27985 - Moral Philosophy (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will have improved their methods for reading texts and analyzing issues of Moral Philosophy, with special focus on their abilities in reconstruction and historical-critical analysis, bibliographic recognition, written and oral language and exposition. By making constant reference to historiographic traditions, the course also aims at stimulating and inspiring the first autonomous research hypotheses in students. 

Course contents

Course title: Order and Good (between the Middle Ages and the Modern Age).

Contents: “order” and “good" as key distinguishing concepts between moral and politics; the caesura between Middle Age parameters and beginning of Modern Age; the issue of “conflict”; passions.

First lecture: March 8th, 2010. Days and place: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Via Zamboni 34, room A. Course mode: intensive, second semester.   

Readings/Bibliography

B) Three authors (and their interpretative text) from the following groups (one author per group mandatory):

First group:

A) - Paolo di Tarso, Lettere, edited by G. Barbaglio, Milano, Rizzoli, 1997: Ia Corinti; Galati; Romani; Filemone; Efesini; Iª Timoteo; Tito.

- M.F.  Baslez, Paolo di Tarso, l'apostolo delle genti, Torino, SEI, 1992.

 

B) - Agostino di Tagaste, La città di Dio(any edition): books I-V, XII-

XIII, XVIII-XIX.

- P. Brown, Religione e società nell'età di S. Agostino, Torino, Einaudi, 1973.

 

C)     -Tommaso d'Aquino, Scritti politici, with introductory studies by A. Passerin D'Entrevès and R. Spiazzi, Milano, Massimo, 1985, pages 7-73 and 78-230.

- E. Berti, Il bene in Tommaso d'Aquino, in “Filosofia politica”, 2 (1988), pages 323-343.

 

 

Second group:

A)     - B. Spinoza, Trattato teologico-politico, edited by A. Droetto and E. Giancotti, Torino, Einaudi.

- L. Bove, La strategia del conatus. Affermazione e resistenza in Spinoza, Milano, Ghibli, 2002.

 

B)     - J. Locke, Due Trattati sul governo, edited by L. Pareyson, Torino, Utet, 1982/3.

- W. Euchner, La filosofia politica di Locke, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1976.

 

C)      - J.-J. Rousseau: - Discorso sull'origine e i fondamenti della disuguaglianza;

- Del contratto sociale

( both in any edition)

         - J. Starobinski, Jean-Jacques Rousseau. La trasparenza e l'ostacolo, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1982.

N.B.: Students who attend lectures will be able to agree different readings on the topics dealt with in class with the lecturer.

Teaching methods

Lectures include both direct and commented reading of texts, and synthetic reconstruction of issues and thoughts. Special focus will be placed on the interaction with students (debates, short essays, etc.).

Assessment methods

Final assessment (oral exam). For students who attend lectures, it can also be on another text, upon previous agreement with the lecturer. 

Teaching tools

Recommended reading, plus photocopies and slides used during lectures.

Office hours

See the website of Riccardo Caporali