HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY A - L

The course comprises an institutional part (textbook) and an in-depth part (monographic part).

The institutional part provides a basic knowledge of the history of Western philosophy, with particular reference to the authors and currents listed below: Giordano Bruno; Scientific thought in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries: Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler, Galilei, Newton; Modern philosophy: Bacon, Descartes, Cartesianism and Jansenism, Hobbes, Pascal, Spinoza, Locke, Leibniz, Vico, Berkeley, Hume, the Enlightenment, Kant, the opposition between rationalism and empiricism (text 1)

The monographic part includes two in-depth thematic studies: The first is entitled ‘Philosophy, environment and reality’ (texts 2 and 3); the second is entitled ‘Personal development and happiness’ (text 4).

The final learning assessment takes place in oral form (interview). In the event of a high number of bookings, it may be accompanied by a preliminary written test with multiple-choice answers, which will take place in the classroom on the days of the examinations, prior to the interview. Notice of this method will be given immediately after the closing of bookings for each session. During the course of the lectures, two in-progress (optional) tests are also held to help students check their level of learning. Students who take part in the in-progress comparison and verification activities during the lessons may be exempted from presenting certain parts of the programme during the final examination, in accordance with procedures that will be communicated at the beginning of the course in relation to the number of students attending.

As a general guideline, the assessment criteria adopted are set out below: Adequacy of expression and clarity of exposition; Ability to rework knowledge; Ability to organise knowledge thematically and to make connections between different authors and/or problems, correctly arguing the reasons for any proposed connections; Breadth of thematic awareness and lexical correctness; Capacity for critical investigation; Ability to make interdisciplinary connections.