The Language of Philosophy
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
L'insegnamento si propone di introdurre le studentesse e gli studenti ai concetti e ai termini fondamentali della filosofia, di avvicinarli alla lettura di testi di primaria importanza per la storia della disciplina, con particolare attenzione alle loro strutture argomentative, e di presentare alcuni dei principali dibattiti filosofici.
Expected learning outcomes
Conoscenza e comprensione
Al termine dell'insegnamento, le studentesse e gli studenti saranno in grado di:
- Spiegare in modo rigoroso il significato dei concetti e dei termini fondamentali della filosofia;
- Analizzare in modo critico un testo filosofico;
- Presentare in modo consapevole i dibattiti filosofici affrontati dall'insegnamento, confrontando le differenti posizioni e le obiezioni più rilevanti;
- Riconoscere e spiegare il lessico e i dibattiti oggetto dell'insegnamento anche in relazione a ulteriori ulteriori testi.
Capacità di applicare conoscenza e comprensione
Al termine del percorso gli studenti saranno in grado di:
- analizzare criticamente un testo filosofico
- analizzare dibattiti nell'ambito della filosofia e della filosofia del linguaggio
- applicare metodologie e strumenti per la comprensione dei testi e dei dibattiti analizzati.
Al termine dell'insegnamento, le studentesse e gli studenti saranno in grado di:
- Spiegare in modo rigoroso il significato dei concetti e dei termini fondamentali della filosofia;
- Analizzare in modo critico un testo filosofico;
- Presentare in modo consapevole i dibattiti filosofici affrontati dall'insegnamento, confrontando le differenti posizioni e le obiezioni più rilevanti;
- Riconoscere e spiegare il lessico e i dibattiti oggetto dell'insegnamento anche in relazione a ulteriori ulteriori testi.
Capacità di applicare conoscenza e comprensione
Al termine del percorso gli studenti saranno in grado di:
- analizzare criticamente un testo filosofico
- analizzare dibattiti nell'ambito della filosofia e della filosofia del linguaggio
- applicare metodologie e strumenti per la comprensione dei testi e dei dibattiti analizzati.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Title: Can a war be just? How to defend a thesis with a good argument.
It is extremely important to be able to distinguish between good and bad arguments, but it is not easy to do so and a specific training in critical thinking helps to acquire this competence. Great philosophers are masters in the art of arguing.
In the class students will engage in critical thinking. This means that they will be able to identify the arguments developed by philosophers as well as the arguments one can find in newspapers. They will acquire the capacity to reconstruct of arguments, which involves the capacity to identify premises and conclusions even when implicit, they will recognize fallacies and avoid them, they will construct counterexamples.
In the first part of the course the students will analyze arguments in defense of pacifism and arguments in defense of the claim that there can be just wars. In the second part of the course the students will acquire the techniques for constructing and evaluating arguments. In the third part of the course the students will read and analyze relevant papers in the literature on just war theories.
It is extremely important to be able to distinguish between good and bad arguments, but it is not easy to do so and a specific training in critical thinking helps to acquire this competence. Great philosophers are masters in the art of arguing.
In the class students will engage in critical thinking. This means that they will be able to identify the arguments developed by philosophers as well as the arguments one can find in newspapers. They will acquire the capacity to reconstruct of arguments, which involves the capacity to identify premises and conclusions even when implicit, they will recognize fallacies and avoid them, they will construct counterexamples.
In the first part of the course the students will analyze arguments in defense of pacifism and arguments in defense of the claim that there can be just wars. In the second part of the course the students will acquire the techniques for constructing and evaluating arguments. In the third part of the course the students will read and analyze relevant papers in the literature on just war theories.
Prerequisites for admission
No requirements
Teaching methods
Lectures and students's presentations. Q & A at the end of each lecture.
Teaching Resources
The program is the same for attending and non-attending students.
6 CFU Bibliografia A e B:
1. T. Bowell, R. Cowan, G. Kemp (2020), Critical Thinking. A Concise Guide, Routledge, quinta edizione, capitoli 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.
