27985 - Moral Philosophy (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student perfects the methodologies of reading texts and themes relating to moral philosophy, with particular attention to the skills of historical-critical reconstruction and evaluation, bibliographic recognition, linguistic mastery and correct written and oral presentation. In constant reference to the most consolidated historiographical traditions, the aim of the course is also to encourage and initiate the student towards the formulation of first, autonomous hypotheses for in-depth analysis and research.

Course contents

"Video meliora proboque, deteriora sequor".

Study of the forth part of Spinoza's Ethics

Continuing the path undertaken last year, this year the course will tackle the study of the fourth part of Spinoza's Ethics: De Servitude humana seu de affectibus viribus. Particular attention will be paid to issues of ethical, aesthetic and political relevance, understood as paths to emancipation. The teaching will be carried out in close connection with the research activities of the Sive Natura research centre. International Center for Spinozan Studies.(http://www.unibo.it/sivenatura).

 

An integral part of the course is the seminar by Dr. Manuela Filomena Ottaviani dedicated to the relationship between Spinozism and psychoanalysis around the figure of Lou Andreas Salomé. In support of the lessons, interventions by international scholars invited by Sive Natura are planned.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Reference texte (of your choice):

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

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

 

2. Monography (required):

Vinciguerra L., Spinoza, Carocci, “Pensatori”, Roma, 2015 (2019).

 

3. At least one of your choice (required):

Matheron A., Individu et communauté chez Spinoza, Editions de Minuit, Paris, 1968.

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.

Chantal Jaquet, Pascal Sévérac, Ariel Suhamy (ed.), Fortitude et servitude. Lectures de l'Ethique IV de Spinoza, Kimé, Paris, 2003.

 

4. Reference texte for the seminar (required):

Freud S., Al di là del principio di piacere, tr. it. Anna Maria Marietti Solmi e Renata Colorni, Bollati Boringhieri, Milano, 1986; oppure Al di là del principio di piacere. Testo tedesco a fronte, a cura e con nota di Vincenzo Cicero, ELS La Scuola, Brescia, 2018.

Salomé L. A., Il mio ringraziamento a Freud, tr. it. Maria Anna Massimello, Bollati Boringhieri, Milano, 2006.

 

5. For non-attending students, a text of your choice (required):

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.

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, 5 voll., PUF, Parigi, 1994-1998.

 

PS: Other bibliographical references will be communicated during the lessons.

Teaching methods

The lessons include both the direct and commented reading of texts and the synthetic reconstruction of problems and paths. Supplementary contributions to the course issues are expected. Particular attention will be paid to interactions with students (discussions, short reports, etc.).

Assessment methods

The exam is oral.

For those attending only, personal research can be agreed with the chair to be brought to the exam in relation to the course issue, even starting from a text or an outline prepared by the student in agreement with the teacher.

During the interview the student will have to demonstrate excellent knowledge of the readings and, with the aid of secondary literature, good ability to set up historical reconstructions, relationships and comparisons between the authors and the topics addressed: only this second skill allows the acquisition of excellent results .

Office hours

See the website of Lorenzo Vinciguerra