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

Issues in Spinozism (1677–2027)

To conclude the exploration undertaken in recent years of each part of the *Ethics*, on the occasion of the 350th anniversary of Spinoza’s death (1632–1677) and the various academic events that will take place in 2027 in Italy and elsewhere, this course aims to examine the major problems left unresolved by Spinoza’s philosophy and its reception, with the goal of addressing them in depth. Open to everyone, the course is advanced in nature and will follow a seminar-style format, relying on the active participation of students and drawing on contributions from both within and outside the International Center for Spinozan Studies, Sive Natura (ICSS). Attendance is therefore recommended.

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. L'etica del quotidiano, Quality Paperbacks, Carocci, Roma, 2026.

 

3. A book of your choice (compulsory):

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.

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

Vinciguerra L., Spinoza and the Sign. The Logic of Imagination, EUP, Edinburgh, 2026.

 

4. 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.

 

5. 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 2026-27, 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