27990 - Philosophical Aesthetics (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the first part of the course the student acquires in-depth knowledge of specific issues in aesthetics, with a particular attention to those that have been at the center of the modern and contemporary philosophical debate. To this end an analysis of the fundamental concepts of the discipline, which the student will be able to locate in its historical development, will be carried out. At the end of the second part of the course, the student acquires the ability to link topics addressed in the first part to specific texts and perspectives. To this end an analysis of classic works will be carried out in detail also through seminars. The student becomes able to grasp the different facets of the discipline: as theoretical knowledge, as critique of culture, as an interconnection of various epistemic inquiries.

Course contents

Course Title: The aesthetic operative character of the mind

The aim of the course is to explore the aesthetic structures and the expressive nature of the mind in a relational perspective. The main topic will be the connection between the ante-predicative (or even "lebensweltlich") components of experience and the relative linguistic formulation.

The course will be divided into two parts (corresponding to two modules of 30 hours each).

In the first part (corresponding to Philosophical Aesthetics (1)) we will consider the reflections on the indicated themes that derive from Paul Valéry, also in relation to the phenomenology of Maurice Merleau-Ponty.

In the second part (corresponding to Philosophical Aesthetics (2)) the positions considered above will be compared with the pragmatist perspective elaborated in particular by John Dewey.

Readings/Bibliography

Part 1: Philosophical Aesthetics (1)

• P. Valéry, Tre dialoghi, trad. it. di V. Sereni, Einaudi, Torino, 1990 (nuova ed.: SE, Milano, 2019).
• P. Valéry, L’idea fissa, trad. it. di V. Magrelli, Adelphi, Milano, 2008.
• M. Merleau-Ponty, Conversazioni, SE, Milano, 2020.

 

Part 2: Philosophical Aesthetics (2)

• J. Dewey, Esperienza e natura, Mursia, Milano (1973) 2017, pp. 13-72, 185-217 e 255-281 (i.e.: Preface and chapters 1, 2, 7 e 9).

 

NB

- For the exam, all the texts are mandatory.

- An edition in the original language of the works mentioned may also be used.

- Other editions of Valéry’s dialogues can also be used.

- It is possible to replace Valéry’s dialogues with his other essays. Anyone interested in this possibility is requested to contact the teacher.

 

Furthermore, for non-attending students:

• as regards the first part of the course, see the essays in “Aishtesis”, vol 5, n. 1 (2012): “Paul Valéry: strategie del sensibile” (https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/aisthesis/issue/view/43 );
• as regards the second part of the course, see A. Berleant, Il campo estetico. Una fenomenologia dell’esperienza estetica, Mimesis, Milano-Udine, 2020.

 

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures and classroom presentations by students.

Assessment methods

The examination may be taken in one of the following modes.

1) General report of the course (reserved to autonomously constituted groups of students) 

• The report must concern the entire course (excluding the first class) specifying who wrote the protocols of the individual classes.
• Each participant in the group must be indicated as individually responsible for the report of at least 4 lessons given by the teacher.
• Each report must contain the exact references to the texts considered.
• The report must be sent in pdf format to the teacher at least one week before the exam date in which the group intends to take the exam (it is necessary that all participants register for the exam on Almaesami).

2) Written paper

• 6 cfu exam: 10-page paper (approximately 30.000 characters, footnotes and bibliography included) on a transversal theme addressed in the texts indicated in the bibliography.

• 12 cfu exam: 15-page paper (about 45.000 characters, footnotes and bibliography included) on a transversal theme addressed in the texts indicated in the bibliography.
• It is possible to propose alternative topics that compare one or more texts indicated in the bibliography with authors or aesthetic phenomena of specific interest to the student; in this case the topic must be agreed upon in advance with the teacher.
• The paper must be sent in pdf format to the teacher at least one week before the exam (registration is required on Almaesami).

3) Oral examination:

6 cfu exam: bibliography indicated for the first part;

12 cfu exam: bibliography indicated for both the first and the second part (according to the indicated modalities).

The assessment will concentrate particularly on the skill displayed by the student in handling the material in the exam bibliography and his/her ability to find and use information and examples to illustrate and correlate the various themes and problems addressed in the course.

The assessment will thus examine the student's:

- factual knowledge of the subject;
- ability to summarise and analyse themes and concepts;
- familiarity with the terminology associated with the subject and his ability to use it effectively.

Top marks will be awarded to a student displaying an overall understanding of the topics discussed during the lectures, combined with a critical approach to the material and a confident and effective use of the appropriate terminology.

Average marks will be awarded to a student who has memorized the main points of the material and is able to summarise them satisfactorily and provide an effective critical commentary, while failing to display a complete command of the appropriate terminology.

A student will be deemed to have failed the exam if he/she displays significant errors in his/her understanding and failure to grasp the overall outlines of the subject, together with a poor command of the appropriate terminology.

 

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

 Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders have the right to special accommodations according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the teacher but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adaptations. For more information, visit the page:
https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students

Teaching tools

We will use power point slides concerning course's texts and topics.

Office hours

See the website of Giovanni Matteucci