The course, aimed primarily for beginners, is intended to provide a preliminary introduction to philosophical studies, with particular attention to the acquisition of the specific terminology and the analysis of some important conceptual issues. The aim is to allow students of the four curricula, for the first year, to benefit from a versatile approach to philosophy, one that will prove useful for the chosen field of study. Specifically, the course aims to address one of the central themes of philosophy, the theory of categories. The categories enter in the history of philosophy when thought and speech (logos) become the subject of philosophical activity and, with Aristotle, one seeks not only to classify but also to order the objects of our world. The theory of categories developed by Aristotle will have a long afterlife and will be interpreted in many ways. Kant proposed an alternative theory but, at the same time, also developed a radical critique of the Aristotelian theory. During the nineteenth century, several attempts were then made to interpret Aristotle's categories in order to reply to Kant's criticisms, for example in the works, to name just a few, of Trendelenburg, Bonitz and Apelt. Their theories in turn were reproposed in different ways in the course of the twentieth century. In the light of this broad history, we will try to understand what it means to categorize, why we need a theory of categories and, whether or not Aristotle and Kant’s theories of categories are still relevant or useful.

The course will address the following topics in the following order.

The theory of categories in Aristotle's treatise on the Categories.

Analysis of some passages from the Topics and the Metaphysics.

A brief presentation of a history of the theory of categories down to Kant.

The theory of categories in the Critique of Pure Reason.

The deduction of the categories.

The linguistic interpretation of the categories (Trendelenburg).

The ontological interpretation of the categories (Bonitz).

The logical-semantic interpretation of the categories (Apelt).

Prerequisites are not required.

Knowledge and understanding
The student will be able to understand and explain the philosophical texts examined, to master the philosophical terminology, and to discuss critically the topics which have been dealt in the class.

Making judgments
The student will demonstrate independent judgment in the evaluation of the philosophical theories studied. In the mode of assessment of learning, a particular attention will be given to his/her ability to rework personal knowledge.

Learning skills
The student will be able to acquire new knowledge and skills, in order to access to additional training levels.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Seminars.

Teaching

Lectures, seminars.

Attendance

The course requires a regular attendance. Alternatively, please make use of the information for not attending students.

Course books

A) Texts:

Aristotle, Categories. Any edition.

- Selection of passages from the Topics (I, 9) and Metaphysics (IV 1-2, V, 7).

I. Kant, Critique of Pure Reason (Forewords, Introduction, Analytics of concepts). Any edition.

B) Literature:
A. F. Trendelenburg, La dottrina delle categorie di Aristotele, Milano, Vita e Pensiero, 1994.
H. Bonitz, Sulle categorie di Aristotele, Milano, Vita e Pensiero, 1995.
F. Brentano, Sui molteplici significato dell'essere secondo Aristotele, Milano, Vita e Pensiero, 1995, pp. 91-243.

C) Recommended readings:
A. Trendelenburg, La dottrina delle categorie nella storia della filosofia, Monza, Polimetrica, 2004.
M. Ferrari, Categorie e a priori, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2003.
M. Zanatta, La genesi e il significato dottrinale delle categorie, Introduzione a Aristotele, Categorie, Rizzoli, pp. 7-270. (Recommended for Non-Attending Students)
O. Höffe, Immanuel Kant, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010. (Recommended for Non-Attending Students)

Other texts of secondary literature will be given during the course.

Assessment

An oral examination on the texts by Aristotle and Kant (indicated at point A) and on two texts chosen among others set out at points (B) and (C).Students may arrange with their teachers discussing a written report.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Not attending students can contact the teacher in the office hours to ask for explanations about the content of the tests for the exam.

Attendance

Please contact the teacher, preferably personally, at least three months in advance of the scheduled date of the exam.

Course books

A) Texts:

Aristotle, Categories.Any edition.

- Selection of passages from the Topics (I, 9) and Metaphysics (IV 1-2, V, 7).

I. Kant, Critique of Pure Reason (Forewords, Introduction, Analytics of concepts). Any edition.

B) Literature:
A. F. Trendelenburg, La dottrina delle categorie di Aristotele, Milano, Vita e Pensiero, 1994.
H. Bonitz, Sulle categorie di Aristotele, Milano, Vita e Pensiero, 1995.
F. Brentano, Sui molteplici significato dell'essere secondo Aristotele, Milano, Vita e Pensiero, 1995, pp. 91-243.

C) Recommended readings:
A. Trendelenburg, La dottrina delle categorie nella storia della filosofia, Monza, Polimetrica, 2004.
M. Ferrari, Categorie e a priori, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2003.
M. Zanatta, La genesi e il significato dottrinale delle categorie, Introduzione a Aristotele, Categorie, Rizzoli, pp. 7-270. (Recommended for Non-Attending Students)
O. Höffe, Immanuel Kant, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010. (Recommended for Non-Attending Students)

Assessment

An oral examination on the texts by Aristotle and Kant (indicated at point A) and on three texts chosen among others set out at points (B) and (C). Students may arrange with their teachers discussing a written report.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

The teacher is available for the students in the appropriate office hours, for explanations and additional bibliographic information on the exam program, particularly in the case of not attending students.