00399 - Theoretical Philosophy

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course you will have gained access to some major themes and figures in the history of philosophy, and the discussion of some perspectives emerging from contemporary thought will enable you to relate with the "perennial" character of philosophical work.

Course contents

Title course: «Delusion as a possibility of experience. On the phenomenological approach to the theme of mental illness in the reflections of Karl Jaspers, Erwin Straus and Ludwig Binswanger».

The course will examine the guidelines of Jaspersian psychopathology, expanding the framework of this phenomenological consideration to the themes – developed by Straus – of the living being, human and animal experience, of corporeity, of the sensorial structure and of madness as a modification of feeling. The second part of course will be dedicated to illustring the peculiar features of Binswanger's existential analysis and his conception of psychiatry as a science of man.

 

 

 

 

The course is scheduled in the second semester, 3th and 4th period (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. 1th period: Monday, Tuesday, 9-11, lecture room VI via Zamboni 38, Wednesday 11-13, lecture room VI, via Zamboni 38; 2th period: Monday and Tuesday, 9-11, lecture room VI via Zamboni 38, Wednesday 9-11, lecture room III via Zamboni 38.

Lessons are scheduled to start February 3th, 2019.

In the firts part of the course (about 15 lessons) more general issues, concerning the main topics of the Jasper' psychopathology, will be addressed. In the second part, 5 lesson will be devoted to dealing, respectively, with the more specific aspects related to texts 2), 3), and 4) of the indicated bibliography.

 

Readings/Bibliography

 

1) K, Jaspers, Psicopatologia generale, Il Pensiero Scientifico, Roma 2009, pp. 1-182; 300-392; 598-604; 719-872 (this text will be available in the "teaching material").

2) K. Jaspers, Genio e follia. Strindberg e Van Gogh, Raffaello Cortina, Milano 2001 (this text will be available in the "teaching material").

3) E. Straus, Il vivente umano e la follia. Studio sui fondamenti della psichiatria, Quodlibet, Macerata 2010.

4) L. Binswanger, Daseinsanalyse, psichiatria e psicoterapia, Raffaello Cortina Editore, Milano 2018.

The exam texts are the same also for non-attending students.Texts and teaching materials can be downloaded from "teaching material".

English-speaking or other visiting students are free to the English (French or German) editions of these readings, if available at all.

 

 

 

Teaching methods

Ex-cathedra lectures, textual commentary, class discussions on specific issues, dialogical lectures.
The course is scheduled in the second semester, 3th and 4th period (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. 1th period: Monday, Tuesday, 9-11, lecture room VI via Zamboni 38, Wednesday 11-13, lecture room VI, via Zamboni 38; 2th period: Monday and Tuesday, 9-11, lecture room VI via Zamboni 38, Wednesday 9-11, lecture room III via Zamboni 38.

Lessons are scheduled to start January 27th, 2019

Please note that, in line with established Italian academic custom, each class will begin 15 minutes after the indicated time (this is to favour students we may come from classes held in different buildings).

I will be grateful to Erasmus and other Exchange students who intend to attend the course if they get in touch with me before the beginning.

Assessment methods

Students will be evalueted on the basis of a viva voce. The oral examination aim to assessing the student's ability to present and critically analyse the various views discussed in the course.

Grade assessment criteria

Grade range below 18 – Fail. Poor knowledge of core material, a significant inability to engage with the discipline. Very poor presentation.

Grade range 18-21 – Pass. Limited and superficial knowledge of the subject, a significant inability to follow the thread of the discussion. Presentation with many inadequacies.

Grade range 21-23 – Adequate. The knowledge is superficial, but the thread of the discussion has been consistently grasped. Presentation with some inadequacies.

Grade range 24-26 – Acceptable. Elementary knowledge of the key principles and concepts. The presentation is occasionally weak.

Grade range 27-29 – Good. Comprehensive knowledge. Good presentation.

30 – Very Good. Detailed knowledge with hints of critical thinking. Very good presentation.

30 cum laude – Outstanding. Excellent knowledge and depth of understanding. Excellent presentation.

Teaching tools

Blackboard, PC, Slides projector

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Besoli