39423 - History of Modern Philosophy (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, students have an advanced understanding of the relevance of a multidisciplinary approach to the analysis of modern and contemporary philosophy; they are able to analyze religious phenomena seen through the lens of multiple tools from several disciplines. They apply research methods to address issues relating to philosophy between the Modern and Contemporary Age. They are able to give form to the results of their own research onModern Philosophy, documenting in an accurate and complete way the information on which they base their conclusions and giving an account of the methodologies and research tools used.

Course contents

Disputed modernity.
The magical thought and the prctical Kabbalah of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola
 

The genesis of modernity has often been interpreted as a progressive process of rationalisation of the world, culminating with the 'new science' and the affirmation of a critical method, such as to eliminate the 'anachronisms' of archaic, magical and mythical thought. The most up-to-date historiography has not only highlighted the persistence, within the same humanistic horizon, of visions and conceptions of the world - magical, astrological, alchemic, mystical, hermetic - that 'modern rationality' would have decisively opposed, but has also shown how elements of those conceptions played a decisive part in the renovatio of the 15th and 16th centuries.
The course will focus in particular on the natural magic and practical Kabbalah of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, understood as levels of interpretation and "mobilisation" of the world and as essential tools of a free and active humanity, heir to an Adam protoplastes.

Readings/Bibliography

All students are required to know: 

- Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, Conclusiones Nongentae. Le novecento tesi dell'anno 1486, a cura di A. Biondi, Firenze, Olschki, 1995 (or 2013) (selected pages)

- Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, La dignità dell'uomo, a cura di R. Ebgi, Torino, Einaudi, 2021

They are also required to read one of the following works. Students not attending class are required to read two of the indicated books:

- E. Garin, Giovanni Pico della Mirandola. Vita e dottrina, n.e., Roma, Edizioni di storia e letteratura, 2011
- P. Zambelli, L'apprendista stregone: astrologia, cabala e arte lulliana in Pico della Mirandola e seguaci, Paola Zambelli, Venezia, Marsilio, 1995
- G. Busi e R. Ebgi, Giovanni Pico della Mirandola: mito, magia, qabbalah, Torino, Einaudi, 2014

 

Teaching methods

The course consists of 15 lectures.
Due to the 'magisterial' nature of the course, attending students will be asked to undertake individually short critical analysis papers on themes or authors relevant to the programme, agree with the teacher. These papers will be valid for assessment purposes and may replace several from the examination programme.

Assessment methods

Oral examination: Students are recommended to bring the texts when examining.The interview focuses mainly on analysis and critical interpretation of the sources.
Students who have attended lectures may agree on exams (whether written or oral) devoted to specific topics.

Assessment criteria and thresholds of evaluation:

30 cum laude - Excellent as to knowledge, philosophical lexicon and critical expression.

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

27-29 – Good: thorough and satisfactory knowledge; essentially correct expression.

24-26 - Fairly good: knowledge broadly acquired, and not always correctely expressed.

21-23 – Sufficient: superficial and partial knowledge; exposure and articulation are incomplete and often not sufficiently appropriate

18-21 - Almost sufficient: superficial and decontextualized knowledge. The exposure of the contents shows important gaps.

Exam failed - Students are requested to show up at a subsequent exam session if basic skills and knowledge are not sufficiently acquired and not placed in the historical-philosophical context.

Teaching tools

At the conclusion of each 'chapter' of the course (every 3-6 lessons) the topics and issues addressed will be summarised and outlined through short presentations accessible online.

Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students .

Office hours

See the website of Annarita Angelini