78001 - Theories of Ontology (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to make known and discuss the main positions regarding the theme of "being" in the sphere of the whole philosophical thought, with particular reference to modern and contemporary age. In this regard, the investigation of the principles, laws and structures requires to be related to the original situation of man as being in the world, to his intentional modalities and his forms of objectification of reality. This theoretical knowledges will be used to recognize and understand the concrete areas in which the ontological theories are applied, with particular attention to the characteristics of the scientific investigation and the experiential forms which structure the different visions of reality and which do not concern a mere discourse on 'being', but a being that manifests itself in the human discourse on the world. This is obtained through the knowledge of the different theories of abstraction and the formation of concepts, the understanding of the notion of truth, the investigation of the functions of language and theories of experience, the examination of the metaphysical assumptions that determine the understanding of reality, of the criteria for identifying objects. The aim of the course is to grasp and analyze the ontological determinations present in the various currents of Western philosophy (naturalism, idealism, realism, empiricism, rationalism, positivism, materialism, spiritualism, etc.), moving in particular from perspectives of critical-transcendental, phenomenological and logical-linguistic investigations. The tools useful for achieving this knowledge are reading and analyzing texts, acquiring a basic vocabulary adapted to the orientation of students in order to ontological problems, reading and understanding of the secondary literature to face the issues concerning subjectivity and objectivity in relation to the different senses of reality.

Course contents

PSYCHOLOGY AND ONTOLOGY IN ARISTOTLE: THE SOUL

The Soul (Peri psyches, De Anima) is the text in which Aristotle exposes his psychology, in close connection with Metaphysics and Physics. The psychological problem is carried out by Aristotle according to the idea of the unity of knowledge which, in opposition to any dualism, allows to answer important ontological questions, in particular the individuation of the substance which, at the metaphysical level, still remained as an unresolved problem. De Anima represents an essential point of reference in the contemporary debate on the relationship between logic, psychology and ontology, also influencing the most recent phenomenological currents.

Distribution of topics in lectures:

of the 15 lectures available:
• 5 will be dedicated to a historical-philosophical introduction to aristotelic Philosophy;
• 10 will be dedicated to the discussion and commentary of the text concerning The Soul.

Start of lectures and place:

• The lectures will begin on Monday, February 1, 2021, in classroom A, via Zamboni 34, and will be held every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 5 to 7 pm.
• NOTE: all lectures will be recorded and made available on Microsoft stream. On this same page, the download link for each lecture will be indicated.

Readings/Bibliography

Obligatory readings for all students:

• Aristotele, L'Anima, ed. by G. Movia, Loffredo, Neaples 1979 (It will be available in the "teaching material").

• Slides and notes progressively deposited in the "teaching material".

 

Warning: "attending" means all those who attend the lectures in attendance or online; "not attending" those who do not attend in attendance or have not the opportunity to access online lectures.

 

Optional readings for attending students:

• C. Natali, Aristotele, Carocci, Roma 2014 (It will be available in the "teaching material").
• F. Brentano, La psicologia di Aristotele, con particolare riguardo alla sua dottrina del "nous poietikos", a cura di S. Besoli, Quodlibet, Macerata 2007

Readings for not attending students

• C. Natali, Aristotele, Carocci, Roma 2014 (obligatory: It will be available in the "teaching material").
• F. Brentano, La psicologia di Aristotele, con particolare riguardo alla sua dottrina del "nous poietikos", a cura di S. Besoli, Quodlibet, Macerata 2007 (optional).

Teaching methods

Lectures, reading and commentary on texts and on primary sources, discussion on specific issues.

Assessment methods

Oral test with verification of specific historical and philosophical knowledge and of the level of assimilation and processing critical-conceptual content (see "Evaluation board". Each entry has a maximum of 10 points, for a total of 30 points + possible laude).

Assessment criteria and thresholds of evaluation:

30 cum laude: Excellent as to knowledge, terminology and critical expression.

30: Excellent, knowledge is complete, well articulated and correctly expressed, although with some slight faults.

27-29: Good, knowledge comprehensive and satisfactory, essentially correct expression .

24-26: Fairly good, knowledge present in significant points, but not complete and not always expressed with correctness.

21-23: Sufficient, knowledge is sometimes superficial, but the guiding general thread is included. Expression and articulation incomplete and often not appropriate

18-21:.Almost sufficient, but knowledge present only on the surface. The guiding principle is not included with continuity. The expression and articulation of the speech show important gaps.

<18: Not sufficient, knowledge absent or very incomplete, lack of guidance in discipline, expression seriously deficient. Exam failed.

Teaching tools

Overhead Projector with PC.

Links to further information

http://www.disciplinefilosofiche.it

Office hours

See the website of Luca Guidetti