27985 - Moral Philosophy (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student perfects the methodologies of reading texts and themes related to Moral Philosophy, with particular regard to the skills of historical-critical reconstruction and evaluation, bibliographical reconnaissance, linguistic mastery and correct exposition, written and oral. In constant reference to the most established historiographical traditions, the purpose of the course is also the solicitation and initiation of the student in the formulation of initial, autonomous hypotheses for in-depth study and research.

Course contents

The Eternal in Everyday Life.
The Fifth Part of Spinoza's Ethics as a Practice of Freedom.

Picking up where we left off last year, this year's course offers a careful and thoughtful reading of the fifth part of Spinoza's Ethics, De Potentia Intellectus, seu de Libertate Humana, traditionally considered the most difficult (and by some, obscure) of all Spinoza's thought. The meaning of bliss and intellectual love of God as dimensions accessible in everyday life will be explored, highlighting how Spinozian freedom is not a metaphysical abstraction, but a practical and concrete exercise of the mind and body. The aim is to show how Spinoza offers not only a theory of the mind, but a true ethics of existence.

The course is open to everyone. Knowledge of the main lines of Spinoza's thought, although not required, is recommended. The course is advanced in nature.

The course includes a seminar entitled: "Bin ja auch eine Frau: Lou Salomé's female writing. Starting from Der Mensch als Weib"; we will explore two aspects of femininity in Lou Salomé: biology as theoretical reflection and poetry as practice.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Reference text (of your choice):

Spinoza, Ethica/Etica, testo e trad. a cura di P. Cristofolini, ETS, Pisa, 2014 (part V).

Spinoza, Ethica/Etica, trad. di G. Durante, note di G. Gentile rivedute e ampliate da G. Radetti, Bompiani, Milano, 2007 (parte V).

Spinoza, Opere, a cura e con un saggio introduttivo di Filippo Mignini. Traduzioni e note di Filippo Mignini e Omero Proietti, "I meridiani" Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, Milano, 2007 (V part of the Ethics). To be integrated with the latin version (available on internet).

2. Monographic study (compulsory):

Vinciguerra L., Spinoza, Quality Paperbacks, Carocci, Roma, 2026.

3. A book of your choice (compulsory):

Rousset B., La perspective finale de l'“Éthique” et le problème de la cohérence du spinozisme, Vrin, Paris, 2005 (1968).

Moreau P.-F., Experience and Eternity in Spinoza, ed. and translated by Robert Boncardo, "Spinoza Studies", EUP, Edinburgh, 2021.

Vinciguerra L. e Moreau P.-F. (ed.), Spinoza et les arts, L'Harmattan, Paris, 2020; tr. it. Pensare le arti con Spinoza, a cura di Miriam Cipriani, Mimesis, Milano 2023.

4. Reference text for the Seminar (compulsory):

Lou Andreas-Salomé, L'umano come donna, VandaEdizioni, 2022. Other materials will be provided during the lessons.

5. For non-attending students, a text of their choice (compulsory):

Mignini F., L’«Etica». Introduzione alla lettura, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2002.

Moreau P.-F., Spinoza e lo spinozismo, Morcelliana, Brescia, 2007.

Balibar É., Spinoza. Il transindividuale, Mimesis, Milano, 2014.

Bordoli R., Baruch Spinoza: etica e ontologia. Note sulle nozioni di sostanza, di essenza e di esistenza nell’Ethica, Guerini, Milano, 1996.

Bove L., La strategia del conatus. Affermazione e resistenza in Spinoza, a cura di F. Del Lucchese, pref. di T. Negri, Ghibi, Milano, 2002.

Caporali R., La pazienza degli esclusi. Studi su Spinoza. Mimesis, Milano, 2012.

Cristofolini P., L’uomo libero. L’eresia spinozista alle radici dell’Europa moderna, ETS, Pisa, 2007.

Deleuze G. Spinoza e il problema dell’espressione, trad. it di S. Ansaldi, Quodlibet, Macerata, 1999.

Deleuze G., Spinoza. Filosofia pratica, trad. it. di M. Senaldi, Guerini, Milano, 1991.

Del Lucchese F., Tumulti e indignazione: conflitto, diritto e moltitudine in Machiavelli e Spinoza, Ghibli, Milano, 2004.

Diodato R., Vermeer, Gongora, Spinoza. L'estetica come scienza intuitiva, Bruno Mondadori, Milano, 1997.

Morfino V., Genealogia di un pregiudizio. L’immagine di Spinoza in Germania da Leibniz a Marx, Olms Verlag, “Europea Memoria”, Hildesheim-Zurigo-New York, 2016.

Nadler S., Spinoza e l’Olanda del Seicento, Einaudi, Torino, 2002.

Negri T., L’anomalia selvaggia. Saggio su potere e potenza in Baruch Spinoza, Feltrinelli, Milano, 1981.

Sangiacomo A., Homo liber. Verso una morale spinoziana, Mimesis, Milano, 2011.

Tatian D., Spinoza y el arte, Las cuarenta, Buenos Aires, 2022.

Vinciguerra L., La semiotica di Spinoza, ETS, Pisa, 2012.

Visentin S., La libertà necessaria. Teoria e pratica della democrazia in Spinoza, ETS, Pisa, 2001.

6. Commentaries (recommended):

Ronbison L., Kommentar zu Spinozas Ethik, Felix Meiner, Lipsia, 1928.

Joachim H. H., A Study of the Ethics of Spinoza, Russell & Russell, New York, 1964.

Macherey P., Introduction à l’Éthique de Spinoza. La cinquième partie. Les voies de la libération, PUF, Parigi, 1994.

Assessment methods

During the academic year 2025-26, all students are scheduled to have two sessions for exams in the autumn (September/October and November/December) and four before the summer (January/February, March/April, May and June/July). Unless otherwise stipulated, exams are oral.


Persons with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

 
People with disabilities or specific learning disorders are entitled to special adaptations in relation to their condition, subject to assessment by the University Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the lecturer, but contact the Service for an appointment. The Service will determine what adjustments are appropriate. More information on the page:

https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it/per-studenti

 

It is recommended that students contact the University office in advance. Any proposed adjustments must be submitted at least 15 days in advance for the instructor’s approval, who will evaluate their appropriateness in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Lorenzo Vinciguerra