-ought problem, substance, accident, nothing, becoming, nature, good, evil) needed to read a classic; acquiring the basic notions which are essential to the study of philosophical currents and problems. 

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 aimed at first year students.

TEACHING METHODS

Lecture: introduction and presentation of the themes, reading and commentary of the Platonic and Aristotelian texts, clarification of the doubts and answers to the students' questions.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Contents for students who are taking the 6-CFU course

Part 1 (6 CFU)
Lecturer: Francesco CAMERA
Topic: The philosopher and the features of philosophical activity in Plato.
The Republic is Plato's most important and widely-known dialog; it reflects – and it is a synthesis of – the complexity and the great extent of his philosophical research. The course will offer a thematic reading of the central books (V, VI, VII, 473a-541b) focusing on ethical, political, ontological, and epistemological aspects. In particular, the course will analyze the figure of the philosopher (the difference between a philosopher, a sophist and a rhetor) and will analyze dialogic-dialectic philosophical activity as a specific, essential activity of the human being, by addressing problems that are still relevant today. 

Contents for students who are taking the 9-CFU course

Part 1 (6 CFU)
Lecturer: Francesco CAMERA
Topic: The philosopher and the features of philosophical activity in Plato.
The Republic is Plato's most important and widely-known dialog; it reflects – and it is a synthesis of – the complexity and the great extent of his philosophical research. The course will offer a thematic reading of the central books (V, VI, VII, 473a-541b) focusing on ethical, political, ontological, and epistemological aspects. In particular, the course will analyze the figure of the philosopher (the difference between a philosopher, a sophist and a rhetor) and will analyze dialogic-dialectic philosophical activity as a specific, essential activity of the human being, by addressing problems that are still relevant today. 

Part 2 (3 CFU)
Lecturer: Gerardo CUNICO

Fundamentals of metaphysics (from Aristotle)
The course will present the questions and basic notions of metaphysical tradition, with a special focus on reading and commenting relevant parts of Aristotle's Metaphysics (books I [1-3], IV [1-4], VI, XII) – a fundamental text for western philosophy.

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.