27985 - Moral Philosophy (LM) (G.A)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students shall improve their methods of interpreting texts and issues of Moral Philosophy, with special focus on their historical-critical elaboration and assessment abilities, capability to recognise bibliography, command of specific language and correct oral and written exposition. By making constant reference to well-established historiographic traditions, the course also aims at starting the students on their own ideas for further investigation and research.

Course contents

COURSE TITLE: Corpo e ragione alle origini del moderno. I percorsi eccentrici di Spinoza e Vico (Body and mind at the modern's origins. Spinoza's and Vico's eccentric courses)  

CONTENTS: Mind and body, order and conflict, subject and State: the course aims at highlighting Vico's and Spinoza's “eccentric” and “heterodox” nature, as opposed to the “winning” currents of modern monistic and metaphysical rationalism.

FIRST LECTURE: October 13th 2008. 

DAYS AND VENUE: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., Via Zamboni, 34, room A.

COURSE MODE: intensive, first semester.

Readings/Bibliography

I. By choice, one of the following options:

Option A):

-       B. Spinoza, Etica, edited by E. Giancotti, Roma, Editori Riuniti, 1988 (or following reprints).

-       G.B. Vico, De nostri temporis studiorum ratione (Sul metodo degli studi del nostro tempo), any edition (the edition contained in  G.B. Vico, Opere, edited by A. Battistini, Milano, Mondadori, 1990 is recommended).

Option B):

-       B. Spinoza, Trattato politico, edited by P. Cristofolini, Pisa, Ets, 1999 (or following reprints).

-       G.B. Vico, La Scienza Nuova (1744 edition), any edition: books I (Dello stabilimento de' princìpi), II (Della sapienza poetica), IV (Del corso che fanno le nazioni), and Conchiusione dell'opera.

 

II. Critical reading.

Together with both options, the program also includes the compulsory reading of one book from each of the following groups:   

 

I. - AA. VV., Spinoza: individuo e moltitudine, Cesena, Il Ponte Vecchio, 2007.

- L. Bove, La strategia del conatus. Affermazione e resistenza in Spinoza, Milano,   Ghibli, 2002.

- A. Negri, Spinoza, Roma, DeriveApprodi, 2006/2.

II. - R. Caporali, La tenerezza e la barbarie. Studi su Vico, Napoli, Liguori, 2006.

- G. Carillo, Vico. Origine e geneaologia dell'ordine, Napoli, Editoriale Scientifica,                2000.

- M. Montanari, Vico e la politica dei moderni, Bari, Palomar, 1995.

 

 

N.B.: possible variations to the program shall have to be agreed upon with the lecturer.

Teaching methods

The lectures include both the reading and comment of the texts, and the synthetic reformulation of issues and processes.

Special focus will be placed on the dialogue with students.

In January, during class hours, four seminars will be held with four Italian and French scholars. 

Assessment methods

Final interview, possibly also on a text (or scheme) elaborated by the student (and agreed upon with the lecturer beforehand)

Teaching tools

Texts included in the program and other photocopies that might be provided for during the lectures.

Office hours

See the website of Riccardo Caporali