28488 - History of Philosophy (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The student is able to identify and clarify the main theoretical issues of the philosophical debate and will develop an understanding of the relevant authors and topics, making constant reference to the historical context. There will be a particular focus on the study of images (representations, metaphors, figures, etc.) through which philosophical problems have been thought. The primary texts will be accompanied by a reading list of secondary texts, by means of which the student can explore the plurality of historiographical interpretations of this theme.

Course contents

Two Portraits:

Philosophical Questions in Vincent van Gogh and Paul Klee

The course will be dedicated to exploring the philosophical thought of two of the greatest artists of our contemporary era: Vincent van Gogh and Paul Klee.

Starting with the analysis of the formal elements (figure, form, colour, etc.) of their respective pictorial works, the course aims to identify and discuss the philosophical elements that characterize their artistic output and, more generally, the overall theoretical perspective of the two artists.

Particular emphasis will be placed on the reflection these two artists undertake regarding the philosophical meaning of nature and the creative (and self-reflective) role of the subject. This reconstruction will be carried out with constant reference to their historical-philosophical context.

 

Starting date: 8nd April 2025

 Wednesday, 17:00 - 19:00, aula Picchi (Palazzo Marescotti, via Barberia 4)

Thursday, 15:00 - 17:00, aula Secci (Palazzo Marescotti, via Barberia 4)

Friday, 15:00 - 17:00, aula Secci (Palazzo Marescotti, via Barberia 4)

 

Readings/Bibliography

1. Primary readings:

Selected parts * of these texts:

V. van Gogh, Scrivere la vita. 265 lettere e 110 schizzi originali, a cura di Leo Jansen, Hans Luijten, Nienke Bakker, Donzelli 2019

V. van Gogh, Lettere a Theo, a cura di Massimo Cescon, con un saggio introduttivo di Karl Jaspers, Guanda 1984

P. Klee, Diari 1898-1918, Il Saggiatore 2016

P. Klee, Teoria della forma e della figurazione, Feltrinelli

 

* The selected parts of the texts will be provided in a handout (See Teaching Resources)

 

2. Critical readings (two texts [one text on van Gogh and one text on Klee] of your choise):

G. Di Giacomo, Introduzione a Klee, Laterza 2003

W. Grohmann, Paul Klee, Sansoni 1954 (oppure Garzanti 1991)

P. Cherchi, Paul Klee teorico, De Donato 1978

J. Rewald, Il Postimpressionismo. Da van Gogh a Gauguin, Sansoni, Firenze 1967

R. de Leeuw, Van Gogh, Giunti, Firenze 1988

P. Lecaldano (a cura di), L'opera pittorica completa di van Gogh e i suoi nessi grafici, Rizzoli, Milano 1971

M. Cacciari, Van Gogh. Per un autoritratto, Morcelliana 2025

 

                                              °°°°°

Optional activity

Students who want to deepen their understanding of the history of twentieth-century philosophy, can refer to one of these handbooks:

Lucio Cortella, La filosofia contemporanea. Dal paradigma soggettivista a quello linguistico, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2020

Fabio Cioffi et al., Il testo filosofico, Mondadori, Milano 1992 e seguenti

Mario Dal Pra, Sommario di storia della filosofia, La Nuova Italia, Firenze 1987

Students who want to deepen their understanding of art history, can refer to this handbook: Arte nel tempo (3 voll.), a cura di Pierluigi De Vecchi e Elda Cerchiari Necchi (Sansoni, Milano 2020)

                                                 °°°°°

 

The programme is the same both for students who attend the lectures and those who don’t.

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures with discussions in class of the most crucial issues

Assessment methods

The final oral exam focuses on the programme material and will be held in Professor Imbriano’s office, via Barberia, 4.

Students will be examined on their knowledge of fundamental concepts, their level of analysis and their critical skills.

On the basis of these three principal parameters an overall evaluation is expressed out of a total of 30.

Evaluation of level:

18-21 Low/Sufficient

22-25 Medium

26-28 Good/very good

29-30 High

30 L Excellent

 

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities

It is necessary to contact the relevant University office with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

 

Teaching tools

Traditional lectures with the support of Power Point

Office hours

See the website of Gennaro Imbriano