Programme

The course aims to provide conceptual and historical tools around the philosophy of action, focusing on the analysis of the relationship between free will, determinism, intentionality, everyday life and the clothes of action. The first module is aimed at providing both a synthetic overview of the theories on free will in correlation also with the contemporary debate. The second module will focus on the specificity of habitual actions, which philosophy, also of analytical matrix, has only recently resumed to deal with, in a close dialogue with psychology, sociology and neuroscience. To this end, Bill Pollard's recent theory on habitual actions will be compared with elements derived from the nineteenth and twentieth century philosophical and psychological tradition, in order to identify the key elements for reflection on the relationship between action, freedom and habits.

Core Documentation

Unit 1:
1. M. De Caro, A. Lavazza, G. Sartori (a cura di), Siamo davvero liberi? Le neuroscienze e il mistero del libero arbitrio, Torino, Codice, 2019 (limitedly to Chapters 2, 3, 4, 9 and 12)

Unit 2:
2. M. Piazza, “Credenze, disposizioni, effetti e regimi”, in Id., Creature dell’abitudine. Abito, costume, seconda natura da Aristotele alle scienze cognitive, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2018, pp. 131-165 (§§ 1-5).
3. B. Pollard, “Habitual Actions”, in T. O’Connor, C. Sandis (ed. by), A Companion to the Philosophy of Action, Oxford, Wiley-Blackwell, 2010, pp. 74-81 (an Italian translation will be provided by the teacher for educational purposes).
4. B. Pollard, “Identification, Psychology, and Habits”, in New Waves in Philosophy of Action, edited by J. Aguilar, A. Buckareff and K. Frankish, 8 New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011, pp. 81–97 (an Italian translation will be provided by the teacher for educational purposes).

Reference Bibliography

M. De Caro, Il libero arbitrio. Un'introduzione. Rome-Bari, Laterza, 2004. M. De Caro, Azione, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008. D.M. Wegner, The Illusion of Conscious Will, New Edition, Boston, MIT Press, 2017. T. O’Connor, C. Sandis (ed. by), A Companion to the Philosophy of Action, Oxford, Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. J. Dancy, C. Sandis (ed. by), Philosopghy of Action: An Anthology, Oxford, Wiley-Blackwell, 2015. F. Emiliani, La realtà delle piccole cose. Psicologia del quotidiano. Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008. F. Caruana, I. Testa (eds.), Habits: Pragmatist Approaches from Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, and Social Theory, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2020.

Type of delivery of the course

The course includes: • Frontal teaching; • Discussions with students and debates on the topics covered; • At least one seminar related to the topics covered in the course. In the case of an extension of the health emergency by COVID-19 all the provisions governing the conduct of teaching activities and student evaluation will be implemented. In particular, the following modalities will apply: distance learning through the University platforms; oral examinations at a distance through the Microsoft Teams platform.

Attendance

Attendance is not mandatory.

Type of evaluation

Verification of learning takes place through an oral test. In relation to the texts listed in points 2-4, the preparation of a written paper of 2,500 words to be discussed during the examination is required (of course also using the texts listed at point 1). The paper must be sent to the teacher at least 15 days before the oral test (exam). In the case of an extension of the health emergency by COVID-19 all the provisions governing the conduct of teaching activities and student evaluation will be implemented. In particular, the following modalities will apply: distance learning through the University platforms; oral examinations at a distance through the Microsoft Teams platform.