73072 - History of Contemporary French Philosophy (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

French Contemporary Philosophy is one of the most important, from a theoretical point of view, but also as a key to debates in a wide range of human sciences, as linguistics, sociology, political philosophy, feminism, gender studies. It is a kind of philosophy which is very diffused also in Anglosaxon countries, especially in USA. The aim of the course will be to give the student means of orientation in various contemporary philosophical debates and in a complex of disciplinary fields closely connected with them.

Course contents

Michel Foucault and the question of History

 

After a long period of oblivion, with the crisis of globalization and the war between Russia and Ukraine, History has come back undoubtedly, as a real fact and as a philosophical concept. It will be then very useful to reconsider Michel Foucault’s thought, in which that concept plays a key role. After some introductory hints, the following arguments will be developed: the philosopher’s formation, the importance, for him as for the whole joung generation of French philosophers after the second World War, of Husserl’s Origin of Geometry , the meaning of Nietzsche’s thought for Foucault, up to his first masterpiece, History of Madness (1961) (first 10 hours). In this context, will be also taken in consideration the critics which Jacques Derrida addressed to this work; it will be the occasion to give some hints on the relation between Deconstruction and History (6 hours). The course will prosecute with the analysis of Foucault’s “structuralist moment” (The order of Things, 1966), when, announcing the death of man, the philosopher seemed to proclaim the end of History (6 hours).

Finally, it will be showed the deep change of Foucault’s thought since the middle of the seventy years, ultimately delineating, with his text on the Enlightenment, a true philosophy of History, conceived as alternative to the western tradition. Common to all the parts of the course and unifying them will be the reference to categories as the line and the circle, progress and eternal return, eternal and ephemeral, which are constantly at the base of Foucault’s reflection on History, even if with partially different meanings, and which connect him with other modern philosophers and constellations, particularly Jewish (as, for example, Walter Benjamin and Adorno and Horkheimer) (8 hours).

 

All the texts will be found in digital format on Virtuale, with the exception of the following book: M. Iofrida, D. Melegari, Foucault, Carocci, Roma, 2017. The final examination consists of a discussion of an essay, whose argument must be arranged with the professor.Hours and room: Third Period, Monday Tuesday Wednesday 17-19 Room C Via Zamboni 34. The course will start on January 29, 2024.

FOR STUDENTS WHO CANNOT FOLLOW THE LESSONS: A program must be agreed with the professor.

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

See the program.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons.

Assessment methods

The final examination is finalized to verify that didactic focuses have been realized, i. e. the capacity of the student to trace the mean philosophical streamings of French contemporary philosophy ; his knowledge of the basic historical-philosophical notions necessary to a master students in this arguments.
The final mark results from an oral examination, preceded by a written essay, to which a special importance is conferred: to each student a personalized argument will be attributed, conform to his cultural profile and to the didactic and scientific necessities inherent to it.

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders have the right to special accommodations according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the teacher but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adaptations. For more information, visit the page:

https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students

Teaching tools

Seminars and composition of papers attaining to the course program.

Office hours

See the website of Manlio Iofrida