00399 - Theoretical Philosophy (A-L)

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course you will have gained access to some major themes and figures in the history of philosophy, and the discussion of some perspectives emerging from contemporary thought will enable you to relate with the "perennial" character of philosophical work.

Course contents

Course title: Subjectivity and Intersubjectivity: Descartes and Husserl

The course will examine the conception of the subject developed by René Descartes in the Meditations on First Philosophy and the relationship between subjectivity and intersubjectivity in Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology, with particular reference to the Cartesian Meditations. The topics covered will be the following: methodic doubt; the cogito; the nature of ideas; the existence of God; divine veracity; transcendental phenomenology; intentionality and constitution; phenomenological epoché; the other as alter ego; transcendental intersubjectivity.

The first lesson will be dedicated to an introduction to the theoretical philosophy. In the following lessons the philosophical contexts in which Cartesian thought and Husserlian phenomenology are placed will be outlined and the above mentioned issues will be addressed.

Course timetable: the course is scheduled in the first semester: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 15-17 (Lecture room Tibiletti, via Zamboni 38)

Course start date: September 15th, 2025

Readings/Bibliography

R. Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy, I-III (recommended edition: Meditations on First Philosophy. With Selections from the Objections and Replies, ed. by J. Cottingham, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2017).

E. Husserl, Cartesian Meditations. An Introduction to Phenomenology, Springer, Dordrecht 1973.

E. Scribano, Guida alla lettura delle “Meditazioni metafisiche” di Descartes, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2010.

G. Ferretti, Soggettività e intersoggettività. Le “Meditazioni cartesiane” di Husserl, Rosenberg & Sellier, Torino 1997.

R. Fabbrichesi (a cura di), Il primo libro di filosofia teoretica, Einaudi, Torino 2023, pp. 3-17 (Filosofia. Una breve introduzione), 171-188 (Cap. III. Fenomenologia ed ermeneutica, escluse le Parole chiave).

G. Mori, Cartesio, Carocci, Roma 2010 (optional).

V. Costa, Husserl, Carocci, Roma 2009 (optional).

Further reading:

D. De Santis (ed.), Edmund Husserl’s Cartesian Meditations. Commentary, Interpretations, Discussions, Alber, Baden-Baden 2023.

J.-F. Lavigne (éd.), Les “Méditations Cartésiennes” de Husserl, Vrin, Paris 2008.

D. Pradelle, C. Riquier (éds.), Descartes et la phénoménologie, Hermann, Paris 2018.

Texts recommended for non-attending students:

G. Mori, Cartesio, Carocci, Roma 2010.

V. Costa, Husserl, Carocci, Roma 2009.

The slides used in the lessons will be available in the online material.

Teaching methods

Lectures; reading and commenting of texts; discussion on the main issues covered in the course.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of an oral interview, which will assess the knowledge of the texts and the ability to critically discuss the proposed issues.

Grade assessment criteria:

30 cum laude: Excellent, both in knowledge and in the critical and expressive articulation.

30: Very good. Complete, well-articulated and correctly expressed knowledge, with some critical insights.

27-29: Good. Comprehensive and satisfactory knowledge, substantially correct expression.

24-26: Fairly good. Knowledge is present in the main points, but it is not comprehensive and not always correctly articulated.

21-23: Sufficient. Sometimes superficial knowledge, but the common thread is understood. Incomplete and often inappropriate expression and articulation.

18-21: Almost sufficient. Superficial knowledge, the common thread is not understood with continuity. Expression and articulation have significant gaps.

Not sufficient: Absent or very incomplete knowledge, lack of orientation in the discipline, defective and inappropriate expression.

During the 2025/2026 academic year, exam sessions are scheduled in the following months: January, February, March, May, June, July, September, November 2026 (for all students).

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders have the right to special adjustments according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the instructor but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adjustments. For more information, visit the page: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students

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.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint slides

Office hours

See the website of Sebastiano Galanti Grollo