10577 - Philosophical Hermeneutics (1)

Learning outcomes

Philosophical hermeneutics is a theoretical discipline, aimed at reflecting on the relationship between the subject and the world, and the conditions that make this relationship possible. The term "hermeneutics," which has been present since antiquity with the meaning of the art or technique of interpreting religious, legal, and literary texts, only gains philosophical significance through historicism and phenomenology. Philosophical hermeneutics emerged as a distinct discipline in the 20th century when, within the phenomenological context, hermeneutics was no longer seen as just one of many forms of knowledge but was instead conceived as the subject’s way of being. The purpose of the Philosophical Hermeneutics course is the acquisition the analytical tools that enable students to approach philosophical texts with historiographical awareness and critical attitude, placing them within the contemporary philosophical debate and questioning them in light of present-day challenges. To this end, it is necessary to know the basic vocabulary of the discipline, critically assimilate its fundamental concepts, and be able to discuss its contents. This objective is pursued through different methods, such as historical-philosophical reconstruction, conceptual elaboration, and textual hermeneutics.

Course contents

The Enigma of Identity

Does identity—whether personal, social, or collective—exist? What are the characteristics that define it? What do we mean when we “identify” someone or something? Is identity something that is found, or is it something that is constructed? This course aims to explore the semiotic, hermeneutic, and ontological assumptions underlying the concept of identity, with particular reference to personal identity. After reviewing the general outlines of the history of philosophical hermeneutics, the course will offer a specific study of Paul Ricoeur’s Oneself as Another, in which the French author traces his “long journey” of mediation between the human sciences, theories of action, and hermeneutics to arrive at a proposal for narrative identity. This conclusion will then be compared with the proposal put forward by the American philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre in After Virtue, and, finally, we will explore a possible development of narrative identity into a figurative identity based on the pragmatist philosophy of gesture.

Readings/Bibliography

Books:

Ricoeur P., Sé come un altro, Jaca Book, Milano 2025, capitoli 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8.

MacIntyre A., Dopo la virtù, Armando editore, Roma 2007, capitoli 1, 8-19.

Maddalena G., Filosofia del gesto, Carocci, Roma 2021.

 

Non-attending students must also bring the following text:

Grondin J., L’ermeneutica, Queriniana, Brescia 2020

All remaining chapters of the two texts by Ricoeur and MacIntyre

Teaching methods

The course consists of lectures that involve constant dialogue between the instructor and students in order to develop and assess students’ critical thinking skills. If certain parts of the lectures or texts are unclear, students may schedule an appointment with the instructor during office hours.

Assessment methods

For both attending and non-attending students, knowledge will be assessed through an oral examination.
Evaluation will take into account the following criteria:

1. knowledge and understanding of the topics covered;
2. ability to apply knowledge through the analysis of specific issues;
3. independent judgment, i.e., the ability to re-elaborate information autonomously and personally;
4. communication skills, including the ability to convey ideas and problems using appropriate language and well-structured reasoning;
5. learning skills, i.e., correct acquisition of tools and the ability to exercise critical judgment on complex problems.

The purpose of the oral examination is to assess the student’s ability to apply their acquired knowledge and to carry out the necessary critical inferential connections.

Final grade scale:

• Preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and analytical ability emerging only with the instructor’s assistance, overall correct language → 18–19;
• Preparation on a limited number of topics covered in the course and autonomous analytical ability only on purely procedural issues, correct language → 20–24;
• Preparation on a broad range of topics covered in the course, ability to make autonomous choices in critical analysis, command of specific terminology → 25–29;
• Substantially exhaustive preparation on the topics covered in the course, ability to make autonomous choices in critical analysis and connections, full command of specific terminology, and strong argumentative and self-reflective skills → 30–30L.

 

Students with disabilities and SLD

Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders are entitled to special accommodations related to their condition, subject to assessment by the University Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the instructor directly; instead, contact the Service to schedule an appointment. The Service will determine which accommodations are appropriate. Students are advised to contact the relevant University office in advance (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it ); the office will propose any appropriate accommodations to the interested students. These accommodations must in any case be submitted for approval to the instructor at least 15 days in advance, who will assess their suitability in relation to the educational objectives of the course.

Teaching tools

 

Office hours

See the website of Giovanni Maddalena