Ateneo - UPO

ME AND THE OTHER: GABRIEL MARCEL

Excerpts and essays from: Essere e Avere, Edizioni Scientifiche Italiane, Naples 1999; Homo viator, Borla, Rome 1980, Il mistero dell'essere, Borla, Roma 1987.
Any other readings will be indicated at the beginning of the course.

The course aims, at a basic level:
- (knowledge and skills): the acquisition of basic notions of moral philosophy, through a methodological approach and with reference to the history of philosophical thought.
- (ability to apply knowledge and understanding): ability to frame the themes and problems of the discipline, in the texts and contexts covered in the course.
- (transversal skills): ability to carefully analyze the positions of the author and to be able to summarize them in a coherent path.
At a more advanced level, the objective of the course is:
- (knowledge and understanding): the acquisition of an articulated knowledge on the main thematic issues of moral philosophy.
- (ability to apply knowledge and understanding): the improvement of the student's ability to orient himself in the interpretation of philosophical texts of contemporary thought and to connect them to the theoretical-conceptual path of the discipline.
- (transversal skills): the student will be enabled to express critical judgments on themes and authors, using a terminologically precise and rigorous language.

No prerequisites are required, even though a knowledge of the essential notions of Moral Philosophy has already been acquired with the course of Moral Hilosophy (first year). The course provides basic and advanced knowledge in the disciplinary area of Moral Philosophy, with attention to the relational nature of the moral subject.

Lectures, analysis and commentary of texts, group discussions.

The course will be held in the first semester.
Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The final exam includes an oral exam of 20 minutes, with which to verify the knowledge inserted between the objectives and the expected learning outcomes. The interview is structured in 2 sections: 1) at least two questions on the part concerning the philosophy of Gabriel Marcel; 2) at least two questions on the part concerning the commentary readings.

The exam will have a positive result if the sum of 18/30 is reached or exceeded. The formulation of the overall grade will be based on the following elements: answers to questions from Section 1: 40% of the evaluation; answers to questions in Section 2: 40% of the evaluation. Exposure attentive to the precision of the terminology and to the argumentative correctness: 20%.
To achieve a sufficient grade, the student must show that he knows and has understood at least the basic aspects of the topics and texts addressed. The honors will be awarded based on the assessment of accuracy, depth and ability to process the response.

The course focuses on the thought of Gabriel Marcel, as regards the experience of otherness and the relational conception of the subject, in its ontological and ethical-practical dimensions. The moral subject is constitutively open to the other and intimately inhabited by otherness. In this way he is able to challenge the demands of a self-centered and absolute subject. The self-other relationship is investigated in its many aspects and can also be extended to gender issues.

In order to achieve the knowledge, skills and abilities corresponding to the basic level, the student is asked to demonstrate:
- (knowledge and understanding): the acquisition of the fundamental problems and themes of moral philosophy;
- (ability to apply knowledge and understanding): the ability to deal with philosophical texts and to connect them to the theoretical-conceptual path of the discipline;
- (autonomy of judgment): to be able to discuss the philosophical perspectives and the leading themes addressed;
- (communication skills): to be able to present the topics of the course in a clear and appropriate way;
- (learning ability): to adopt the methodological approach provided in the course for understanding the proposed path.
For the achievement of an advanced level, the student must demonstrate that:
- (knowledge and understanding): knowing how to deal with classical texts, identifying the fundamental thematic nodes in their peculiar declinations;
- (ability to apply knowledge and understanding): knowing how to expose and discuss the position of the Author, even with textual references, using the fundamental concepts of the discipline appropriately;
- (autonomy of judgment): knowing how to deal appropriately with the subject, even with a well-argued personal perspective;
- (communication skills): knowing how to articulate interventions, interacting in the discussion and learning transmission methods also from a didactic perspective;
- (learning ability): knowing how to proceed with the analysis, synthesis and interpretative understanding of texts, also in relation to a didactic application of philosophical knowledge in teaching.