00399 - Theoretical Philosophy

Learning outcomes

After completing the course the student is able to identify some of the key moments of philosophical thought and to adopt a synoptic view of them. He is able to place the philosophers in their historical context and to understand their thinking in contemporary philosophical discourse. He knows the problematic nature of the concepts of meaning, reference and truth.

Course contents

THE CRITICAL THEORY OF SOCIETY. PHILOSOPHY AND CRITICISM OF INSTRUMENTAL REASON IN THE FRANKFURT SCHOOL

The course will examine the different doctrines that have established themselves within the "Frankfurt School" starting from the foundation of the Institute (1923) up to the most recent developments. Particular attention will be devoted to the philosophical positions of the main representatives of the School: Max Horkheimer, Theodor Wiesengrund Adorno and Herbert Marcuse.

Distribution of topics in lectures:

of the 30 lectures available,
• 10 will be dedicated to a historical-philosophical excursus on the Frankfurt School, its phases and its most significant representatives;
• 10 will be dedicated to the discussion and commentary of the text of Max Horkheimer and Theodor W. Adorno, Dialectic of the Enlightenment;
• 10 will be dedicated to the discussion and commentary of the text of Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man.

 

Start of lectures and place

The lectures will begin on Monday, September 24, 2018, in classroom D, via Centotrecento 18, and will be held every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 5 to 7 pm.

Readings/Bibliography

Obligatory readings::

• Max Horkheimer and Theodor W. Adorno, Dialectic of the Enlightenment, Einaudi, Turin 1966, pp. 11-86 (Concept of Enlightenment and Excursus I: Odysseus, or Myth and Enlightenment) and pp. 126-181 (Cultural industry). The text will be available in the "teaching material";
• Herbert Marcuse, The One-Dimensional Man, Einaudi, Turin 1967 (or later editions, the latest is from 1999);
• Slides and notes edited by the teacher, progressively available in the "teaching material".

 

Additional readings (not obligatory, but recommended for non-attendings):

• The Frankfurt School, in N. Abbagnano, G. Fornero, History of Philosophy, vol. IV, 1: Contemporary Philosophy, UTET, Turin 1991, pp. 114-203 (the text will be available in the "teaching material").
• As an introduction, it is also recommended to read the book by G. Bedeschi, Introduction to the Frankfurt School, Laterza, Rome-Bari 1985 (or other editions).
• Further bibliographical indications will be provided at lecture. In any case, the obligatory texts + the slides and notes prepared by the teacher (to which special attention must be paid) are sufficient to successfully pass the exam.

Teaching methods

Lectures, reading and commentary on texts and on primary sources, discussion on specific issues.

Assessment methods

Oral test with verification of specific historical and philosophical knowledge and of the level of assimilation and processing critical-conceptual content (See "Evaluation board". Each entry has a maximum of 10 points, for a total of 30 + possible laude).

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 with PC.

Links to further information

http://www.disciplinefilosofiche.it

Office hours

See the website of Luca Guidetti