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

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 goals: teaching the rules of writing and composition; an introduction on how to use bibliographic tools; an introduction on how to read a philosophy classic and the creation of a short philosophical essay on said classic.

The Philosophy Workshop consists of two parts: Writing and Library Workshop (LS, 8 hours = 6+2 hours); Reading Workshop (LL, 22 hours). Both Workshops (unless part of LS dedicated to Library Workshop) are held either in the first that in the second semester.

In order to be eligible, each student has to attend both LS and LL.

SCHEDULES OF LESSONS

Writing Workshop (Prof. E. Scapparone): 6 hours

- First semester (LS1)

On Friday: 16, 23 and 30 November 2018, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Room V, Via Zamboni 38.

- Second semester (LS2)

On Thursday: 21 and 28 February, 7 March 2019, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Room Tibiletti, Via Zamboni 38.

Students must enroll in the Writing Workshop by sending an email to prof. Scapparone (e.scapparone@unibo.it), and indicating the semester for which they opt.

LIBRARY WORKSHOP (Dott. A. Brunelli): 2 hours

Within the LS, the part devoted to the use of libraries will be offered just once during the first term (see the schedule below) and will count for both the LS taught in the first and in the second semester.

Students will be divided into two groups, according to their family names in alphabetical order: the A-L group will join a first round of lessons, the M-Z group a second round.

For the Workshop on the use of libraries, registration is not required.

First round (A-L group): November 12, 3-5 PM, Room: Laboratorio 2, via Zamboni 34.

Second round (M-Z group): November 20, 3-5 PM, Room: Laboratorio 2, via Zamboni 34.

READING WORKSHOOPS

Each reading workshop can be attended by no more than 30 students.

For the first semester, students will be able to choose among the workshops offered by:

- Prof. Manlio Iofrida;

- Prof. Matteo Martelli.

These first semester workshops are already full: for those students who really need to attend the workshop during the first semester in order to graduate in March 2019, please e-mail prof. Manlio Iofrida (manlio.iofrida@unibo.it) or discuss this issue with him during his office hours.

In the second semester, at least five reading workshops will be offered. At the moment, the following professors agreed to teach one of them:

- Prof. Monica Azzolini;

- Prof. Guido Gherardi

- Prof. Elisabetta Scapparone;

Should other Reading Workshops become available, you will be notified asap.

Enrolling at the second-semester workshops (both LS and LL) will open on 24 January 2019 and close on 31 January 2019 (should a LL start in the IV period, and this was not known by 24 January, the deadline for enrolling will be adjusted accordingly).

The success of Philosophy Workshop is based on regular attendance of all students to all meetings: for this reason, in order to be eligible for the final exam and pass the course, students will need to rigorously attend classes for both modules. In order to be admitted to the final exam and gain a pass, therefore, students will need to have attended at least 6 of their 8 classes for Writing Workshop, and 16 out of 20 for Reading Workshop.

Because of several unpleasant episodes of signature falsification occurred in the last years, in case it is proved that even a single signature has not been made by the corresponding student, such student will be excluded from the final exam and will have to wait until the next year to attend the Workshop again. The same standards will hold for students submitting written exams which are totally or partially copied from previously existing paper or digital texts, or not written by themselves.

Only in case of certified impossibility to attend the Workshop students are allowed to arrange an alternative program with the corresponding teacher of the attended module. Such cases concern:

• working students who cannot obtain a specific permission to attend the Workshop. Such students must inform the teachers both of the Writing and Reading Workshop at the beginning of the corresponding modules and prove by a declaration of their employers the impossibility of their attendance.

• Erasmus and Overseas students. Such students must promptly provide documentary evidence to both teachers of the Writing and the Reading Workshop showing the impossibility of their attendance due to their living abroad.

Attending and not attending students of the Writing Workshop must get as soon as possible the Manual of philosophical writing, which can be found on line on the web page of the Degree Course of Philosophy and in paper form at the Copy Shop Centotrecento, in Via Centotrecento. Attending students must always carry the new manual at the lessons of Writing Workshop; this new manual replaces all preceding manuals.

For attending students the exam will consist in the submission and discussion of a short essay on the philosophical classic on which the attended Reading Workshop has been held. The essay will be assessed both concerning his form as his content and will have to show the skills acquired in the three attended Workshops.

For more detailed informations on such Workshops (period, schedules, rooms, programs, etc.) see the website of each Workshop lecturer.

In particular, the theme of Elisabetta Scapparone's Reading Workshop will be:

A «forgotten classic» and the rights of «erring conscience»: Pierre Bayle’s Philosophical Commentary on these words of the Gospel (Luke, 14:23)

The course will be held in the second semester and will start on January 28th, 2019.

Timetable:

- Monday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Room A, Via Centotrecento (during the 3rd period);

- Thursday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Room C, Via Zamboni 34 (during the 4th period).

For any clarification or necessities, students are kindly asked to contact the workshop coordinator: prof. Manlio Iofrida (manlio.iofrida@unibo.it).

Office hours: Prof. Scapparone office hours take place on Thursday, h. 16-17 p.m. (Department of Philosophy and Communication, Via Zamboni 38, 3rd Floor, Office 3.08).

_________________________

On the basis of the here outlined rules, only students who have attended the  Writing and Library Workshop and the Reading Workshop, according to the rules outlined above, will be allowed to submit the final paper and to take the eligibility exam; to this effect, at the time when the student will submit the paper, each teacher will check the correctness of his attendance in each Workshop.

For further clarification or query students can contact the Workshop supervisor, prof. Manlio Iofrida (manlio.iofrida@unibo.it).

 

Readings/Bibliography

P. Bayle, Commentario filosofico sulla tolleranza, a cura di S. Brogi, Torino, Einaudi, 2018.

Further references will be provided during the first lessons of the Workshop.

Teaching methods

The work on the Philosophical Commentary will be introduced by a lecture dealing with the historical and philosophical context of the author and an introduction of the problems and the primary reasons behind his thinking. In later classes, the teacher will guide the students along the path of a reading, analysis and collective discussion of the text. Students will be required to actively participate in the workshop, presenting individual or group reports on particular aspects of the text. The schedule for these measures will be established during the first lesson.

Assessment methods

The final examination aims to appraise the attainment of the following didactic goals:

- learning the basic concepts for the composition of an essay of philosophical matter;

- learning how to read a philosophy classic, comprehending the basic princips of philosophical hermeneutics.

The examination will focus on a presentation and discussion of a short philosophical essay regarding topics and issues dealing with the philosophy classic analyzed during the Reading Workshop. The work will be evaluated as follows:

1. in terms of content;

2. in terms of the conceptual tools employed;

3. in terms of capacity and the mastery of writing.

The essay must be delivered with an advance of at least two weeks compared to the date of the application request in which the student cites his or her intention to sit for the exam. A hard bound copy will be delivered to the office of the Secretariat for Teaching Activities of the Department (2nd floor, Mrs. Simonetta Manservisi); simultaneously, students will also have to send the text of their work by email, to the address of the teacher.

Teaching tools

- E-learning platform;

- Photocopies and slides supporting the class discussion.

Office hours

See the website of Elisabetta Scapparone