MORAL PHILOSOPHY
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
The teaching does not require any particular prerequisites in terms of content, but does presuppose a general education and interest and intellectual curiosity in the topics presented
The integrated course only provides for a final assessment through an oral interview involving both disciplines. Students will be asked questions about the texts and materials on the syllabus and the thematic aspects covered in them.
The assessment of the examination will take place in thirtieths and the following specific assessment criteria will be taken into account:
- Thorough and detailed knowledge of the theoretical content presented
- Ability to present and synthesise the treated constructs with appropriate language
- Argumentative and critical capacity in the re-elaboration and personal reflection of what has been learnt, also through the discussion of paradigmatic cases
The student's attainment of an organic and in-depth vision of the topics addressed in the lessons, together with a good mastery of expression and specific language will be assessed with marks of excellence.
A mnemonic knowledge of the subject as well as correct but not always appropriate language will lead to fair marks. Minimal knowledge of the topics covered in the course and/or language that is at times approximate will lead to marks that do not exceed sufficiency. Gaps in knowledge of the topics discussed in the course and proposed by the bibliography included in the examination programme together with approximate exposition will lead to negative marks.
- As far as the Moral Philosophy/Ethics course is concerned, it has two main objectives: in the first part, the course will focus on the basic issues related to the terms of ethics (good, evil, happiness, virtue, vice, life, death, freedom), the concept of 'person' and 'recognition' and the relationship between technology and human action; in the second part, the course will present reflections on specific areas of bioethics and selected paths of contemporary philosophy, highlighting the moral aspects under consideration in order to build an aware citizenship.
The course aims to introduce students, through the practice of philosophical argumentation, to some fundamental aspects of moral philosophy. We will reflect on the theme of acting within horizons of meaning that are essential for the identity of the human subject, we will try to understand the relationship between freedom and responsibility, choices and desires, happiness and ultimate ends in human action, and we will question the nature of the good (individual and social).
Finally, the course aims to lead students to acquire the conceptual competences and argumentative skills to question and critically intervene in the contemporary debate on the relationship between the person and the socio-political community within a multicultural horizon, which characterises many educational and training contexts.
At the end of the Moral Philosophy/Ethics course, the student will be able to
- know some fundamental philosophical themes and understand their contribution to the acquisition of an adequate cultural competence in the field of education and training;
- know and develop the ability to critically understand the fundamental issues concerning the relationship between the vision of man and his actions within a multicultural society;
- intervene critically in the cultural debate concerning ethical issues related to educational and training work, also through the use of a specialised vocabulary;
- identify ethical issues in the analysis and discussion of texts and problems
- correlate theoretical ethical aspects in professional practice
Part One: Walking the Paths of the Foundations of Ethics
- On the terms of ethics (good, evil, happiness, virtue, vice, life, death, freedom)
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Books I and II
- The ethics of responsibility: Weber, Apel, Lévinas
- Applied ethics: Hans Jonas. On the relationship between technology and ethics
H. Jonas, Technique, Medicine and Ethics, Chapters I-II-III
- The Person: from ethico-political reflection to bioethics.
Maritain, Engelhardt, Singer, Spaemann
Part Two: The Challenges of Ethics: Bioethics and Contemporary Ethics
- Origin principles and methods of bioethics
Lecturer's slides
- Bioethics: main themes and problems
Lecturer's slides
- Contemporary ethics: avenues of reflection by Miguel Benasayag, Byung Chul Han, Umberto Galimberti. Some coordinates for questioning and reading contemporary complexity
The course includes the use of lectures and dialogues) carried out with the help of tools prepared by the teacher (Power Point and audiovisual materials appropriately selected) to stimulate discussion and involvement by students on the topics covered.
Dr. Silvia Siano receives after the lessons or in other times, always with previous agreement by e-mail (silvia.siano@uninsubria.it).