B8932 - Moral Philosophy (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

This course will address topics and texts in moral philosophy at an advanced level. At the end of the course students will be expected to possess the main abilities required from a professional moral philosopher. These include: appraise theories and justify one's own position about them; critically analyzing philosophical texts, both from classical and recent authors; originally elaborate on them; provide fresh points of view and good working hypotheses to address them. Students will have learnt how to pull apart received knowledge in the ethical and meta-ethical field, and to reconstruct it on an original basis. Moreover, they will be expected to show their ability both to write on moral topics in a professional, opinionated, and thorough way, and to effectively communicate their views to an audience.

Course contents

CYNIC PHILOSOPHY AND ITS INFLUENCE ON EUROPEAN CULTURE

This year’s course explores the origin and vicissitudes of Cynicism, both as a philosophical school (and/or life ideal) and as a moral attitude. After tracing its origin in ancient Socratic philosophy, we will see its transformations across a history spanning several centuries. Then, turning to Early Modern to Modern age, we will ask how could the meaning of “cynic” shift, in most European languages, from a highly valued quality to an almost universal expression of contempt. Various hypotheses (e.g. Peter Sloterdijk’s, Michel Foucault's, and, more recently, Louisa Shea's and David Mazella’s) will be examined as to what remains of the ancient meaning(s) in the modern one(s). We will also tentatively locate some antecedent and heir to ancient Cynicism, without speculating about actual historical connections, but rather asking if they might be versions of a fundamental attitude toward society and power that, under different names, runs through most of our history.

Readings/Bibliography

SOURCES:

• Diogenes the Cynic, Sayings and Anecdotes, with Other Popular Moralists, translated with an Introduction and Notes by Robin Hard, Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012.

This book contains most of Diogenes Laertius’ Lives of Eminent Philosophers dedicated to the Cynic and Cyrenaic philosophers, plus other ancient sources.

The Greek text of the Lives, which we may occasionally refer to, is freely accessible at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0258. The 1925 R. D. Hicks translation, with Greek text, is also freely downloadable on archive.org.

SECONDARY LITERATURE:

• William Desmond, Cynics, Stocksfield: Acumen, 2008.
• Michel Foucault, The Courage of the Truth. Lectures at the Collège de France, 1983-1984, ed. by F. Gros, Engl. transl. by G. Burchell, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011. [French-speaking students are free to refer to the original edition, Le courage de la vérité, Paris: Seuil/Gallimard, 2008.]
• David Mazella, The Making of Modern Cynicism, Charlottesville and London: University of Virginia Press, 2007.
• A short collection of supplementary Readings, which will be distributed through the course page on Virtuale.unibo.it

All of the above readings are mandatory.

• Non-attending students will be required, beside the above bibliography, to study the collection The Cynics: The Cynic Movement in Antiquity and Its Legacy, ed. by R. Bracht Branham and Marie-Odile Goulet-Cazé, Berkeley-Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1996 [available from the Department Library].

FURTHER OPTIONAL READINGS

Students who feel the need of a general introduction to the philosophy of the relevant period may refer to The Cambridge History of Hellenistic Philosophy, ed. by K. Algra, J. Barnes et alii, Cambridge UP, 2008 (see esp. Ch. 19, 'The Socratic Legacy', by A.A. Long).

Some optional books that students interested in Cynicism and related topics might find useful for inspiration and/or information in preparing their papers:

-Robert Dobbin, ed., The Cynic Philosophers from Diogenes to Julian, London: Penguin, 2012 [additional primary sources, partially overlapping with Hard's collection].

-Peter Sloterdijk, Critique of Cynical Reason, Engl. transl. by Michael Eldred, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1987 [original edition Kritik der zynischen Vernunft, Frankfurt a.M.: Suhrkamp, 1983].

-Louisa Shea, The Cynic Enlightenment. Diogenes in the Salon, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 2010.

-Michel Onfray, Cynisme. Portrait du philosophe en chien, Paris: Grasset, 1990 [Italian transl., Cinismo, Milano: Rizzoli, 1992].

 

Teaching methods

The course will mainly consist of frontal lessons, comments on texts, and teacher-led discussions. Students' comments, reflection, and active participation are encouraged.

Please note that part of the lessons will dwell on texts, so I recommend to get hold of the reading material before the beginning of the course. All of the required readings are translated into English, so no previous knowledge of ancient Greek is required. However, occasional reference to Greek words will be made, as part of the technicalities of the subject matter. I will give semantic explanations as we go along.

All classes will be recorded and deposited on virtuale.unibo.it.

Assessment methods

Students are expected to submit a final paper of 4000 to 5000 words, which will be graded on a 30/30 scale. I shall provide a list of topics, but please feel free to devise a topic of your own, provided it centrally involves one or more of the main issues raised in the course. Argumentative papers are recommended, but students coming from other fields than philosophy may suggest different kinds of treatment (e.g. literary, historical, semiotic, etc.).

All papers will be written in English and emailed to me. Allowance will be made for the difficulties of students whose first language is not English, but I expect all students to make sure their writing is reasonably correct. Papers will be subsequently discussed with the teacher, on appointment or during the regular exam sessions.

Unlike other countries, in Italy you may take an exam without attending the course. You will be considered non-attending if you miss more than 3 classes. Non-attending students are required to study the Branham-Goulet collection listed above.

During the academic year, multiple oral exam sessions are scheduled (esp. in October, February and May), but arrangements can be made for international students who need to leave.

Criteria for the paper’s assessment and components of the final grade:

1. Comprehension of the examined texts (knowledge of their content, ability to gather the most relevant information and the meaning): up to 11/30.

2. Clarity, thematic pertinence, breadth and structure of the exposition (ability to convey thoughts in an exhaustive, well-ordered, and clear way, and to stick to the topic): up to 5/30.

3. Correctness of writing (spelling, syntax, punctuation, style, command of the philosophical and general vocabulary): up to 5/30.

4. Logical consistency, quality and cogency of arguments: up to 5/30.

5. Originality of ideas and personal reflection (grasping the critical points of the texts, formulating objections, developing the ideas of the texts): up to 4/30;

6. Participation in class discussions: up to 1/30.

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.

N.B.: If Moral Philosophy (1) is taken as part of the Knowledge and Ethics integrated course (2nd-cycle degree programme in Semiotics, code B8932), the final evaluation will concern the integrated course and will involve assessment of achievement of the learning outcomes both in Epistemology (1) (LM) and Moral Philosophy (1) (LM). Students will take the two exams separately during the respective exams sessions.

Teaching tools

I will use slides, which I will make available on a weekly basis on the course-related webpage of the Unibo e-learning platform Virtuale. The webpage will also feature study topics and tools, event calendar, recordings of all classes, and it will be used for teacher-students communication and the distribution of homework.

Students (whether attending or not) are required to enrol on Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Roberto Brigati