HISTORY OF ETHICAL AND RELIGIOUS THOUGHT

This course is part of the Master’s Degree of Philosophical Sciences and the inter-university Master’s Degree of Religious Studies. The objective of the course is to provide an overview of the main ethical and religious issues both from a theoretical point of view and, above all, from a historical point of view. Such an overview is crucial for the development of critical thinking and for understanding the theoretical reasons within the historical and social dimensions of the ethical and political challenges of modernity; as well as for a wise and thorough evaluation of religion. Particular attention is paid to an exhaustive reading and a critical analysis of the proposed philosophical works.

The course will allow students to:

A. 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;
B. Develop independent judgment for evaluating such issues;
C. Be able to critically analyze the texts proposed by the teacher;
D. Demonstrate good oral and written presentation skills, to be able to elaborate a philosophical argument using appropriate terms;
E. 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.

Knowledge of the general frameworks of history of moral philosophy and of philosophy of religions.

"Every religion is the only true one".

Simone Weil – described by Albert Camus as "the only great spirit of our time" – jotted down this provocative and paradoxical phrase in her "Notebooks" in 1941, while she was in Marseille, waiting to embark for the United States and England, intending to join the political organization France Libre, the French resistance movement led by Charles de Gaulle in London. During her time in Marseille, the young thinker experienced one of the most intensely fruitful periods of her life, both philosophically and spiritually. It is during this period that her reflections began to take shape, wherein she sought to deeply contemplate the religious experience in relation to ethics and mysticism, and to reconcile the unity, universality, and uniqueness of religions, exploring the possibility of a dialogue among them. These reflections would continue to occupy Weil's mind during her stay in the United States and London, forming the culmination of a philosophical path that began in high school with an essay on the concept of beauty and goodness. The course aims to investigate this path.

The student must choose to bring one of the following pairs of books to the exam:

S. Weil, Il bello e il bene, Mimesis, Sesto San Giovanni (MI) 2013;
S. Weil, Attesa di Dio, Adelphi, Milano 2008;
S. Weil, La persona e il sacro, Adelphi, Milano 2012.

Or, alternatively:

S. Weil, Il libro del potere, Chiarelettere, 2016;
S. Weil, La prima radice. Preludio ad una dichiarazione dei doveri verso l’essere umano, SE, Milano 1990.

The evaluation will be based on an 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. The grade of 30 cum laude will be awarded only 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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