A student should be able to analyze texts from a theoretic point of view, without giving place to unfounded hypotheses. The lectures on meditation will improve students' mindfulness and insights.

The Course is divided into two interlinked sections, as follows: 1. The analysis of Samuel Beckett's philosophy as to nonsense. 2. The anaysis of Chan/Zen Buddhism and of koans as to nonsense. Chan/Zen school has given nonsense a new life,above all, starting from the Sixties in the XXth century. The two sections will be dealt with two different though interlinked approaches, as to the West and the East cultures. The lectures on mindfullness will allow to show other similarities between the two sections.

Philosophy of language, Theoretic philosophy.

A student should be capable of analzying the texts and the topics they open. S/he should have a preliminary knowledge of the history of philosophy.

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

A few lectures will be dedicated to meditation (mindfulness). Students will be asked to give  feedbacks about their experiences.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises) and specific communications from the lecturer can be found, together with other supporting activities, inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Lectures. Group meditation.

Attendance

Students have to attend almost all the lectures; otherwise, they will be considered "non frequentanti"(not-attending). The Course books cannot be replaced, otherwise indicated.

Course books

Samuel Beckett, The Unnameable; Idem, Malone Dies (whatever editions and languages). Il libro della tranquillità, a cura di L. V. Arena (e-book). Secundary Literature: L. V. Arena, Nonsense o il senso della vita (e-book); Idem, Watt la cosa e il nulla (e-book). Idem,Introduzione alla storia del buddhismo Chan (e-book)*, L'innocenza del Tao (e-book);** L. V. Arena, La Via del Risveglio, Manuale di meditazione, Rizzoli, Milano 2017.

NB: * It can be replaced with H. Dumoulin, Zen Buddhism: A History, vol. I, 2005. **It can be replaced with H. Nakamura, Ways of Thinking of Eastern Peoples, University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu 1981 (only the chapters on China).

Teacher's e-books are available at: www.amazon.it

Assessment

Oral examination. Disabled students will be examined through multiple-answers tests.

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

Students have to consult the teacher on the difficult aspects of learning.

Attendance

Students should be in touch with the teacher and attend some lectures.

Course books

They are the same as the ones for the attending students.

Assessment

Oral examination. Disabled students will be examined through multiple-answers tests.

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.