10063 - Moral Philosophy A (A-L)

Academic Year 2022/2023

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Philosophy (cod. 9216)

    Also valid for First cycle degree programme (L) in History (cod. 0962)
    First cycle degree programme (L) in Philosophy (cod. 9216)

Learning outcomes

Students are expected to acquire knowledge of the main issues of moral philosophy and their relationship with metaphysics and politics.

Course contents

This course provides an introduction to the major approaches in normative ethics and key issues in moral psychology. The approach integrates historical and theoretical analysis.

The course is divided into the following four sections:

  • Metaethics
  • Normative ethics
  • Moral psychology
  • Focus on a classic text of moral philosophy

Readings/Bibliography

I. Introductory readings

  • Donatelli, P. (2015), Etica. I classici, le teorie e le linee evolutive, Torino, Einaudi: Ch. I (Platone); Ch. II (Aristotele); Ch. X (Hume e Smith); Ch. XI (Kant); Ch. XIII (Mill); Ch. XIV (Nietzsche).
  • De Caro, M., Magni, S. F., Vaccarezza, M. S. (2021), Le sfide dell’etica, Milano, Mondadori: Ch. 4 (Oggettività); Ch. 7 (Relatività); Ch. 8 (Dovere); Ch. 9 (Utilità); Ch. 10 (Virtù).
  • Selection of excerpts from Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Smith, Kant, Mill, and Nietzsche (available on Virtuale).

 

II. Focus

  • Aristotele, Etica Nicomachea, a cura di Carlo Natali, Roma-Bari: Laterza, 1999 (rist. 2005).

NB All readings are mandatory.

Please note that non-attending students are not expected to prepare extra mandatory readings.

Teaching methods

Lectures and discussion.

Assessment methods

Students will be evaluated on the basis of a written examination which consists of

  • A multiple-choice test (15 questions concerning the readings listed as introductory in the Bibliography)
  • Open question (concerning the classic text)

A pass (9/15) on the multiple-choice test is required in order to access the open question.

Open question – assessment criteria and breakdown of final mark:

  • comprehension of prescribed texts (knowledge of content and ability to report the most relevant information), thematic relevance and clarity of expression: 10 marks.
  • language, style, and accuracy in written communication: 6 marks.

Achieving all 31 marks (15/15 + 16/16)  will entitle the student to a grade of 30 e lode.

Students who achieve a pass mark may resit to improve that mark only once.

Teaching tools

Further readings will be provided via Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Pia Campeggiani