74957 - Theoretical Philosophy B (1)

Learning outcomes

The objectives of the course are to provide, on the one hand, the conceptual and methodological knowledge of theoretical philosophy; on the other hand, to continue and possibly examine issues of and/or theoretical and methodological approaches for the obligatory course of theoretical philosophy of the second year. Regarding the first aspect, it is to grasp the peculiarities of philosophical thinking with the analysis of cognitive, epistemological, ethical, logical, linguistic and psychological factors that characterize the speculative activity in its genesis, development and articulation, even in reference to the different historical and cultural contexts in which these activities are exercised. The key issue is the acquisition, by the students, of the concept of "relation" that , from the point of view of content and method, connects the mentioned areas of philosophical speculation into an organic whole, as determined by causal and conceptual links, and logical-argumentative structures. As to the development and deepening of theoretical issues, we have the following conceptual lines: a) gnoseology and epistemology, with a focus on modern and contemporary thought; b) phenomenology and psychology; c) logic and philosophy of language; d) semiotic, semantic and pragmatic structures of contemporary thought; e) philosophical biology and ethics; f) forms of existence and the conception of man; g) metaphysics and experience. In order to achieve this knowledge tools will be used as the reading and analysis of texts, the acquisition of a basic vocabulary designed to encourage students to orient themselves unequivocally in theoretical issues; the reading and understanding of secondary literature, in order to prepare the critical tools to deal with speculative investigations; the discussions during lectures around specific important theoretical issues (life, existence, knowledge, reality, mind, consciousness, truth, idea, well, value, communication, person).

Course contents

Course title: Phenomenology, Ontology, and Hermeneutics in Heidegger’s Thought

The course will examine the hermeneutical transformation of phenomenology proposed by Heidegger in Being and Time, in which the fundamental philosophical question is represented by the “question of being”. Among the topics covered are: the phenomenological method; the analytic of Being-there; Being-in-the-world; Being-with-others; anxiety and care; reality and truth.

In the first lessons the context in which the Heideggerian philosophy is placed will be outlined, while the following lessons will be dedicated to the above mentioned issues.

Course timetable: 4th period, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 15-17 (Lecture room C, via Centotrecento)

Course start date: March 18, 2019

Readings/Bibliography

M. Heidegger, Being and Time, Blackwell, Oxford 2001 (Introduction and Division One, pp. 17-273).

A. Fabris, “Essere e tempo” di Heidegger. Introduzione alla lettura, Carocci, Roma 2000 (pp. 11-140).

F. Volpi (a cura di), Guida a Heidegger, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1997 (optional).

Teaching methods

Lectures; reading and commenting of texts; discussion on the main issues covered in the course.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of an oral interview, which will assess the knowledge of the texts and the ability to critically discuss the proposed issues.

Grade assessment criteria:

30 cum laude: Excellent, both in knowledge and in the critical and expressive articulation.

30: Very Good. Complete, well-articulated and correctly expressed knowledge, with some critical insights.

27-29: Good. Comprehensive and satisfactory knowledge, substantially correct expression.

24-26: Fairly good. Knowledge is present in the main points, but it is not comprehensive and not always correctly articulated.

21-23: Sufficient. Sometimes superficial knowledge, but the common thread is understood. Incomplete and often inappropriate expression and articulation.

18-21: Almost sufficient. Superficial knowledge, the common thread is not understood with continuity. Expression and articulation have significant gaps.

Not sufficient: Absent or very incomplete knowledge, lack of orientation in the discipline, defective and inappropriate expression.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint slides

Office hours

See the website of Sebastiano Galanti Grollo