22690 - Teaching of Philosophy (1)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide general and at the same time in-depth knowledge of the main teaching methods used in the philosophical field. The analysis of themes and specific contributions relevant to the history of modern and contemporary philosophical thought is aimed at fostering the development of semiotic skills as well as the expansion of the student's expressive and cognitive potential. Furthermore, the lessons will investigate topics such as the role of the teacher of the discipline, the didactic programming activity and the possibilities of using technology for the teaching of philosophy.

Course contents

PHILOSOPHERS AND TEXTS
SPINOZA AND PASCAL READERS OF THE BIBLE

 

The course is divided into three parts:

1. Monographic course
2. Seminars
3. Institutional course


1. MONOGRAPHIC COURSE

The monographic course aims at reconstructing the different ways of transferring or rejecting sacred history in two fundamental works of modern philosophy: Pascal's Thoughts and Spinoza's Theological-Political Treatise. If Spinoza's historical critique of the Bible deepens the demands coming from the metaphysical fracture between God and the world, between divine laws and natural laws, sacred history is, on the contrary, for Pascal the only one capable of founding a legitimate anthropology that gives meaning to the enigma of the human condition. Two opposing methods of investigating sacred texts that respond to the crisis in European religious conscience provoked by the processes of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, deeply affecting the birth of the modern conception of historical development.


2. SEMINARS

Students are invited to prepare a short lesson, discussed in class, on the topics of the course, which will contribute to the final evaluation. Active participation in the seminar will be a fundamental aspect for the success of the course. Students will be asked for a short presentation lasting 10-12 min on a topic chosen in agreement with the teacher.


3. INSTITUTIONAL PART

The course aims to reconstruct different approaches to the history of modern philosophy in the light of didactic models and methods of philosophical teaching.

Readings/Bibliography

 

I. MONOGRAPHIC PART

The following texts will be read:

 

1. Spinoza, Trattato teologico-politico (1677), capp. 1-2; 4-7; 15.

Trattato teologico-politico, in Opere, a cura di F. Mignini, O. Proietti, Milano, Mondadori, 2007, pp. 427-569; 649-659.

 

2. Pascal, Pensieri (1669), IV. Il problema dell'uomo; V. Miseria e grandezza dell’uomo; VI. Insufficienza della filosofia; VII. La religione cristiana; VIII. I fondamenti storici della religione cristiana.

Pensieri, trad. it. a cura di A. Bausola, Milano, Mondadori, 1971, pp. 135-401.

 

I.II MONOGRAPHIC PART - STUDIES (2 texts of your choice)

L. Strauss Come studiare il Trattato teologico-politico di Spinoza, in Scrittura e persecuzione (1952), trad. it. di G. Ferrara, F. Profili, Marsilio, Venezia, 1990, pp. 137-197

D. Donna, Norma, segno, autorità. Filosofia, teologia e politica in Spinoza, BUP, Bologna, 2018

P.-F. Moreau P.-F., Spinoza. La ragione pensante (1975), trad. it. di A.A. Cantucci, Editori Riuniti, Roma, 1998

A Matheron, Le Christ et le Salut des Ignorants chez Spinoza, Aubier, Paris, 1971

T. Verbeek, Spinoza’s Theologico-political Treatise: exploring ‘the will of God’, Burlington, Ashgate, 2002

D. Antiseri, Come leggere Pascal, Bompiani, Milano, 2005

F. P. Adorno, La ragione ordinata. Saggio su Pascal, La Città del Sole, Napoli, 2000

A. Peratoner, Pascal, Carocci, Roma, 2011

A. Bausola, Introduzione a Pascal, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 1996

D. Collacciani, B. Gramusset-Piquois, F. Toto (a cura di), Lectures du Traité théologico-politique: Philosophie, religion, pouvoir, Paris, L'Harmattan, 2021 (three chapters of the student's choice).

 

II. SEMINARS

Seminar times and materials will be communicated during the lectures. Materials relating to lectures by students will be agreed with the lecturer.

 

III. INSTITUTIONAL PART

Knowledge of one of the following History of Didactics is required:

G. Piaia, Il lavoro storico-filosofico. Questioni di metodo ed esiti didattici, Padova, Cluep, 2001

L. Illetterati, a cura di, Insegnare filosofia. Modelli di pensiero e pratiche didattiche, Torino, Utet, 2007

G. Semerari, a cura di, Pensiero e narrazioni, Bari, Dedalo, 1995

M. De Pasquale, a cura di, Filosofia per tutti. La filosofia per la scuola e la società del 2000, Milano, Franco Angeli, 1998.

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures and reading of texts in the classroom, together with discussion of the most important topics and direct participation of the students.

Assessment methods

The attendance of the entire course corresponds to 6 credits.
The student will present the following programme:

1. Monographic course

2. Seminars

3. Institutional course

 

For attending students: oral exam + presentation;

For non-attending students: oral exam + essay (3000 words excluding bibliography; the topic needs to be agreed by the professor).

The oral examination takes place in the teacher's studio and tends to verify:

1. the historical-philosophical knowledge acquired through attendance at the lessons, the study of the basic texts and the relative bibliography;

2. the degree of understanding and critical reworking of the proposed content;

3. expressive skills and the ability to orient oneself among the main lines of interpretation.


Verification criteria

30 cum laude: excellent proof, for solidity of knowledge and critical processing skills

30: excellent proof, adequate knowledge and expressive richness

27-29: good proof, satisfactory knowledge, correct expression

24-26: discrete proof, non-exhaustive and partially correct knowledge

21-23: sufficient proof, general knowledge, confused expression

18-21: barely sufficient proof. Poor articulation and relevant theoretical gaps

<18: insufficient proof, missing or incomplete knowledge, lack of guidance in the argument.

 

The registration for the exam is online on the ALMAESAMI website

Teaching tools

A collection of texts aimed at articulating the theme of the forms of elaboration and transmission of philosophy in the modern age will be made available.

Office hours

See the website of Diego Donna