00399 - Theoretical Philosophy

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course you will have gained access to some major themes and figures in the history of philosophy, and the discussion of some perspectives emerging from contemporary thought will enable you to relate with the "perennial" character of philosophical work.

Course contents

Title course: .«The subject of empathy as a phenomenological approach to intersubjectivity»

The course aims to analyze the structure of empathy, tracing its development from the perspective of the phenomenological tradition. Emerged in the discussions of British moralists and gained ground in the aesthetic field, the problem of the experience of other minds or of the subjectivity of others will be examined through the works of E. Stein, M. Scheler, E. Husserl, M. Heidegger, J. P. Sartre, M. Merleau Ponty and E. Levinas.

The course is scheduled in the second semester, 3th and 4th period (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. 1th period: Monday, Tuesday, 9-11, lecture room VI via Zamboni 38, Wednesday 11-13, classroom VI, via Zamboni 38; 2th period (from March 29th): Monday and Tuesday, 9-11, classroom VI via Zamboni 38, Wednesday 9-11, classroom III via Zamboni 38.

Lectures are scheduled to start January 31th 2021.

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

Readings/Bibliography

Mandatory readings for all students:

1) E. Stein Il problema dell'empatia, Studium, Roma, 2012 ss. (il testo sarà reso disponibile nel "materiale didattico").

2) M. Scheler, Essenze e forme della simpatia, a cura di L. Boella, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2010, pp. 7-153, 205-247.

3) Th. Lipps, Fonti della conoscenza. Empatia, in «Discipline filosofiche», XII, 2, 2002, pp. 47-62.

4). W. Henckmann, La dottrina dell'Altro in Theodor Lipps, in «Discipline filosofiche», XII, 2, 2002, pp. 149-170.

5) V. Costa, I modi del sentire. Un percorso nella tradizione fenomenologica, Quodlibet, Macerata, 2009, pp. 97-134.

6) A. Donise, Critica della ragione empatica. Fenomenologia dell'altruismo e della crudeltà, il Mulino, Bologna, 2020.

 

 

 

One more book among suggested readings is mandatory for not attending students.

Suggested readings:

1) L. Boella, A. Buttarelli, Per amore di altro. L'empatia a partire da Edith Stein, Raffaello Cortina, Milano, 2000.

2) L. Boella, Sentire l'altro. Conoscere e praticare l'empatia, Raffaello Cortina, Milano, 2006.

3) L. Boella, Empatie. L'esperienza empatica nella società del conflitto, Raffaello Cortina, Milano, 2018.

4) V. Bizzarri, Sento quindi sono. Fenomenologia e Leib nel dibattito contemporaneo, Mimesis, Sesto San Giovanni (MI), 2018.

5) A. Pinotti, Empatia. Storia di un'idea da Platone al postumano, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2011.

6) V. Costa, Alterità, il Mulino, Bologna, 2011.

 

In the first part of the course (about 6 lessons) more general problems regarding the theme of empathy will be dealt with, while in the remaining (24 lessons) the intersubjective character of the empathic experience will be analyzed with reference to the reflections of Th. Lipps, Scheler, Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty and Levinas.

 

 

"ATTENDING" means both those attending face-to-face lectures and those attending online lectures; for "NON ATTENDING" those who do not fall into either of the above tho cases. 

 

In the first part of the course (about 10 lessons) more general issues, concerning the main topics of ..., will be addressed. In the second part, 5 lesson will be devoted to dealing, respectively, with the more specific aspects related to texts 2), 3), and 4) of the indicated bibliography.

 

Teaching materials can be downloaded from "teaching material".

English-speaking or other visiting students are free to the English (French or German) editions of these readings, if available at all.

 

 

 

Teaching methods

Ex-cathedra lectures, textual commentary, class discussions on specific issues, dialogical lectures.
The course is scheduled in the second semester, 3th and 4th period (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. 1th period (from February 1th): Monday, Tuesday, 9-11, lecture room VI via Zamboni 38, Wednesday 11-13, lecture room VI, via Zamboni 38; 2th period (from March 22th): Monday and Tuesday, 9-11, lecture room VI via Zamboni 38, Wednesday 9-11, lecture room III via Zamboni 38.

Lectures are scheduled to start January 31th, 2021.

Please note that, in line with established Italian academic custom, each class will begin 15 minutes after the indicated time (this is to favour students we may come from classes held in different buildings).

I will be grateful to Erasmus and other Exchange students who intend to attend the course if they get in touch with me before the beginning.

All lectures will be recorded and made available on Microsoft Stream.

Assessment methods

Students will be evalueted on the basis of a viva voce. The oral exam aim to assessing the student's ability to present and critically analyse the various views discussed in the course.

Grade assessment criteria

Grade range below 18 – Fail. Poor knowledge of core material, a significant inability to engage with the discipline. Very poor presentation.

Grade range 18-21 – Pass. Limited and superficial knowledge of the subject, a significant inability to follow the thread of the discussion. Presentation with many inadequacies.

Grade range 21-23 – Adequate. The knowledge is superficial, but the thread of the discussion has been consistently grasped. Presentation with some inadequacies.

Grade range 24-26 – Acceptable. Elementary knowledge of the key principles and concepts. The presentation is occasionally weak.

Grade range 27-29 – Good. Comprehensive knowledge. Good presentation.

30 – Very Good. Detailed knowledge with hints of critical thinking. Very good presentation.

30 cum laude – Outstanding. Excellent knowledge and depth of understanding. Excellent presentation.

Teaching tools

Blackboard, PC, Slides projector

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Besoli