30413 - Philosophy Laboratory (1) (G.D)

Learning outcomes

The student learns to read and critically analyze philosophical texts and to write a philosophical essay.

Course contents

 Between Art and Science: Leonardo da Vinci, Anatomist, Engineer, and Philosopher of Nature

Where and when:

Period IV: Mercoledi h. 15-17 (aula A, Via Zamboni 34); Venerdi h. 17-19 (aula I, Via Zamboni 38) 

According to the procedures outlined at the presentation of the course, only those students who attended all three compulsory modules will be almond to present the final paper and take the final exam. For this reason, after the hand in of the final paper, the professor will check that the student has attended both their Philosophy Lab and the courses of the other two modules. The paper will need to present and analyse at least some of the texts discussed in class. Papers that discuss exclusively or almost exclusively authors or texts that have never been mentioned in class will not be accepted.

If anything is not clear or you need to receive additional information, please contact the Lab coordinator, Professor Manlio Iofrida (manlio.iofrida@unibo.it).

Readings/Bibliography

Aristotele, Meteorologica (qualsi edizione)

Eugenio Garin, La cultura del Rinascimento (Laterza; qualsiasi edizione)

Primary source material from Leonardo da Vinci's manuscripts

Secondary source material on Leonardo

Teaching methods

The first seminar will contextualise the topic and explain how Leonardo's notebooks were first created and then dispersed at his death. Subsequent seminars will focus on a series of themes that characterise Leonardo's literary and scientific production. Our time will be spent largely reading and analysing the texts in relation to some key secondary reading. Students will be expected to come to class prepared and willing and able to participate actively to the Lab through active discussion about specific aspects of the material. Attendance to the course is compulsory.

Assessment methods

he course aims to meet the following objectives:

-to demonstrate adequate knowledge of the main aspects of Leonardo's work in the historical and philosophical context in which it developed;

-to demonstrate the ability to approach critically both the primary and the secondary sources so as to situate the texts within the historiographic debate that emerged over time;

-to demonstrate the ability to elaborate a coherent and organic analysis both in writing and orally around a specific theme, aspect, or question (both textual and historiographical), with the aim of reaching some original conclusions based on the evidence in the text(s);

The exam will consist of a presentation and discussion of a short essay on issues revolving around the texts that were assigned in the Lab.

The criteria adopted for an evaluation of the candidate and their work are the following:

1. familiarity with the content of the texts;

2. the ability to understand and analyse the texts;

3. the ability to construct an argument and use evidence appropriately to support it both in writing and orally.

The essay, which will need to be written and presented according to a set of general guidelines, will need to be submitted at least two weeks before the date of the oral exam that the student has chosen. A paper copy of the essay should be handed in to the Segreteria Didattica of the Department (second floor, Ms Simonetta Manservisi); at the same time the student should send electronic copy of the essay to the professor via email.

Teaching tools

Powerpoint slides; links to relevant websites.

Office hours

See the website of Monica Azzolini