04385 - History of Modern Philosophy

Learning outcomes

The course intends to provide basic knowledge within the field of the history of modern philosophy, through the analysis of significant traditions, moments and figures in the historical and philosophical contexts between XVIth and XVIIIth centuries.

 

Course contents

Rousseau: Critique and Crisis of Modernity

 

The course will deal with Rousseau's moral and political thought on the bedrock of his "philosophy of history". Particular attention will be paid to the concept of "civilisation" (Discours) and to the political theory (Contrat social) in the context of modern Contractualism.

Dr. Gennaro Imbriano's Seminar will focus on Hegelian and Marxian critique of political Enlightenment. 

Readings/Bibliography

1. Compulsory readings

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Scritti politici, vol. I, Laterza, Rome-Bari 2009

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Il contratto sociale, Feltrinelli, Milan 2003

 

 2. Students are required to choose 2 texts from the following:

N. Bobbio – M. Bovero, Società e stato nella filosofia politica moderna, Il Saggiatore, Milan 1979

J. Starobinski, Rousseau, il Mulino, Bologna 1982

É. Weil, Dell’interesse per la storia, Bibliopolis, Naples 1983

J.W. Gough, Il contratto sociale. Storia critica di una teoria, il Mulino, Bologna 1986

A. Burgio, Eguaglianza Interesse Unanimità. La politica di Rousseau, Bibliopolis, Naples 1989

R. Derathé, Rousseau e la scienza politica del suo tempo, il Mulino, Bologna 1993

A. Burgio, Rousseau: la politica e la storia. Tra Montesquieu e Robespierre, Guerini, Milan 1996

A. Burgio, Strutture e catastrofi. Kant, Hegel, Marx, Editori Riuniti, Rome 2000

F. Cerrato. Un secolo di passioni e politica. Hobbes, Descartes, Spinoza, DeriveApprodi, Rome 2012

A. Burgio, Rousseau e gli altri. Teoria e critica della democrazia tra Sette e Novecento, DeriveApprodi, Rome 2012

 

 NB

For the oral exam, students are required to study the fundamental authors and themes of the History of Philosophy from the 16th to the 18th century (a list will be available online).

Teaching methods

Lessons.

Assessment methods

 

The final oral examination will verify the acquired knowledge in the following three areas: (1) history of modern philosophy between the XVIth and XVIIIth centuries (see the list of themes and authors published in Didactic Tools); (2) bibliography of the course and the texts commented in class (which will be published in the section Didactic Tools); (3) the texts discussed during the seminar (which will be published in the section Didactic Tools).

The seminar is optional. Students who will confer on seminar’s topic are requiered for the exam only one (and not two) texts of secondary literature.

Teaching tools

Frontal lessons

Office hours

See the website of Alberto Burgio