PHILOSOPHICAL PROPEDEUTICS MODULE 2
OVERVIEW
The course is mainly aimed at students in the first year of the bachelor course in Philosophy and intends to introduce to the general knowledge of philosophical thought in the theoretical (metaphysical) and moral field, in a way also accessible to those who have little previous knowledge, in order to let them directly approach to basic texts of some classics of philosophy.
AIMS AND CONTENT
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.
Teaching methods
Lecture: introduction and presentation of the themes, reading and commentary of the Aristotelian texts, clarification of the doubts and answers to the students' questions.
SYLLABUS/CONTENT
Contents for students who are taking the 6-CFU course
Fundamentals of metaphysics (from Aristotle)
Starting from the "second sailing" described by Plato, 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, II, IV, VI, VII, VIII, IX, XII) – a fundamental text for western philosophy. In addition to the origin and meaning of the term "metaphysics", the course will illustrate the essential concepts (such as Being vs. beings, substance, accident, category, cause, principle, potentiality, actuality) around which the language of philosophy originated. At the same time, the course will address theoretical problems that are crucial to the contemporary philosophical research: Being vs. becoming, Being-Thought, Being-Ground, Ontology-Theology.
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.
TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD
Ricevimento: FOR STUDENTS: First semester: Monday 9-11 AM and Thursday 3-4 PM; Second semester: Tuesday 11 AM-1 PM and Friday 9-11 AM (DAFIST, Philosophy Section, via Balbi 4, 2nd floor) FOR GRADUATING STUDENTS: First semester: Monday 9-11 AM and Thursday 3-4 PM; Second semester: Tuesday 11 AM-1 PM and Friday 9-11 AM (DAFIST, Philosophy Section, via Balbi 4, 2nd floor)
Exam Board
GERARDO CUNICO (President)
FRANCESCO CAMERA (President)
DOMENICO VENTURELLI
ROBERTO CELADA BALLANTI
LESSONS
Teaching methods
Lecture: introduction and presentation of the themes, reading and commentary of the Aristotelian texts, clarification of the doubts and answers to the students' questions.
LESSONS START
November 6, 2017
EXAMS
Exam description
Written and oral exam.
Assessment methods
The assessment consists in a written exam and an oral exam. The exam will cover all mentioned texts.
During the course students will be given at least one written text, as a chance for them to self-assess their level of knowledge.