73073 - Theoretical Philosophy (LM)

Academic Year 2020/2021

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Philosophical Sciences (cod. 8773)

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course you will have become familiar with some of the main concepts of epistemology; you will be able to reflect critically on their mutual relations and on the relations that connect them to other basic concept of philosophy; you will have acquired the ability to read and interpret with some autonomy texts of a conceptual and argumentative nature; you will possess the tools to study in more depth human knowledge and the various forms of experience; you will understand the relationship between the structuring of concepts, the thery of cognitive abstraction and the various modes of human experience in their practical, vital and behavioural aspects; you will be able to adapt the philosophical-conceptual tools in your possession to new problems and issues; and you will be able to conceptualise human knowledge as an open and non-dogmatic process of neverending transformation of our presuppositions. 

Course contents

Title course: «The feeling of anxiety, the theme of existence and despair in the Kierkegaard's philosophy».

In the course of the lectures, in addition to providing a general framing of Kierkegaard's thinking, the nature of anxiety as a human condition, linked to the infinite character of the possible, will be analyzed. From a consideration of anxiety as an affective state of existence and as a fundamental situation of man in the world, the main issues inherent in this Kierkegaardian problem will be examined: freedom, nothingness, evil, the role of choice and the future, sin, guilt, responsibility, faith and the value of Christianity. In the second part of the course, we will analyze in particular the structure of the human personality, the relationship that the self has with him and the structure of this relationship. Moreover, on the basis of an investigation of the so-called 'deadlly sickness' [The Sickness unto Death], we will try to clarify the peculiar features of the Kierkegaardian dialectic, relating to every genuine existential problem and still relevant in the psychopathological perspective. In the background of the theme of human freedom of the self, the relationship between faith and existence will also be taken into account, with reference to the core of modern atheism.

The course is scheduled in the first semester, 1th and 2th period (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday). The course will start on Monday, September 21th 2020. 1th period: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9-11, classroom D via Zamboni 34. 2th period (from November 9th): Monday 13-15, classroom D via Zamboni 34; Tuesday 13-15, classroom D via Zamboni 34; Wednesday 9-11, classroom A via Zamboni 34.

 

 


Readings/Bibliography

 "ATTENDING" means both those attending face-to-face lectures and those attending online lectures; for "NON ATTENDING" those who do not fall into either of the above two cases.

Mandatory readings for all students:

1) S. Kierkegaard, Il concetto dell'angoscia, SE, Milano, 2018;

2) S. Kierkegaard, La malattia per la morte, Donzelli, Roma, 2013;

3) E. Rocca, Kierkegaard, Carocci, Roma, 2012;

4) E. Lévinas, Kierkegaard, Castelvecchi, Roma, 2013;

5) Y. Depelsenaire, Un'analisi con Dio. L'appuntamento di Lacan con Kierkegaard, Quodlibet, Macerata, 2009.

One more book among suggested readings is mandatory for not attending students.

Suggested readings:

1) Peter P. Rohde, Soren Kierkegaard. Un genio in una città provinciale, Castelcvecchi, Roma, 2018 

2) U. Regina, Kierkegaard, La Scuola, Brescia, 2014.

3) H. Hoffding, Kierkegaard umanista, Castelvecchi, Roma, 2015.

In the firts part of the course (about 10 lectures) more general issues, concerning the main features of the Kierkegaard's philosophy, will be addressed. In the second part, 10 lectures will be devoted to dealing, respectively, with the more specific aspects related to texts 1), 2), and 4) of the indicated bibliography.

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 first semester, 1th and 2th period (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday). The course will start on Monday, September 24th. 1th period: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9-11, lecture room D via Zamboni 34. 2th period (from November 9th): Monday 13-15, lecture room D via Zamboni 34; Tuesday 13-15, lecture room D via Zamboni 34; Wednesday 9-11, lecture room A via Zamboni 34.

Lectures are scheduled to start September 21th, 2020.

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, criticize and discuss the topics proposed 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