30413 - Philosophy Laboratory (1) (G.E)

Learning outcomes

The student learns to read and critically analyze philosophical texts and to write a philosophical essay.

Course contents

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Philosophy Workshop has three goals: teaching the rules of writing and composition; an introduction on how to use bibliographic tools; an introduction on how to read a philosophy classic and the creation of a short philosophical essay on said classic.

The success of workshops is based on regular attendance of all students to all meetings. In order to be admitted to the final exam and gain a pass, therefore, students will need to have attended at least 12 out of 15 classes (24 hours out of 30).

Students can choose among five proposals of Philosophy Laboratory (programs and teachers names are available on the web guide of the Degree Course of Philosophy).
Up to 45 students are expected for each laboratory.

[This workshop is not available for any other students]

To enroll in the I or II semester Laboratories, students must send, by e-mail, the application to the chosen teacher (subject: Philosophy Laboratory) by September 23, 2019. Each teacher will accept up to 45 requests.
Excess requests and those submitted after September 25th will be redistributed based on the availability of vacancies.

Because of several unpleasant episodes of signature falsification occurred in the last years, in case it is proved that even a single signature has not been made by the corresponding student, such student will be excluded from the final exam and will have to wait until the next year to attend the Workshop again. The same standards will hold for students submitting written exams which are totally or partially copied from previously existing paper or digital texts.

Only in case of certified impossibility to attend the Workshop students are allowed to arrange an alternative program with the corresponding teacher of the attended module. Such cases concern:

- working students who cannot obtain a specific permission to attend the Workshop. Such students must inform the teacher and prove by a declaration of their employers the impossibility of their attendance.

- Erasmus and Overseas students. Such students must promptly provide documentary evidence to teacher showing the impossibility of their attendance due to their living abroad.

Attending and not attending students must get as soon as possible the manual of philosophical writing, which can be found on line on the web page of the Degree Course of Philosophy and in paper form at the Copy Shop Centotrecento, in via Centotrecento.

For attending students the exam will consist in the submission and discussion of a short essay on the philosophical text on which the attended Reading Workshop has been held. The essay will be assessed both concerning his form as his content .

For more detailed informations on such Workshops (period, schedules, rooms, programs, etc.) see the website of each Workshop lecturer.

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In particular, the theme of Francesco Bianchini's Reading Workshop will be:

The Mind's I. Fantasies and Reflections in Self and Soul

The course will be held in the first semester and will start on September 24, 2019.

Timetable:

- Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Room B, Via Zamboni 34;

- Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Room B, Via Zamboni 34;

- Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Room D, Via Zamboni 34.

Readings/Bibliography

D.R. Hofstadter, D.C. Dennett, The Mind's I. Fantasies and Reflections in Self and Soul, Basic Books, New York, 1981.

Further references will be provided during the Workshop.

Teaching methods

During the first two lectures a general framing of the workshop topics will be provided. In the following lectures students will be led to the reading and analysis of the book subjects and texts. Students should discuss the texts analyzed during the lectures and carry out individual or group talks on part of the texts which are subject of the workshop. The timetable of talks will be defined during the first lectures.

Assessment methods

The final examination aims to appraise the attainment of the following didactic goals:

- learning the basic concepts for the composition of an essay of philosophical matter;

- learning how to read a philosophy classic, comprehending the basic princips of philosophical hermeneutics.

The examination will focus on a presentation and discussion of a short philosophical essay regarding topics and issues dealing with the philosophy classic analyzed during the Reading Workshop. The work will be evaluated as follows:

1. in terms of content;

2. in terms of the conceptual tools employed;

3. in terms of capacity and the mastery of writing.

The essay must be delivered with an advance of at least ten days compared to the date of the application request in which the student cites his or her intention to sit for the exam. Students should send the text of their work by email to the address of the teacher or provide a hard bound copy.

Teaching tools

Slides and online contents will be used during lectures.

E-learning platform.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Bianchini