73084 - History of Modern Philosophy (2) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The course puts students in a position to interpret the significant nodes of European thought between 15th and 18th century and to identify intersections with other areas of Western culture. The acquiring of adequate textual and historiographical documentation, interpretative tools, a lexicon and rigorous philosophical writing skills will allow the student to independently interpret texts and write short essays about these issues.

Course contents

Course Title: An «infinite number of passions»: forms of reason, practices of men and political space in Montaigne’s philosophical thought

The Essais of Montaigne introduce, in more ways than one, the critical dimension of modernity. They present as true examples of the fragility of the “architectural” reason from classic tradition and as insights on the art of living, proposing a line of reflection emancipated from every dogmatism, and able to independently view the very philosophical paradigms of the ancients. Montaigne’s philosophical proposal – between the anatomy of the self, the censorship of appearances, the construction of a conduct of life akin to «one’s own being» – can therefore be read as «a precise method for the liberation of thought, that only appears to have the tone of an autobiography». His intention, deeper and more ambitious, is in reality one that elaborates a new image of natural reason, able to adhere to an idea of life – and morality – as an infinite variation of shapes and possibilities; to understand the irreducible strength of the body and the passions of every individual; and lastly to suggest a political model exemplified by the rules of friendship – interpreted as the germinal cell of a society that is fair and united in social peace.

From this perspective, the course aims to point out and outline the central themes of Montaigne’s ethical-political and ethical-religious reflection through the analysis of excerpts from the Essais (mainly from the III book), from the epistolary and from the Journal de Voyage en Italie (The Diary of Journey to Italy).

Readings/Bibliography

1. During the lessons will be read the following texts (or any part):

M. de Montaigne, Saggi, a cura di F. Garavini e A. Tournon, Milano, Bompiani, 2012 (ed. tascabile 2016): I, 20, Filosofare è imparare a morire; I, 23, Della consuetudine; I, 28, Dell'amicizia; I, 31, Dei cannibali; II, 1, Dell'incostanza delle nostre azioni; II, 12, Apologia di Raymond Sebond; II, 30, Di un fanciullo mostruoso; III, 2, Del pentirsi; III, 6, Delle carrozze; III, 13, Dell’esperienza.

M. de Montaigne, Viaggio in Italia, a cura di E. Camesasca, Milano, Biblioteca Universale Rizzoli, 2003, pp. 232-384.

2. In addition to in-depth knowledge of the texts referred to in paragraph 1, all studens must read one of the following essays:

Montaigne contemporaneo, a cura di N. Panichi, R. Ragghianti, A. Savorelli, Pisa, Edizioni della Normale, 2011

N. Panichi, I vincoli del disinganno. Per una nuova interpretazione di Montaigne, Firenze, Olschki, 2004;

N. Panichi, Montaigne, Roma, Carocci, 2010;

R. Ragghianti, Introduzione a Montaigne, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2001;

J. Starobinski, Montaigne. Il paradosso dell’apparenza, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1984.

Further recommended readings

For the purposes of examination may be useful also the following references:

The Cambridge Companion to Montaigne, ed. by U. Langer, New York, Cambridge University Press, 2005;

P. Desan, Montaigne. Une biographie politique, Paris, Odile Jacob, 2014 (trad. inglese: Montaigne. A Life, Princeton, Princeton University Press, 2017);

F. Garavini, Itinerari a Montaigne, Firenze, Sansoni, 1983;

F. Garavini, Mostri e chimere. Montaigne, il testo, il fantasma, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1991;

T. Gregory, Michel de Montaigne o della modernità, Pisa, Edizioni della Normale, 2016;

The Oxford Companion of Montaigne, ed. by P. Desan, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2016;

G. Paganini, Skepsis. Le débat des modernes sur le scepticisme: Montaigne, Le Vayer, Campanella, Hobbes, Descartes, Bayle, Paris, Vrin, 2008;

B. Pistilli-M. Sgattoni, La biblioteca di Montaigne, Prefazione di N. Panichi, Pisa, Edizioni della Normale, 2014;

S. Ricci, Inquisitori, censori, filosofi sullo scenario della Controriforma, Roma, Salerno, 2008 (cap. II: Il signore di Montaigne, pp. 99-183 e cap. III: Montaigne eretico, pp. 184-220).

Other essays particularly significant (in French) are:

P. Desan, Montaigne: les formes du monde et de l’esprit, Paris, Presses de l’Université Paris-Sorbonne, 2008;

Montaigne, sous la direction de P. Magnard et T. Gontier, Paris, CERF, 2010;

Montaigne: scepticisme, métaphysique, théologie, sous la direction de V. Carraud et J.-L. Marion, Paris, PUF, 2004;

A. Tournon, La glose et l’essai, Paris, H. Champion, 2000.

N.B.: Students who cannot attend classes or who don't know Italian are advised to contact the teacher (in office hours, and not by e-mail) to decide upon any additional or alternative readings.

Teaching methods

The course consists of 15 lessons.

Since it is a course/seminar, attending students will be encouraged to conduct brief individual works of critical analysis on topics or authors relating to the course contents.

These works will have value to the examination.

The course will be held in the second semester and will start on January 29th, 2018.

Timetable

- Monday, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Room B, Via Centotrecento;

- Thursday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Room E, Via Zamboni 34;

- Friday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Room E, Via Zamboni 34.

Assessment methods

Final oral examination.

Students who have attended the course will be able, if they wish, to integrate the examination with short essays or presentations on topics agreed with the teacher.

Assessment criteria

The goal of the exam is to measure the achievement of the following learning objectives:

- Analysis and interpretation of Montaigne’s philosophical texts;

- Knowledge of secondary literature works listed in the bibliography, combined with the ability to learn how to reference them in autonomous and critical forms;

- Knowledge of the history of modern philosophy.

The student's ability to learn how to operate with confidence and autonomy within the sources and the secondary literature and the possession of a language and forms of expression appropriate to the discipline will be assessed in a particular manner.

Assessment thresholds

30 with distinction: Excellent results for the solidity of skills, wealth of critical articulation, expressive properties and maturity.

30: Excellent result: complete and well-articulated knowledge of themes addressed in lessons, with critical ideas, and illustrated with adequate expressive features.

29-27: Good result: complete knowledge and adequately contestualized, fundamentally correct presentation.

26-24: Moderate result: knowledge is present in the essential areas, though not thorough and not always articulated correctly.

23-21: Sufficient result: superficial or purely mnemonic understanding of the subject, confused articulation of the presentation, with often inappropriate expression.

20-18: Barely sufficient result: knowledge of the subject, articulation during discussions and methods of expression demonstrate considerable gaps in understanding.

< 18: Insufficient result, exam failed. The student is invited to attend a subsequent exam session where the essential skills have not been acquired, lacking the ability to orient themselves within the subjects of the course and of the same discipline and where the methods of expression demonstrate considerable gaps in understanding.

Teaching tools

Slides and photocopies (limited to hard to find texts);

Advanced seminar about Montaigne, Bodin and their pluralist attitude;

Any individualized works.

Office hours

See the website of Elisabetta Scapparone