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

Learning outcomes

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

Course contents

The philosophy workshop has three main purposes: teaching writing skills and editorial conventions used in the scientific community; introducing the use of bibliographical tools; and introducing students to the reading of a philosophical text and the writing of a short essay on it. Workshop work requires regular attendance; therefore, to submit the final essay and qualify, students must attend at least 12 of the 15 classes (equivalent to 24 hours of face-to-face instruction).

The Philosophy degree program offers a variety of workshops to choose from (programs and instructors are available on the Philosophy degree program website). Each workshop is limited to a maximum of 40 participants. "Attending" refers to those attending the meetings in person or online, if this option is activated by the instructor. To register for the workshops, log in to Studenti On Line (studenti.unibo.it/sol/welcome.htm) with your credentials, click the "Prenotazioni" icon, and select the workshop you are interested in. Registration will be open for all workshops starting September 1, 2023, and will close automatically for each workshop after the first three sessions have been held. Only one workshop can be registered at a time. Each list will accept a maximum of 40 registrations.

Attendance will be verified by signature (or via the online platform for distance learning). Given the unfortunate cases of forged attendance signatures in previous years, please note that anyone found to have not provided even one in-person signature will be disqualified from the aptitude test for the current academic year. Students will therefore have to wait until the following academic year to be able to attend the Philosophy Workshop again. Similar measures will be taken against anyone submitting exercises copied in whole or in part from other people's texts, whether printed or digital. Please see the rules regarding plagiarism published on the degree program website.

Only in cases of justified inability to attend will a substitute program be arranged individually with the instructors responsible for the various modules. These cases are limited to the following: - individuals who work and cannot obtain a study permit to attend the Laboratory; those in this situation must notify the instructor at the beginning of the module, documenting their inability to attend with a statement from their employer; - individuals on Erasmus or Overseas programs; those in this situation must promptly notify the instructor of their inability to attend due to their stay abroad.

Specific instructions on writing will be provided during the workshop, but participants are still required to download the Guidelines for Writing the Final Essay, available on the Philosophy Degree Program website (corsi.unibo.it/laurea/Filosofia/laboratorio-di-filosofia-norme-per-la-redazione-del-saggio-finale).

This workshop will focus on reading Russell's Problems of Philosophy. Originally conceived as an introduction to philosophy, this work has enjoyed great success over time and continues to serve that purpose over a century after its first publication. At the same time, the work provides an effective systematic exposition of Russell's positions at the time it was written. Russell represents a crucial figure of the twentieth century as a logician, philosopher, and intellectual.

The work addresses epistemological and metaphysical questions (what can we know with certainty? What exists?), also through dialogue with key figures in the history of philosophy, such as Kant. The final chapter is dedicated to the value of studying philosophy. The position Russell defended is an original fusion of empiricism and Platonism. Even more than these positions, the way questions are posed and discussed has been highly influential, as we will attempt to demonstrate.

Readings/Bibliography

Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosoohy

Teaching methods

After a few introductory sessions on writing and composition principles and the use of bibliographical tools, the workshop will focus on the analysis and discussion of Bertrand Russell's text. The instructor will contextualize the text and present its main arguments. Afterward, workshop participants will divide into small groups and present the contents of one or more chapters of the book for general discussion.

Assessment methods

The final exam will involve the preparation of a written paper. The paper, between 2,000 and 3,000 words in length (excluding bibliography), must be submitted to the instructor by email at least 15 days before the exam.

The exam will assess the achievement of the learning objectives. The purpose of the exam is therefore to verify that the student has acquired the ability to produce a philosophical text, mastering the fundamental tools of philosophical writing.

The paper will focus on the workshop topics, incorporating the aspects each student has presented in the group presentation, or choosing others of their choice. Papers must be written in correct Italian and adhere to the writing standards learned during the first part of the workshop.

Teaching tools

Students who, for reasons related to disabilities or specific learning disorders (DSA), require compensatory or dispensatory tools must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it/per-studenti

Office hours

See the website of Daniele Sgaravatti