58628 - Aesthetics (Complementary Activity M-FIL/04)

Learning outcomes

The purpose of this course is giving students the basic knowledge concerning the birth and the development of Aesthetics, with specific attention to the origin of fundamental concepts such as the one of genius, taste, intuition, imitation and so on. Secondly, the present state of Aesthetics will be analysed.

Course contents

The birth of aesthetics and the decline of art.

Readings/Bibliography

E. Cassirer, La filosofia dell'illuminismo, it. ed. La Nuova Italia, Firenze 1992: chapter VII, I problemi fondamentali dell'estetica, pp. 379-488;
F. Nietzsche, Umano, troppo umano, it. ed. Adelphi, Milano 1965: IV part, Dell'anima degli artisti e degli scrittori, pp. 121-158;
C. Gentili, Friedrich Nietzsche: morte dell'arte e morte di Dio (available on line).

Assessment methods

The final proof will take place in the form of an oral examination. During the examination the teacher will assess whether the student has achieved or not some basic educational goals: knowledge of the texts and capacity to contextualize authors and works; comprehension of the fundamental concepts and capacity to provide a correct interpretation of them; clarity in the explanation of concepts and accuracy in the use of philosophical terminology; capacity to establish connections between the various authors and themes from both a historical and a strictly speaking conceptual point of view. During the oral examination the teacher will assess if the student possesses the abovementioned knowledge and skills in a (more or less) complete, precise and adequate way, or vice-versa in a (more or less) incomplete, vague and superficial way. The final grade will correspondently vary from excellent (30 and honors) to very good (30) to good (27-29) to fairly good (24-26) to more than enough (21-23) to merely enough (18-21) to unsatisfactory (<18).

Office hours

See the website of Carlo Gentili