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

Learning outcomes

The Philosophy Lab is a class centred around the reading and critical analysis of primary sources. The students will become familiar with the genre of the academic essays, and learn the necessary skills to conduct independent research.

Course contents

Between Art and Science: Leonardo da Vinci, Anatomist, Engineer and Natural Philosopher

Time and venue of the Philosophy Lab:

The Lab will take place in the second semester at the following time:

-Tuesday, 10:00-13:00, Aula E, Via Zamboni 34 ( III period)

Friday, 9:00-11:00, Aula E, Via Zamboni 34 ( III period)

Starting date: 30 January 2018

The maximum number of students enrolled in the class has been capped at 25. The last day of registration for the second semester is 26 January 2018.

According to the procedures outlined at the presentation of the course, only those students who attended all three compulsory modules will be almond to present the final paper and take the final exam. For this reason, after the hand in of the final paper, the professor will check that the student has attended both their Philosophy Lab and the courses of the other two modules.

If anything is not clear or you need to receive additional information, please contact the Lab coordinator, Professor Manlio Iofrida (manlio.iofrida@unibo.it

Readings/Bibliography

Students whose first language is English can write their essay and take their oral exam in English, if they so wish. 

They are encouraged to read the primary sources in Italian but should they need to access reliable translations of some or all of the texts, they are invited to contact the professor at the beginning of the semester to receive guidance.

The professor will also provide additional texts on anatomy and mechanics as well as a list of secondary literature (much of it available in English)

 

 

Teaching methods

Leonardo's writing will be introduced during the first seminar, which aims at contextualising the topic and explain how the texts where produced and dispersed after the death of Leonardo. Subsequent classes will focus on a series of themes that characterise Leonardo's literary and scientific production. The time will be spent largely reading and analysing the texts. Students will be expected to come to class prepared and willing and able to participate actively to the Lab via presentations (individual and/or in group) about specific aspects of the course. The roster will be decidedearly in the semester. Attendance to the course is compulsory.

Assessment methods

The course aims to meet the following objectives: 

-to demonstrate adequate knowledge of the main aspects of Leonardo's work in the historical and philosophical context in which it developed;

-to demonstrate the ability to approach critically both the primary and the secondary sources so as to situate the texts within the historiographic debate that emerged over time;

-to demonstrate the ability to elaborate a coherent and organic analysis both in writing and orally around a specific theme, aspect, or question (both textual and historiographical), with the aim of reaching some original conclusions based on the evidence in the text(s); 

The exam will consist of a presentation and discussion of a short essay on issues revolving around the texts that were assigned in the Lab. 

The criteria adopted for an evaluation of the candidate and their work are the following:

1. familiarity with the content of the texts;

2. the ability to understand and analyse the texts;

3. the ability to construct an argument and use evidence appropriately to support it both in writing and orally.

The essay, which will need to be written and presented according to a set of general guidelines, will need to be submitted at least two weeks before the date of the oral exam that the student has chosen. A paper copy of the essay should be handed in to the Segreteria Didattica of the Department (second floor, Ms Simonetta Manservisi); at the same time the student should send electronic copy of the essay to the professor via email.

Teaching tools

-VLE platform; 

-photocopies and powerpoint to support class discussion.

 

Office hours

See the website of Monica Azzolini