cherubino

Introduction to philosophical thought

Academic year: 2022-23
Course: Foundation Course Humanities
Credits: 3
Period: first semester

Number of hours: 24

Teacher(s): Annamaria Lossi ( lossi@iol.it )

Language of instruction English

Learning outcomes

The module in Introduction to Philosophical Thought aims at giving a global historical and theoretical outline of philosophy from the Antiquity. In this module foreign students will become familiar with philosophical concepts getting an elementary idea of the complex framework where Western thought can be inscribed. The general aim of the course is therefore to describe the main concepts historically and theoretically starting from the Greek origins.

Knowledge

The course will provide a brief overview on the most relevant concepts in Greek philosophy, especially in Plato and Aristotle.

Assessment criteria of knowledge

By the end of the course Students should be able to examine a philosophical text being aware of the narrative forms and specific language of expressing philosophy as a determined discourse with own theoretic features.

Skills

Students will be encouraged to reflect on philosophical textuality as eminent example of theoretical and argumentative narration.

Assessment criteria of skills

By the end of the course Students should be able to interpret a given philosophical text.

Behaviors

Conducting debate on philosophy and connect topical issues of the texts which have to be examined during the lectures.  erequisites

No prerequisites are required for this course.

Syllabus

1. Introduction to Philosophy: a problem of approach and approaches

2. Ancient philosophy: the archaic philosophers (part I)

3. Ancient philosophy: the archaic philosophers (part II)

4. Plato and Aristotle: an introduction to classical philosophy

5. Plato’s myth of the cave: reading and analysis

6. Plato’s myth of the cave: reading and analysis

7. Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Book I

8. Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Book I

9. Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Book I. Conclusions and information about the papers and exam (longer lecture)

Bibliography

Slides and works uploaded by the lecturer

Assessment methods

Attendance and active participation (20%)

Paper (40%)

Final oral exam (40%).

Back to top