Ateneo - UPO

David Hume: a Godless Philosophy

1) David Hume, Trattato sulla natura umana, Bari, Laterza, 2010
2) David Hume, Dialoghi sulla religion naturale, a cura di Gianni Paganini, Milano, Rizzoli, 2013
3) G. Mori, L'ateismo dei moderni, Roma, Carocci, 2016

The basic training objectives are as follows:
1. [Knowledge and understanding] provide the student with sufficient knowledge of the main topics covered in the course in their philosophical and historical implications
2. [Ability to apply knowledge and understanding]: allow the student to reconstruct briefly, on the basis of the notions acquired, the historical path traced in the course
3. [communicative skills]: to come to expose the knowledge learned in a clear and sufficiently detailed way.

The lecturer will give a few introductory classes devoted to providing basic knowledge of general topics of contemporary history. However, it will be structured as a seminar dealing with specific issues. Therefore, participants are expected to possess basic knowledge of events and processes of contemporary history such as imperialism, industrial revolution, globalization, decolonization, world wars, fascist regimes. Students who have not taken any exam in contemporary history during their bachelor or have taken the exam many years back, are advised to review a school or university textbook before or during the first course weeks to absorb these basic notions.

Oral courses

The final examination consists, for the first module, of an oral examination, structured as follows: 1) verification of the knowledge acquired during the course (question like: "What is the role of God in the Treatise on Human Nature?"); 2) verification of the ability to reconstruct, on the basis of the knowledge acquired, the philosophical arguments discussed in the module (question like: "What is Hume's theory on the possibility of a 'natural religion'?"); 3) verification of the ability to effectively communicate the notions and arguments.
The test consists of at least 3 questions The grade is expressed in thirtieths and the evaluation is carried out according to the following parameters: 1) knowledge and understanding of the main themes of the module: 18 points out of 30 (sufficiency); 2) ability to analyse the theories and arguments studied: 6 points out of 30; 3) ability to clearly and accurately present the knowledge acquired during the module: 6 points out of 30.

The course aims to highlight a neglected aspect of Hume's philosophy, namely the fact that it constitutes the first example of a 'godless philosophy' capable of competing with the most important contemporary philosophical systems. From this point of view, Hume's positions in Treatise on Human Nature and Dialogues on Natural Religion will be analysed.

Regarding the knowledge, skills and abilities corresponding to the basic level, the student will have to demonstrate:
1. [Knowledge and understanding] provide the student with sufficient knowledge of the main topics covered in the course in their philosophical and historical implications
2. [Ability to apply knowledge and understanding]: allow the student to reconstruct briefly, on the basis of the knowledge acquired, the historical path traced in the course
3. [communicative skills]: to come to expose the knowledge learned in a clear and sufficiently detailed way.