The course seeks to explore the connections between the processes of construction of the social world and the significance of both citizenship and its responsible exercise within the framework of today’s liberal democracy in the perspective of contemporary political and social philosophy and in the light of the ongoing process of digitalization. The examination of the main tools, languages and operating modalities that are characterize the Digital Society serves as a starting point for an existentially oriented assessment of the impact that the ongoing technological transformation are having, and will continue to have, on the perception and experience of citizenship and of the exercise of rights and duties related to the latter within the framework of liberal-democratic political culture. The learning objectives of the course are the following:
• achieving an advanced level of knowledge regarding the theories that explain the construction of the social world through the acquisition of a good understanding of its basic vocabulary
• achieving an advanced level of knowledge of the theories about the interaction between the digital transformation of the social space and the self-perception of subjects having the power to make sense of themselves and of their roles, to act accordingly and to provide recognition to others
• formulating solid hypotheses on the prospects of communicative action, which is the core of the practice of democratic citizenship, within the framework of the Digital Society and critically evaluating their possible effects
• achieving an advanced level of knowledge regarding the theories that explain the construction of the social world through the acquisition of a good understanding of its basic vocabulary
• achieving an advanced level of knowledge of the theories about the interaction between the digital transformation of the social space and the self-perception of subjects having the power to make sense of themselves and of their roles, to act accordingly and to provide recognition to others
• formulating solid hypotheses on the prospects of communicative action, which is the core of the practice of democratic citizenship, within the framework of the Digital Society and critically evaluating their possible effects
teacher profile teaching materials
2) Roberto Finelli, Filosofia e tecnologia. Una via di uscitadalla mente digitale, Rosenberg & Sellier, Torino 2022 (ISBN 979-12-5993-035-4)
Programme
Starting from an examination of today's political theories of citizenship, the course aims to critically and meta-critically analyze the relationships between mind, language and the state of advancement of information technologies given that the latter determined epochal changes. In the first part of the course we will examine the following topics: possible solutions of the mind-body problem; intentionality of perception and action; language functions; language and meaning; to know and to interpret; free will and citizenship rights; ontology of power.In the second part of the course we will examine the following topics: philosophy and technology; politics and technology; anthropology and technology; reason, passion and the digital life; political responsibility and artificial intelligence; the post-heideggerian critique of technology.Core Documentation
1) John R. Searle, Il mistero della realtà, a cura di P. Di Lucia e L. Passerini Glazel, Raffaello Cortina Editore, Milano 2019 (ISBN 978-88-3285-070-3)2) Roberto Finelli, Filosofia e tecnologia. Una via di uscitadalla mente digitale, Rosenberg & Sellier, Torino 2022 (ISBN 979-12-5993-035-4)
Type of delivery of the course
Class proceedings consist of inter-active lectures based upon the use of the ‘Socratic method’. Each session introduces the students to a specific topic through expository and exegetical work. The teacher will draw attention to the key points in the texts on the basis of adequate contextualization, and to difficulties of interpretation. The teacher will also refer to the key issues in current debates through relevant examples, cases and comparisons. Each session, for which students have read materials previously assigned, requires active participation. Debating is an indispensable feature of class proceedings. The possible contribution by one or two qualified guest-lecturers will be sought and audio-video materials will be employed for support.Type of evaluation
The final evaluation is based upon an oral exam.