00399 - Theoretical Philosophy

Learning outcomes

After completing the course the student is able to identify some of the key moments of philosophical thought and to adopt a synoptic view of them. He is able to place the philosophers in their historical context and to understand their thinking in contemporary philosophical discourse. He knows the problematic nature of the concepts of meaning, reference and truth.

Course contents

TIME OF THE LIFE AND TIME OF THE WORLD. BIOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY IN JAKOB VON UEXKÜLL (1864-1944).

The course will examine the issues of life in relation to space, time and forms of knowledge of the world from the Theoretical Biology (1928) of Jakob von Uexküll. His work is an essential reference point in the current debate about the meaning of existence and of life in animal forms.

Readings/Bibliography

• Jakob von Uexküll, Biologia teoretica, a cura e con un'Introduzione di Luca Guidetti, Quodlibet, Macerata, 2015, pp. 
• Teacher's Slides.
• Jakob von Uexküll, Ambienti animali e ambienti umani. Una passeggiata in mondi sconosciuti e invisibili, Quodlibet, Macerata, 2013.
• C. Brentari, Jakob von Uexküll. Alle origini dell'antropologia filosofica, Morcelliana, Brescia, 2011.

Teaching methods

Lectures, reading and commentary on texts and on primary sources, discussion on specific issues.

Assessment methods

Oral test with verification of specific historical and philosophical knowledge and of the level of assimilation and processing critical-conceptual content.

Assessment criteria and thresholds of evaluation:

30 cum laude: Excellent as to knowledge, terminology and critical expression.

30: Excellent, knowledge is complete, well articulated and correctly expressed, although with some slight faults.

27-29: Good, knowledge comprehensive and satisfactory, essentially correct expression .

24-26: Fairly good, knowledge present in significant points, but not complete and not always expressed with correctness.

21-23: Sufficient, knowledge is sometimes superficial, but the guiding general thread is included. Expression and articulation incomplete and often not appropriate

18-21:.Almost sufficient, but knowledge present only on the surface. The guiding principle is not included with continuity. The expression and articulation of the speech show important gaps.

<18: Not sufficient, knowledge absent or very incomplete, lack of guidance in discipline, expression seriously deficient. Exam failed.

Teaching tools

Overhead Projector with PC.

Links to further information

http://www.disciplinefilosofiche.it

Office hours

See the website of Luca Guidetti