The History of Philosophy course is a core course in Philosophy program (BA level) and has the following educational objectives:
1. to develop knowledge of the most important concepts and authors of modern and contemporary philosophy;
2. to promote an understanding of the historical and cultural contexts in which these concepts were formed
3. to develop the ability to apply the methods of analysis and historical-philosophical knowledge in the research work prior to the final examination
4. to foster learning skills and autonomy of judgement.
At the end of the course, students will be able to reflect on the topics addressed during the course, demonstrating that they have acquired a scientific attitude and have critical and self-critical capacity in relation to the texts discussed in the classroom.
In particular, students will have acquired
- ability to analyse a philosophical concept or problem from a theoretical as well as a historical-philosophical perspective;
- ability to detect contradictions in philosophical argumentation;
- ability to check the relevance and meaning of characteristic elements of conceptual expositions;
- ability to draw conclusions based on a plurality of observations and inferences.
These skills are also promoted through participation in seminars and through writing texts individually or in groups.
1. to develop knowledge of the most important concepts and authors of modern and contemporary philosophy;
2. to promote an understanding of the historical and cultural contexts in which these concepts were formed
3. to develop the ability to apply the methods of analysis and historical-philosophical knowledge in the research work prior to the final examination
4. to foster learning skills and autonomy of judgement.
At the end of the course, students will be able to reflect on the topics addressed during the course, demonstrating that they have acquired a scientific attitude and have critical and self-critical capacity in relation to the texts discussed in the classroom.
In particular, students will have acquired
- ability to analyse a philosophical concept or problem from a theoretical as well as a historical-philosophical perspective;
- ability to detect contradictions in philosophical argumentation;
- ability to check the relevance and meaning of characteristic elements of conceptual expositions;
- ability to draw conclusions based on a plurality of observations and inferences.
These skills are also promoted through participation in seminars and through writing texts individually or in groups.
teacher profile teaching materials
Module A.
The first part of the course will be devoted to providing the main terminological and semantic tools useful for investigating the galaxy of philosophies of habit, through the reconstruction of topical moments in Western thought from Aristotle to to current cognitive sciences.
Module B.
The second part of the course will be devoted to the analysis of the pragmatist philosophy of habit and custom, through the commentary of texts by Peirce, W. James, and J. Dewey.
D.U. 1:
1. C. Carlisle, On Habit, London, Routledge, 2014
D.U. 2:
2. Ch. S. Peirce, The Fixation of Belief, any edition
3. W. James, The Laws of Habits, «The Popular Science Monthly» 1887 (https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Popular_Science_Monthly/Volume_30/February_1887/The_Laws_of_Habit)
4. J. Dewey, Human Nature and Conduct, New York, Dover Publications, 2011.
Programme
The course intends to introduce the philosophical reflection, both historical and theoretical, on the concept of habit, in its various declinations - as individual and collective habits, as ethical habits, as bodily and mental habits, etc. - and in an interdisciplinary perspective.Module A.
The first part of the course will be devoted to providing the main terminological and semantic tools useful for investigating the galaxy of philosophies of habit, through the reconstruction of topical moments in Western thought from Aristotle to to current cognitive sciences.
Module B.
The second part of the course will be devoted to the analysis of the pragmatist philosophy of habit and custom, through the commentary of texts by Peirce, W. James, and J. Dewey.
Core Documentation
For Erasmus Students:D.U. 1:
1. C. Carlisle, On Habit, London, Routledge, 2014
D.U. 2:
2. Ch. S. Peirce, The Fixation of Belief, any edition
3. W. James, The Laws of Habits, «The Popular Science Monthly» 1887 (https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Popular_Science_Monthly/Volume_30/February_1887/The_Laws_of_Habit)
4. J. Dewey, Human Nature and Conduct, New York, Dover Publications, 2011.
Reference Bibliography
Tom Sparrow, Adam Hutchinson (eds), A History of Habit: From Aristotle to Bourdieu, Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2013. C. West, The American Evasion of Philosophy: A Genealogy of Pragmatism, The University of Wisconsin Press, Madison 1989. T. Dalton, Becoming John Dewey. Dilemmas of a Philosopher and Naturalist, Indiana University Press, Bloomington-Indianapolis 2022Attendance
Attendance is not mandatory.Type of evaluation
Verification of learning takes place through an oral test. The preparation of a written paper (in italian, english, french or portuguese) of 2,500 words is required to be discussed during the examination, which will focus on one or more of the adopted texts and will make use of the corresponding reference bibliography for further analysis. The paper must be sent to the teacher at least 15 days before the oral test (exam). For Erasmus students: the oral test can also be taken in English, French or Portuguese.