Corso di laurea magistrale in Filosofia

Some knowledge of analytic philosophy of language and Chinese philosophy will be helpful.

The course aims to fulfill the educational objectives of the MA course in Philosophy, by letting the students be able to read philosophical texts in detail, know and present the main arguments in favor and against the scrutinized theories and perspectives, and critically discuss them. By doing so, the students will also be able both to present such theories for didactic aims, while realizing the significance of creative dialogue between different philosophical traditions, and to master the technology needed for such presentations.

Students should be able to scrutinize philosophical texts written in English, to know and present the main arguments in favor of the examined theories and views, and to know how to discuss them critically. This will be accomplished via:

1) oral examinations,

2) students’ presentations, and during the course,

3) quality of the students’ questions and discussions on the scrutinized texts.

Yuelin Jin (1895-1984) was a prominent philosopher and logician in China. With his seminal works, including On Dao and Theory of Knowledge, he founded a new metaphysical and epistemological system combining elements from Western and Chinese philosophical traditions. He worked out an English version of his own metaphysics in Tao, Nature and Man when he was invited to visit the USA during 1943-1944.

To provide an ontological foundation for scientific knowledge on the one hand and life meaning on the other, this book logically, and poetically to some extent, discusses the following themes: stuff, Tao, reality and process, time and actuality, and nature and man. Influenced by Wittgenstein, Russell, Hume, and other Western philosophers, Jin’s philosophy is well-known for detailed linguistic analyses and logical arguments. However, Jin also took advantage of traditional terms, including Tao and nature, from Chinese philosophy.

In this course, we will discuss carefully Jin’s Tao, Nature and Man, which will help us develop the skill of philosophical analysis and argumentation, and understand how intercultural dialogue can be fruitful for world philosophy.

36-hour course. Lectures plus seminars with students’ presentations and text discussions. Students are invited to register on Campusnet to be immediately informed of any variation.

Non-attendees: oral examination concerning the recommended in bibliography.

Attendees: an essay (max 3000 words) on some of the course’s arguments.

The evaluation (min 18/30 max 30 cum laude /30) will depend on two factors, in a non-exclusive alternative:

1) the students’ preparation on the programmed texts and their ability to face them critically;

2) their capacity to write a philosophical essay. This will make it possible to test students’ ability both with respect to the learning objectives and with respect to the expected results.

For DSA or disabled students, please see the University support and acceptance modalities, in particular concerning the necessary procedures for examination support. DSA and disabled students are requested to inform the teacher at the course’s beginning about their desiderata, in order to find a personal way of learning to fit their needs, even beyond compensatory and dispensatory measures regarding the exam.

Alternative editions of the same text (only one will be required):

• Jin, Y. (2020). Tao, Nature and Man, Springer.
• Jin, Y. (2013). Collected Works of Yuelin Jin (Jin Yuelin Quanji), Vol. 5 , Renming Chubanshe.

An electronic version of the book will be available in case a hard copy cannot be found in the library.

The evaluation will take place in English. Non-attendees: see before, “Learning assessing methods.” For students with learning disabilities (DSA) or disabilities, see before, “Support activities.”