- Docente: Franco Bacchelli
- Credits: 6
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Philosophical Sciences (cod. 8773)
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from Apr 02, 2025 to May 16, 2025
Learning outcomes
The Philosophy Seminars aim to achieve the specific educational objectives of seminar teaching: (1) to train students in philosophical argumentation by encouraging discussions on topics and texts, including those in the original language, presented in meetings with Italian and foreign scholars; (2) to expand and deepen philosophical knowledge through participation in lectures given by specialists in various fields of philosophical knowledge; (3) to compare different methodological approaches to philosophy to complement the curricular teaching.
Course contents
Leopardi and the Philosophy of the Restoration
During the seminar, selected passages from the Operette morali and the Zibaldone will be commented on. The focus will be on the excerpts where there is a notable influence or open discussion especially regarding the works of Helvétius (De l'esprit), Dupuis (Abrégé de l'origine de tous les cultes), and Volney (Les ruines and La loi naturelle).
Attention will also be given to the critique of ancient slavery (Zibaldone § 912 and following, according to Leopardi's numbering) conducted by Linguet – "the brilliant Linguet" according to Marx.
Additionally, consideration will be given to both the main works of "libertine information" used by Leopardi (Bayle and Fontanelle) and the main works of Catholic controversial literature with which Count Monaldo tried to bring his son back to faith (mainly Lamennais and Father Valsecchi).
Readings/Bibliography
Bibliography
Any edition of the Operette morali is recommended, as long as it is complete, along with the edition of the Zibaldone included in Giacomo Leopardi, Tutte le opere, edited by Walter Binni, Vol. II, Firenze: Sansoni, 1979. At the beginning of the seminar, photocopies of the Zibaldone passages to be commented on will be distributed.
Sebastiano Timpanaro, Classicism and Enlightenment in 19th Century Italy, Firenze: Le Lettere, 2011
Sebastiano Timpanaro, The Philology of Giacomo Leopardi, Rome-Bari: Laterza, 1997, reprinted 2008.
Teaching methods
Lectures; during class the teacher reads, translates and comments on relevant textual passages and thematic nodes.
Assessment methods
Oral examination.
Teaching tools
Texts; during the course the teacher will provide handouts and translations students.
Office hours
See the website of Franco Bacchelli