The course of Philosophy of History is part of the program in Philosophy and it is included among the characterizing training activities. In addition to presenting the historical-theoretical lines of the theme of the course, there will be a critical analysis of the texts indicated in the program and an exposition of their effects on the context of today's philosophy.
The aim of the course is
- to provide the basic tools for understanding the vocabulary and some of the main problems involved in the development of the concepts addressed in the course;
-to improve the critical and argumentative skills of the students and to train them in the comparative analysis of the topics and authors taken into consideration.
At the end of the course students are expected to acquire the following skills:
- in-depth knowledge of the basic philosophical lexicon, also in relation to its historical evolution;
- understanding of the basic problems of metaphysics, logic and theory of knowledge, with attention to the different lines of the contemporary debate;
- ability to interpret and discuss the theses proposed by philosophical texts of reference;
- training in critical skills through comparison with other forms of knowledge of Western culture.
The aim of the course is
- to provide the basic tools for understanding the vocabulary and some of the main problems involved in the development of the concepts addressed in the course;
-to improve the critical and argumentative skills of the students and to train them in the comparative analysis of the topics and authors taken into consideration.
At the end of the course students are expected to acquire the following skills:
- in-depth knowledge of the basic philosophical lexicon, also in relation to its historical evolution;
- understanding of the basic problems of metaphysics, logic and theory of knowledge, with attention to the different lines of the contemporary debate;
- ability to interpret and discuss the theses proposed by philosophical texts of reference;
- training in critical skills through comparison with other forms of knowledge of Western culture.
teacher profile teaching materials
Module A (6 CFU)
The program of Module A will cover the following topics:
- Introduction to the historical-theoretical meanings of the notion of consciousness
- Exposition of some essays by William James regarding the philosophical problem of the "matter of mind" and of the nature and function of consciousness
- Exposition of Henri Bergson's theory of the immediate data of consciousness and the nature of temporality
Module B (6 CFU)
The program of Module B will cover the following topics:
- Exposition and analysis of John Dewey's theory of organic circuit
- Exposition and analysis of Maurice Merleau-Ponty's philosophical investigation of the relationship between the structure of behavior and consciousness
- Exposition and analysis of contemporary theories of 4E cognition (embodied, embedded, extended, and enactive).
Module A
William James, Are We Automata?, in Essays in Psychology, edited by F.H. Burkhardt, F. Bowers, and I.K. Skrupskelis. Introductions by W.R. Woodward, Harvard University Press 1984.
William James, Principles of Psychology. edited by F.H. Burkhardt, F. Bowers, and I.K. Skrupskelis. Introductions by R.B. Evans and G.E. Myers, Harvard University Press 1981, chapters VI and IX.
William James, Does consciousness exist?, in Essays in Radical Empiricism, edited by F.H. Burkhardt, F. Bowers, and I.K. Skrupskelis, Harvard University Press 1976
William James, The experience of activity, in Essays in Radical Empiricism, edited by F.H. Burkhardt, F. Bowers, and I.K. Skrupskelis, Harvard University Press 1976
Michela Bella, Ontology after Philosophical Psychology. The Continuity of Consciousness in William James's Philosophy of Mind, Lexington 2019, pp. 1-59.
Matthew Cobb, The Idea of the Brain: The Past and Future of Neuroscience, Basic Books 2020
Recommended texts.
Horace Kallen William James and Henri Bergson: A Study in Contrasting Theories of Life, Createspace Independent Pub 1914
Shaun Gallagher, Dan Zahavi, The Phenomenological Mind, Routledge 2021
Matthew Cobb, The Idea of the Brain: The Past and Future of Neuroscience, Basic Books 2020
Module B
John Dewey, The Reflex Arc Concept in Psychology, in "Psychological Review" 3, (1896), pp. 357-370
Maurice Merleau-Ponty, The Structure of Behavior, Duquesne University 1983
Shaun Gallagher, Embodied and Enactive Approaches to Cognition, Cambridge 2023
Recommended texts.
