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

Learning outcomes

The student learns to read and critically analyze philosophical texts and to write a philosophical essay.

Course contents

General Information

The Philosophy Workshop has three main objectives: to train students in academic writing and in the editorial conventions commonly used in the scholarly community; to introduce the use of bibliographic tools; and to provide an introduction to reading a philosophical text and writing a short essay about it.

Participation in the Workshop requires regular attendance. Consequently, in order to submit the final essay and obtain a pass, students must attend at least 12 out of 15 sessions (equivalent to 24 hours out of 30 of classroom instruction).

The Philosophy degree programme offers several Workshop options from which students may choose (details of the programmes and instructors are available on the Philosophy degree programme website). Each Workshop can accommodate a maximum of 40 attending students. “Attending” refers to those who participate in person or, if made available by the instructor, online.

Enrollment in the Workshops is done by logging in with university credentials on Studenti Online (studenti.unibo.it/sol/welcome.htm), clicking on the “Bookings” icon, and selecting the Workshop of interest. Enrollments for all Workshops will open on 1 September 2026 and will automatically close for each Workshop after the first three sessions have taken place. It is only possible to enroll in one Workshop at a time. Each list will accept a maximum of 40 enrollments.

Attendance will be verified by signature (or through the online platform in the case of remote classes). Given the unfortunate cases of forged signatures in previous years, it is important to note that if even a single attendance signature is found not to have been made personally, the student will be excluded from the final assessment for the current academic year. They will then need to wait until the following academic year to participate in the Philosophy Workshop again. The same penalty will apply to those who submit assignments that are copied entirely or in part from other sources, whether printed or digital. Please refer to the anti-plagiarism rules published on the degree programme website for further information.

Only in cases of justified inability to attend may an alternative programme be agreed upon individually with the instructors responsible for the different modules. These cases are strictly limited to the following:

• Students who are employed and cannot obtain study leave to attend the Workshop. Those in this situation must inform the instructor at the beginning of the module and provide documentation from their employer confirming their inability to attend;

• Students who are abroad on Erasmus or Overseas programmes. These students must promptly provide documentation to the instructor showing that they are unable to attend due to their stay abroad.

During the Workshop, specific guidelines will be provided for writing assignments, but participants must also consult this guide on how to cite sources:
https://sba.unibo.it/it/servizi/formazione/guida-alla-citazione-delle-fonti-bibliografiche

 

Detailed Information

Reading A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. At the Origins of Legal Feminism

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman is widely regarded as one of the foundational texts of modern feminist thought. Published in 1792 by Mary Wollstonecraft, at the height of an exceptionally original intellectual and personal trajectory, the work remains an indispensable point of reference for philosophical reflection on women's rights, equality, and women's autonomy. The seminar will be devoted to a close reading and critical discussion of the text, with particular attention to its historical context, its central theoretical arguments, and its enduring relevance to contemporary debates.

The first block of sessions will be introductory in nature and will provide students with a general methodological framework. Following an overview of Wollstonecraft's life, philosophy, and contribution to feminist thought, students will be introduced to a selection of key secondary sources, together with practical guidance on conducting independent bibliographical research. In addition, an information literacy session will be offered by the Department Library.

The second block of classes will follow a dialogical and seminar-based structure. Based on a previously arranged schedule, students will present to the class some reflections developed from a portion of the book assigned to them. Each group of presentations will be followed by a guided discussion.

At the end of the Laboratory, students will be required to submit a written essay (minimum 12,000 characters, maximum 15,000 characters, including spaces but excluding bibliography), based on one of the topics addressed.

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliography:

M. Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman; Italian translation: I diritti delle donne, edited by F. Ruggieri, Editori Riuniti, Rome, 1977 (new ed. 2026), or any other complete, unabridged edition.

A complete edition of the volume is available on the Virtuale platform.

Other optional Further Reading:

- S. Vantin, Mary Wollstonecraft, Carocci, Roma, 2025.

- S. Bergès, Why Read Wollstonecraft Today?, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2026.

- A. Coffee, Wollstonecraft. Independet Woman, Polity, Cambridge, 2025.

- S. Vantin (a cura di), I diritti delle donne. Scritti tardo-settecenteschi, Mimesis, Milano-Udine, 2026.

Teaching methods

Classes will be held exclusively in person and will not be recorded.

Classes will take place during the second part of the first semester (November–December 2026). Any changes to the class schedule will be communicated by the teacher and announced on the Virtuale platform.

The dates of the grade recording sessions will be made available on Alma Esami. For the academic year 2025/2026, grade recording sessions are scheduled in the following months: December, January, February, May, June, and July.

For any questions or concerns regarding the course, please contact serena.vantin3@unibo.it 

Assessment methods

Students will be assessed according to the following criteria:

1. Attendance (participation in at least 12 out of 15 classes is required)

2. Participation in class discussions and individual presentations (carried out individually or in small coordinated groups)

3. Final written essay (minimum 12,000 characters, maximum 15,000 characters, including spaces but excluding bibliography) to be submitted via email to serena.vantin3@unibo.it at least 15 days before the date of the exam registration session. The essay must address a topic covered during the Laboratory and must be linguistically and stylistically accurate.

With regard to assessment, a limited, transparent, and non-substantive use of AI is permitted for support tasks (such as summarizing or rephrasing). Substantive use of AI to complete any part of the assessment is not permitted.

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders have the right to special adjustments according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the instructor but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adjustments. For more information, visit the page: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students .

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.

Teaching tools

Any teaching support materials (slides and other supplementary resources) will be made available by the teacher on the Virtuale platform.

Office hours

See the website of Serena Vantin