73073 - Theoretical Philosophy (LM)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the student will be familiar with some of the main notions of the theory of knowledge and will be able to reflect on their reciprocal relationships and on those that link them to other fundamental philosophical notions; he/she will have acquired a certain degree of autonomy in reading and interpreting a text of a conceptual and argumentative nature; he/she will be in possession of the tools to continue and deepen his/her studies in the field of human knowledge and the various forms of experience; will have understood the relationship that exists between the structuring of concepts, theories of cognitive abstraction and the different modes of human experience, in their practical, vital and behavioural implications; will be able to modulate and integrate, on the basis of modified situations, the philosophical-conceptual tools acquired; will be able to recognise in human knowledge an open, non-dogmatic path of continuous transformation of its assumptions.

Course contents

Course Title:

IMMANUEL KANT’S CRITIQUE OF PURE REASON: SENSIBILITY, UNDERSTANDING, AND OPERATIONS OF KNOWLEDGE

The course (12 ECTS credits; for the 6-ECTS version, see below) will examine Immanuel Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason (1781–1787) up to the "Analytic of Principles," with the aim of illustrating the framework and structure of the most significant theory of knowledge—one that marks the end of the Modern era and the beginning of the Contemporary era. This text is an essential reference point for theoretical philosophy, as the problems it raises and addresses remain relevant today. Any philosophy must engage with Kant’s theory of knowledge (or "epistemology").

Distribution of topics in lectures:

For the 6-credit course module (code 28001 - Master's Degree in Semiotics):

Of the 15 lectures available:

• 3 will be dedicated to an introduction to Kant's philosophy;
• 12 will be dedicated to the discussion and commentary of the most important passages of the text (Preface, Introduction, Transcendental Aesthetic, Analytic of Concepts, from page 7 to page 212).

For the full 12-credit course (code 73073 - Master's Degree in Philosophical Sciences):

Of the 30 lectures available:

• 3 will be dedicated to an introduction to Kant's philosophy;
• 27 will be dedicated to the discussion and commentary of the most important passages of the text (Preface, Introduction, Transcendental Aesthetic, Transcendental Analytic; from page 7 to page 358).

Start of lectures and place:

• The lectures will begin on Monday, September 14, 2026, in classroom A, via Zamboni 34, and every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 1 to 3 pm.

Readings/Bibliography

Obligatory for all students, both attending and non-attending:

 

Immanuel Kant, Critica della ragione pura, a cura di G. Colli, Adelphi, Milano 1999 (or other editions). Available in the "course materials".

• For the 6-credit course module (code 28001 - Master's Degree in Semiotics): Preface, Introduction, Transcendental Aesthetic, Analytic of Concepts, from page 7 to page 212 (available in the "teaching materials").
• For the entire 12-credit course (code 73073 - Master's Degree in Philosophical Sciences): Preface, Introduction, Transcendental Aesthetic, Transcendental Analytic, from page 7 to page 358 (available in the “teaching materials”).
• Explanatory slides from the lectures (made available progressively in the “teaching materials” section).

 

Optional readings:

Recommended, above all for non-attending students, one or more of the following books: 

• A. Guerra, Introduzione a Kant, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1985.
• E. Cassirer, Vita e dottrina di Kant, La Nuova Italia, Firenze 1977.
• R. Ciafardone, La Critica della ragion pura di Kant. Introduzione alla lettura, Carocci, Roma 2007.
• H. Caygill, A Kant Dictionary, Blackwell, Oxford 2000.

 

Note: this is just an indication. To pass the exam with maximum marks, obligatory readings are sufficient and, above all, the teaching material prepared by the teacher.

 

Teaching methods

Lectures; discussion of the main themes covered in the course. Reading and commentary on texts, including comparisons with the original German versions. This is an advanced course on Kantian epistemology in which the meanings of the terms used by Kant will be closely examined.

Assessment methods

Assessment methods

Oral test with verification of specific historical and philosophical knowledge and of the level of assimilation and processing critical-conceptual content.

Exam sessions

During the 2025/2026 academic year, exam sessions are scheduled in the following months: November, December 2025; January, February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November, December 2026; January, February 2027.

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 [htthttps://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students%20.It%20p://] 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.

Assessment criteria and thresholds of evaluation:

30 cum laude: Excellent as to knowledge, terminology and critical expression.

30: Excellent, knowledge is complete, well articulated and correctly expressed, although with some slight faults.

27-29: Good, knowledge comprehensive and satisfactory, essentially correct expression .

24-26: Fairly good, knowledge present in significant points, but not complete and not always expressed with correctness.

21-23: Sufficient, knowledge is sometimes superficial, but the guiding general thread is included. Expression and articulation incomplete and often not appropriate

18-21:.Almost sufficient, but knowledge present only on the surface. The guiding principle is not included with continuity. The expression and articulation of the speech show important gaps.

<18: Not sufficient, knowledge absent or very incomplete, lack of guidance in discipline, expression seriously deficient. Exam failed.

Teaching tools

Overhead projector connected with PC

Links to further information

http://www.disciplinefilosofiche.it/

Office hours

See the website of Luca Guidetti