2. A. Fiala, J. King (2023) Can War Be Justified? A Debate, Routledge oppure M. Walzer, Guerre giuste e ingiuste. Un discorso morale con esemplificazioni storiche, tr. it. Laterza.
3. G.E.M.Anscombe, "War and Murder", in In: Walter Stein (ed.), Nuclear Weapons: Catholic Response (London, 1961), pp. 44-52.
4. J. J. Thomson, (1976), "Killing, Letting Die and the Trolley Problem", The Monist, 59 (2), 204-217, https://www-jstor-org.pros1.lib.unimi.it/stable/pdf/27902416.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A895306a3160676516d29244c43defad6&ab_segments=&origin=
9 CFU: A and B + C:
5. J. MacMahan (2006), "On the Moral Equality of combatants", The Journal of Political Philosophy: 14, 4, pp. 377-393.
6. T. Hurka, (2005) "Proportionality in the Morality of War," Philosophy and Public Affairs 33,
7. J. McMahan (2015) "Proportionality and Necessity in Jus in Bello", in The Oxford Handbook of Ethics of War, ed. by S. Lazar and H. Frowe oppure J.MacMahan (2004), "The Ethics of Killing in War," Ethics 114, 4, pp. 693-733.
8. D. Rodin, "The Ethics of Asymmetric Wars", in The Ethics of War, cap. 8, pp. 153-168.
9. Philippa Foot (1967), "The Problem of Abortion and the Doctrine of the Double Effect", Oxford Review, No. 5.
10. J.J. Thomson, (1971), "A Defense of Abortion", Philosophy and Public Affairs, 1(1), 47-66.
6 CFU Bibliografia A e B:
1. T. Bowell, R. Cowan, G. Kemp (2020), Critical Thinking. A Concise Guide, Routledge, quinta edizione, capitoli 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.
2. A. Fiala, J. King (2023) Can War Be Justified? A Debate, Routledge oppure M. Walzer, Guerre giuste e ingiuste. Un discorso morale con esemplificazioni storiche, tr. it. Laterza.
3. G.E.M.Anscombe, "War and Murder", in In: Walter Stein (ed.), Nuclear Weapons: Catholic Response (London, 1961), pp. 44-52.
4. J. J. Thomson, (1976), "Killing, Letting Die and the Trolley Problem", The Monist, 59 (2), 204-217, https://www-jstor-org.pros1.lib.unimi.it/stable/pdf/27902416.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A895306a3160676516d29244c43defad6&ab_segments=&origin=
9 CFU: A and B + C:
5. J. MacMahan (2006), "On the Moral Equality of combatants", The Journal of Political Philosophy: 14, 4, pp. 377-393.
6. T. Hurka, (2005) "Proportionality in the Morality of War," Philosophy and Public Affairs 33,
7. J. McMahan (2015) "Proportionality and Necessity in Jus in Bello", in The Oxford Handbook of Ethics of War, ed. by S. Lazar and H. Frowe oppure J.MacMahan (2004), "The Ethics of Killing in War," Ethics 114, 4, pp. 693-733.
8. D. Rodin, "The Ethics of Asymmetric Wars", in The Ethics of War, cap. 8, pp. 153-168.
9. Philippa Foot (1967), "The Problem of Abortion and the Doctrine of the Double Effect", Oxford Review, No. 5.
10. J.J. Thomson, (1971), "A Defense of Abortion", Philosophy and Public Affairs, 1(1), 47-66.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written exam (open questions). The student should show ability to analyze and construct arguments.
M-FIL/05 - PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY OF LANGUAGE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Calabi Clotilde
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday 10.00 - 13.00. Covid emergency: office hours are held online via Skype or by telephone. Please send me an e-mail to make an appointment.
Festa del Perdono, 7 - Cortile Ghiacciaia, II piano. Please write an e-mail to make an appointment