10052 - Philosophy of History (1)

Learning outcomes

An introduction in the main themes of contemporary philosophical and political debate; a guide to critical discussion and to self-orientation in the ethical and political problems of contemporaneity.

Course contents

God beyond good and evil (II)

 

Continuing the path taken last year, this year the course will move from the reading of well-known and lesser-known authors (Levi, Shalamov, Demidov) who personally lived the experience of the Nazi extermination camps and Stalinist concentration camps, marking the literature of last century, to propose a reflection on the nature of evil and how this was discussed in relation to the concept of God at the dawn of Western modernity. We will see how in the light of the new science, modern philosophy once again questions the question about the rational concept of God and the relationship with the notions of Good and Evil, putting the very idea of reason to the test.

The first lessons of the course represent its preparatory part and will focus on the main ethical problems in the history of Western philosophy from the classical to the modern period. In particular, the concept of 'good' in itself and the individual and collective possibility of obtaining it will be investigated.

Although conceived independently, the courses of Philosophy of History I (i.e. Moral Philosophy 1 for the degree course in Literature) of the third period and Philosophy of History II of the fourth period, nevertheless form a single path. The student will therefore be able to follow both, or limit themselves to just one of the two courses, taking the exam relating to the one chosen.

Readings/Bibliography

Reference texts (mandatory):

1) Preparatory part

A. Da Re, Filosofia morale. Storia, teorie, argomenti, Bruno Mondadori, Milano, 2003 (up to chapter 8.2); or A. Da Re, Filosofia morale. Storia, teorie, argomenti, Pearson, Milano, 2023 (up to chapter 9.2 excluding chapter 5).

2) Monographic part (recommended editions):

P. Levi, Se questo è un uomo, Einaudi, Torino, 2014.

V. T. Shalamov, I racconti di Kolyma, edizione integrale a cura di Irina P. Sirotinskaja, traduzione di Sergio Rapetti e Piero Sinatti, Einaudi, 1999 (ten stories of your choice).

G. Demidov, Vite spezzate, Storie di uomini e di donne nel terrore staliniano, trad. a cura di Francesca Fici, Le Lettere, Firenze, 2018 (in particular the first story "L'abat-jour arancione").

Optional: 

B. Spinoza, Epistolario, a cura di Antonio Droetto, SE, Milano, 2020 (limited to the Correspondence with Blyenbergh).

 

Literature (optional):

Marina Mengoni, Primo Levi e i tedeschi, Einaudi, Torino, 2017.

Mattia Cravero, Non ci sono demoni. Primo Levi, il Doktor Pannwitz e due figure mitiche, Mimesis, Milano, 2021.

Hanna Arendt, La banalità del male. Eichmann a Gerusalemme, Feltrinelli, Milano, 2019.

Hanna Arendt, Le origini del totalitarismo, Einaudi, Torino, 2009.

Enrico Deaglio, La banalità del bene. Storia di Giorgio Perlasca, Feltrinelli, Milano, 2013.

Victor Klemperer, LTI. La lingua del Terzo Reich. Taccuino di un filologo, Giuntina, Firenze, 2008.

François Furet, Il passato di un'illusione, Mondadori, Milano, 1995.

Stanley Milgram, Obbedienza all'autorità. Uno sguardo sperimentale, Einaudi, Torino, 2007.

 

Websites:

https://shalamov.ru

https://deportati.it

 

Non-attending students (mandatory):

They will study the texts of Levi, Shalamov and Dimedov in full.

For the rest the same program.

Teaching methods

The lessons include both the direct and commented reading of texts and the synthetic reconstruction of problems and paths. Particular attention will be paid to interactions with students (discussions, short reports, etc.). During the lessons, interventions by colleagues are expected on topics and subjects complementary to the course.

Assessment methods

Oral examination

For attending students only, also 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 preparatory and monographic parts of the course, and with the aid of secondary literature, good ability to set up historical reconstructions, relationships and comparisons between the authors and the topics addressed in a precise language and appropriate: only this second skill allows you to acquire excellent results.

Office hours

See the website of Lorenzo Vinciguerra