Emmanuel Alloa, Resistance of the Sensible World: An Introduction to Merleau-Ponty, Jane Todd (tr.), Fordham University Press, 2017
Matthew Cobb, The Idea of the Brain: The Past and Future of Neuroscience, Basic Books 2020
Programme
The course will examine the topic of consciousness through the analysis of some classic and contemporary texts from the philosophical, psychological and neuroscientific literature. Problematic issues regarding the nature and function of consciousness will be investigated from an interdisciplinary perspective that interweaves philosophy, psychology and cognitive sciences.Module A (6 CFU)
The program of Module A will cover the following topics:
- Introduction to the historical-theoretical meanings of the notion of consciousness
- Exposition of some essays by William James regarding the philosophical problem of the "matter of mind" and of the nature and function of consciousness
- Exposition of Henri Bergson's theory of the immediate data of consciousness and the nature of temporality
Module B (6 CFU)
The program of Module B will cover the following topics:
- Exposition and analysis of John Dewey's theory of organic circuit
- Exposition and analysis of Maurice Merleau-Ponty's philosophical investigation of the relationship between the structure of behavior and consciousness
- Exposition and analysis of contemporary theories of 4E cognition (embodied, embedded, extended, and enactive).
Core Documentation
For Erasmus students:Module A
William James, Are We Automata?, in Essays in Psychology, edited by F.H. Burkhardt, F. Bowers, and I.K. Skrupskelis. Introductions by W.R. Woodward, Harvard University Press 1984.
William James, Principles of Psychology. edited by F.H. Burkhardt, F. Bowers, and I.K. Skrupskelis. Introductions by R.B. Evans and G.E. Myers, Harvard University Press 1981, chapters VI and IX.
William James, Does consciousness exist?, in Essays in Radical Empiricism, edited by F.H. Burkhardt, F. Bowers, and I.K. Skrupskelis, Harvard University Press 1976
William James, The experience of activity, in Essays in Radical Empiricism, edited by F.H. Burkhardt, F. Bowers, and I.K. Skrupskelis, Harvard University Press 1976
Michela Bella, Ontology after Philosophical Psychology. The Continuity of Consciousness in William James's Philosophy of Mind, Lexington 2019, pp. 1-59.
Matthew Cobb, The Idea of the Brain: The Past and Future of Neuroscience, Basic Books 2020
Recommended texts.
Horace Kallen William James and Henri Bergson: A Study in Contrasting Theories of Life, Createspace Independent Pub 1914
Shaun Gallagher, Dan Zahavi, The Phenomenological Mind, Routledge 2021
Matthew Cobb, The Idea of the Brain: The Past and Future of Neuroscience, Basic Books 2020
Module B
John Dewey, The Reflex Arc Concept in Psychology, in "Psychological Review" 3, (1896), pp. 357-370
Maurice Merleau-Ponty, The Structure of Behavior, Duquesne University 1983
Shaun Gallagher, Embodied and Enactive Approaches to Cognition, Cambridge 2023
Recommended texts.
Emmanuel Alloa, Resistance of the Sensible World: An Introduction to Merleau-Ponty, Jane Todd (tr.), Fordham University Press, 2017
Matthew Cobb, The Idea of the Brain: The Past and Future of Neuroscience, Basic Books 2020
Attendance
Attendance is not mandatory but particularly recommended. It is recommended to attend the course starting from the second year. Non-attending students must contact the professor to arrange supplementary written work of 5 pages on one of the course texts. Additional study of a text to be chosen from those indicated in the "Reference Bibliography" section of this programme is also required.Type of evaluation
The evaluation takes place through a final oral examination on the topics and texts considered during the course and an evaluation of the active participation in class and in group works. The study by students attending the course of one of the "Recommended Texts" will be properly taken into account for the evaluation of the exam. Non-attending students must contact the professor to arrange supplementary written work of 5 pages on one of the course texts. Additional study of a text to be chosen from those indicated in the "Reference Bibliography" section of this programme is also required. ERASMUS students can do the examination in either English or French.