PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY II

The course is part of a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy. According to the goals of the degree program, its primary objective is to develop students' critical thinking skills, equipping them with suitable methodological tools to develop critical awareness concerning the past and the present of the cultural contexts in which they have to take moral responsibility and take on an active role.

The course 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 studying 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, 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.

The only prerequisite is to have a solid cultural foundation.

Ethics, Religion and History in Blaise Pascal

It is possible to distinguish in Pascal's "Fragments" two different conceptions of man. The first anthropology, simple, based on the opposition of misery/greatness, is used mainly for apologetic purposes, and the second one, more complex and profound, anticipates some themes developed later by existentialism. This second anthropology evokes existential themes such as boredom, glory, injustice, imagination and fun, consciousness of death, etc., and considers for the first time human existence in and of itself, giving rise to a new and original conception of morality and history. The course finally focuses on the different uses that the two greatest writers of Russian literature, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, made of Pascal's fragments.

Reference Texts

B. Pascal, "Frammenti", tr. it. di E. Balmas, Rizzoli, Milano 1994.

The student must also bring to the exam one of the selected stories by Dostoevsky and Tolstoy listed below:

F. M. Dostoevskij, Memorie del sottosuolo;
F. M. Dostoevskij, Il sogno di un uomo ridicolo;
L. N. Tolstoj, La morte di Ivan Il'ic;
L. N. Tolstoj, Padre Sergio.

And finally, one of the following texts:

I. Adinolfi - G. Brianese, “Il paradiso sulla terra”. La religione di Dostoevskij e Tolstoj, il melangolo, Genova 2024;
A. Collini, Epifanie di morte. Tolstoj in dialogo con Pascal, forthcoming by il melangolo..

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.
A. Scores in the range of 18-22 will be awarded to those who demonstrate:
• sufficient knowledge and understanding of the program.
B. Scores in the range of 23-26 will be awarded to those who demonstrate:
• a fair knowledge and understanding of the program.
C. Scores in the range of 27-30 will be awarded to those who demonstrate:
• good or excellent knowledge and understanding of the program.
D. Honors will be awarded to those who demonstrate:
• outstanding knowledge and understanding of the program.

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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