Ateneo - UPO

Reality and realism in contemporary philosophy, analytic and continental. The course aims to analyze the evolution of the concept of reality in contemporary thought, from Kant to Foucault.

T. Kuhn, La struttura delle rivoluzioni scientifiche, Torino, Einaudi, 2009. M. Heidegger, Che cos’è metafisica? Adelphi, Milano, 2019. Manuale consigliato (in particolare per chi non ha studiato filosofia alle scuole superiori): G. Cambiano, M. Mori, Storia della filosofia contemporanea, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2014 (le parti dedicate agli autori citati nel programma).

1) Knowledge: at the first level, it is required to have a general knowledge of modern and contemporary philosophical texts, authors and currents. At an advanced level, students are required to have a thorough knowledge of the texts, knowing how to move within the specific work of each author. 2) Mastery of the disciplinary scientific vocabulary: at the first level, it is required to know and master the scientific vocabulary of each author, knowing how to explain philosophical concepts in a clear, simple but exhaustive manner. At an advanced level, students are required to have a broad command of the scientific vocabulary, which must be used consciously and critically 3) Ability to compare, identify and make connections between authors and different philosophical theories: at a basic level, one is required to be able to compare texts and interpretations of philosophers, identifying general correlations between concepts. At a more advanced level, one is required to critically compare texts and concepts, also highlighting problematic aspects. 4) At a basic level, the ability to communicate content clearly and comprehensively for didactic purposes is required. 4b) Ability to use philosophical tools and contents to analyse and address issues and problems related to the contemporary world: At an advanced level, the ability to use the tools and conceptual devices provided by philosophers to analyse the contemporary world is required. 5) Argumentation ability: at a basic level it is required to know how to develop a clear, simple and linear philosophical argumentation. At an advanced level, one is required to mobilise the learned resources to develop an autonomous interpretation of texts and authors.

General knowledge of ancient and medieval philosophy.

Lectures, seminar discussions. During the lessons, professor will present an author or a philosophical current, critically analysing philosophical texts. Short passages from the texts, PPT and PDF presentations, and further supplementary material will be made available on DIR.

Please register to DIR platform. 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/servicesstudents-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.

Written and oral examination (NB: the written examination will only be held during the first session. For subsequent sessions, the examination will be exclusively oral). In particular, in the written test, knowledge of contemporary philosophical theories that have been studied and analysed during the course will be tested. In the oral test, on the other hand, you will be asked to develop an interpretation of the authors and currents. As regards the written test: at a first level, the student is required to set out in a clear and linear manner the thought of an author or a philosophical current, using an adequate scientific-disciplinary vocabulary. At a more advanced level you are required to highlight the nuances and problematics of the thought of an author or a philosophical current, using an articulate and complete disciplinary vocabulary. With regard to the oral examination: at a first level, students are required to be able to examine the interpretations of the classics proposed by contemporary authors and, at a more advanced level, they are required to be able to move between the different interpretations and analyse the problematic nature of these, also advancing autonomous critical reflections. The assessment of the written and oral examination will be awarded on the basis of the expected learning outcomes.

Particular attention will be paid to epistemological issues and philosophical anthropology, examining analogies and differences between the analytical and continental approaches. The authors examined will be: Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, The Hegelian Left and Marx, Mill, Nietzsche, Bergson, Husserl, Heidegger, structuralism, the Vienna Circle and Popper, Kuhn, Foucault.

1) Understand the significance and importance of the debate on reality in the authors of contemporary philosophy and in philosophical debate. 2) To know the role played by contemporary philosophical theories on the relationship between certainty, truth and reality. 3) To know the gnoseology and epistemology of contemporary authors. 4) Read independently and critically the philosophical texts of contemporary authors. 5) Get to know Kuhn's interpretation and his analysis of the concept of paradigm. 6) Mastering historiographical concepts and categories, using an adequate scientific disciplinary vocabulary 7) Argue independently using the philosophical concepts of contemporary thought. These knowledge, skills and abilities will be verified in the written and oral test to be held at the end of the course.