HISTORY OF MORAL PHILOSOPHY

This course is part of the Master’s Degree of Philosophical Sciences. Its objective is to provide knowledge on the main ethical issues from a theoretical point of view and in their historical development. This knowledge is crucial for students to acquire the ability to think critically and to identify the theoretical, historical, and social dimensions of the multiple ethical and political challenges of the contemporary world and to evaluate them in a concise and in-depth manner. Particular attention is paid to a thorough reading and a critical analysis of the proposed philosophical works.

Regular attendance and diligent individual study will allow students to:
a. gain an in-depth knowledge of basic philosophical terminology and understand the texts in which it is used;
b. understand the discipline’s fundamental issues and paths both from a conceptual point of view and from a historical point of view, which means to study them intelligently, grasping their sense and articulation;
c. develop independent judgment for evaluating such issues;
d. be able to critically analyze the texts proposed by the teacher;
e. demonstrate good oral and written presentation skills, in order to be able to elaborate a philosophical argument using appropriate terms;
f. finally, because it is a moral discipline, students should be aware that this course is not aimed at mere acquisition of knowledge, but also at developing a philosophical practice, as was the case in antiquity. Therefore, the course focuses on the issue of the construction of the self in philosophy as a way of life and as a way of thinking.

General knowledge of history of philosophy and moral philosophy acquired during the Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy basic courses.

Therapy for the soul: “For just as no human body is perfect, so neither is any self.” (S. Kierkegaard, “The Sickness Unto Death”).
In his writings, Kierkegaard has drawn a precise diagnosis of diseases of the soul such as boredom, anxiety, melancholy. He indicated a possible radical cure to them in taking on an ethical-religious perspective. The course aims to analyze some of Kierkegaard’s works that examines the psychological, moral and religious dimension of the human being, trying to indicate the path in which Kierkegaard urged us to go to become a “self”, thus primarily responsible for our own care.

Students should choose two of the following Kierkegaard’s works:

S. Kierkegaard, L’arte di sconfiggere la noia, trad.it. di L. Liva, Genova, il melangolo, 2015;
S. Kierkegaard, Il concetto dell’angoscia, trad.it. di C. Fabro, in S. Kierkegaard. Le grandi opere filosofiche e teologiche, Milano, Bompiani, 2013;
S. Kierkegaard, La malattia mortale, trad.it. di C. Fabro, in S. Kierkegaard. Le grandi opere filosofiche e teologiche, Milano, Bompiani, 2013.

Additional Readings:
Sudents should also choose one of the following texts:

• R. Garaventa, "Angoscia", Napoli, Guida, 2006;
• S. Berardini, “La malattia per la morte” di Kierkegaard, Roma, Aracne, 2010.

The evaluation will be based on a oral exam. The assessment will concern the knowledge and the clear exposition of themes and problems of the course.

The teaching is organized in a series of lectures.

Italian

Ca' Foscari applies Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

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