30413 - Philosophy Laboratory (1) (G.D)

Learning outcomes

The student learns to read and critically analyze philosophical texts and to write a philosophical essay.

Course contents

The Philosophy Workshop has three goals: an introduction to the rules of writing and composition; an introduction to using bibliographic tools; an introduction to how to read a philosophical classic and how to produce a short philosophical essay about it.

The success of workshops requires regular attendance of all students at all meetings. In order to be admitted to the final exam and achieve a pass, students will need to have attended at least 12 out of 15 classes (24 hours out of 30).

Students can choose from several proposals of Philosophy Workshops (programmes and teachers’ names are available on the website of the Degree Course in Philosophy). Up to 40 students may attend each laboratory. “Attending” means both those attending face-to-face lectures and those attending online lectures. [THE WORKSHOP IS FULL]

To enrol in the I or II semester Workshops, students must send, by e-mail, an application to the chosen teacher (subject: Philosophy Workshop) between 1 and 15 September, 2021. Each teacher will accept up to 40 requests. Excess requests and those submitted after 15 September will be redistributed based on the availability of vacancies.

In the light of several unpleasant episodes of signature falsification in recent years, in the event that it is proved that even a single signature has not been made by the corresponding student, that student will be excluded from the final exam and will have to wait until the next year to attend the Workshop again. The same standards will hold for students submitting written exams which are totally or partially copied from published sources or digital texts. In the case of online attendance, the “participants” present at the lectures on Teams will be counted.

Only in the event of certified inability to attend the Workshop are students allowed to arrange an alternative programme with the relevant teacher of the module in question. Such cases include:

- working students who cannot obtain specific permission to attend the Workshop. Such students must inform the teacher at the beginning of the module and prove by a declaration of their employers their inability to attend.

- Erasmus and Overseas students. Such students must promptly provide documentary evidence to the teacher showing their inability to attend on grounds of residence abroad.

Attending and non-attending students must acquire as soon as possible the manual of philosophical writing, which can be found online on the website of the Degree Course in Philosophy.

For attending students assessment will consist in the submission and discussion of a short essay on the philosophical text discussed in the Workshop attended. The essay will be evaluated both for form and for content.

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The subject of Francesco Bianchini's Philosophy Workshop will be:

The Mind's I. Fantasies and Reflections in Self and Soul

The course will be held in the first semester and will start on September 21, 2021.

Timetable:

- Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Room B, Via Zamboni 34;

- Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Room B, Via Zamboni 34;

- Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Room D, Via Zamboni 34.

Readings/Bibliography

D.R. Hofstadter, D.C. Dennett, The Mind's I. Fantasies and Reflections in Self and Soul, Basic Books, New York, 1981.

Further references will be provided during the Workshop.

Teaching methods

During the first lectures a general framing of the workshop topics will be provided. In the following lectures students will be led to the reading and analysis of the book subjects and texts. Students should discuss the texts analyzed during the lectures and carry out individual or group talks on part of the texts which are subject of the workshop. The timetable of talks will be defined during the first lectures.

Assessment methods

The final examination aims to appraise the attainment of the following didactic goals:

- learning the basic concepts for the composition of an essay of philosophical matter;

- learning how to read a philosophy classic, comprehending the basic princips of philosophical hermeneutics.

The examination will focus on a presentation and discussion of a short philosophical essay regarding topics and issues dealing with the philosophy classic analyzed during the Reading Workshop. The work will be evaluated as follows:

1. in terms of content;

2. in terms of the conceptual tools employed;

3. in terms of capacity and the mastery of writing.

The essay must be delivered with an advance of at least ten days compared to the date of the application request in which the student cites his or her intention to sit for the exam. Students should send the text of their work by email to the address of the teacher or provide a hard bound copy.

Teaching tools

Slides and digital contents will be used during lectures.

E-learning platform.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Bianchini