85027 - History of Philosophical Culture (1)

Learning outcomes

The course intends to provide useful conceptual tools and specific methodological knowledge for the analysis of significant traditions, texts and figures in the historical and philosophical context and in the history of Western culture.

Course contents

The course investigates the most important themes and problems of the English philosophical culture in the Seventeenth century through the analysis of its protagonists. The philosophy of Thomas Hobbes will be considered in order to explore the political notions of Power and State. The thought of Isaac Newton will be referred to the idea of Nature and his conception of the scientific method. The last part of the course focuses on the empiricism of John Locke and his critique towards Hobbes.

Course timetable: from the 23rd September: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 15 – 17,(aula A via Centotrecento)

 

Readings/Bibliography

 

Students are required to study the following texts:

1. Texts that are discussed in class and made available as didactic material.

2. One text of your choice from the following list:

Hobbes, Leviatano (any edition), prima e seconda parte.

Locke, Saggio sull’intelletto umano, seconda e quarta parte (capitoli da 1 al 12 compresi).

3. G. Cambiano, L. Fonnesu, M. Mori, La filosofia moderna. Il Seicento e il Settecento, Il Mulino, 2018 (capitoli dal I al VII).

4. One text of your choice from the following list::

A. Pacchi, Convenzione e ipotesi nella formazione della filosofia naturale di Thomas Hobbes, La nuova Italia, Firenze 1965

H. Warrender, Il pensiero politico di Hobbes: la teoria dell'obbligazione, Laterza, Roma – Bari 1974

T. Magri, Saggio su Thomas Hobbes: gli elementi della politica, Il saggiatore, Milano 1982

T. Magri, Il pensiero politico di Hobbes, Laterza, Roma 1994

Mario Reale, La difficile eguaglianza : Hobbes e gli animali politici : passioni, morale, socialità, Editori riuniti, Roma 1991

Dimitri D'Andrea, Prometeo e Ulisse : natura umana e ordine politico in Thomas Hobbes, NIS, Roma 1997

N. Bobbio, Thomas Hobbes, Einaudi, Torino 2004

Carlo Augusto Viano, John Locke : dal razionalismo all'illuminismo, Einaudi, Torino 1960

M. Sina, Introduzione a Locke, Laterza, Bari 1989

J. Dunn, Il pensiero politico di John Locke, il Mulino, Bologna 1992

J. W. Yolton, John Locke, il Mulino, Bologna 1997

N. Bobbio, Locke e il diritto naturale, Giapphichelli, Torino 2017

 Not attending students have to substitute point 1 with the second text of group n. 2.

 

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons

Assessment methods

The final oral exam focuses on the programme’s material and will be held in the Professor’s office, Via Zamboni, 38.

The critical evaluation considers the fundamental notions, the level of the analysis and the critical skills. On the basis of these three principal parameters an overall evaluation in thirtieths is expressed.

18-21 Sufficient

22-25 Average

26-28 Good-Very Good

29-30 Excellent

Teaching tools

During the lessons power point program will be used.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Cerrato