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 intent is to offer to the students of the four curricula, for the first year, a versatile approach to philosophy.

The course is structured in four parts. The first has a general character and aims to present the history of metaphysics from Plato to Kant in its main moments. This will be followed by a more specific study on the theory of categories, one of the central themes of philosophy. The categories enter in the history of philosophy when thought and speech (logos) become the subject of philosophy and with Aristotle one seeks not only to classify but also to order the objects of our world. The second part of the course is dedicated to Aristotle’s theory of categories, which will have a long and good fortune and will be interpreted in many ways. The third part examines an alternative theory of categories to the Aristotelian one, that of Kant, who moves also a radical critique of the Aristotelian theory. Finally, in the fourth part, we will consider some interpretations of Aristotle's theory of categories, which have been developed during the nineteenth century, they take up classical interpretations and, at the same time, try to reply to Kant's criticisms (Trendelenburg, Bonitz, Brentano and Apelt). In the light of this wide story, we will try to understand what it means to categorize; why there we need a theory of the categories.

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

1) Excursus on the history of metaphysics from Plato to Kant.

2) Aristotle's theory of categories in the Organon, in particular in the Categories, and in Metaphysics. Short presentation of a history of the theory of categories up to Kant.

3) The theory of categories in Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason. The deduction of the categories.

4) The interpretations of Aristotle's theory of categories in the nineteenth century: the linguistic interpretation (Trendelenburg); the ontological interpretation (Bonitz and Brentano); the logical-semantic interpretation (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

There are no didactic support activities.

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:

Aristotele, Organon, Adelphi or Bompiani (Cat. 1-10; De interpr. 1-4; An. pr. I 27; An. post. I 22; Top. I 9; Soph. el. 4, 22).

– passages from other tests of the Aristotelian corpus (Phys. III 1; V 1; De an. I 1, 5; Metaph. IV, 1-2; V 7, 28; VI 1-2; VII 1; IX 10; XIV 2; Eth. Nic. I 4 ). They are present on the Moodle platform.

I. Kant, Critica della ragion pura (Preface, Introduction, Analyitics of concepts). Qualsiasi edizione: Bompiani, Laterza, UTET.

B) Literature:

E. Berti (a cura di), Storia della metafisica, Roma: Carocci: 2019, pp. 25-250.

V. Raspa, Origine e significato delle categorie di Aristotele. Il dibattito nell’Ottocento, Macerata: Quodlibet, 2020.

C) Recommended readings:

O. Apelt, La dottrina delle categorie di Aristotele, Macerata: Quodlibet, 2020.

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 of Aristotle and Kant (indicated at point A) and on two texts chosen among others indicated at points (B) and (C).

Students' knowledge of the philosophical theories dealt with during the course will be subject to an evaluation.

Particular attention is given to the ability to expound philosophical theories with the terminology proper to each, as well as to the ability to grasp thoroughly and explain passages from the texts that have been studied.

Students will be expected to develop a critical approach with regard to the theories studied. In evaluating students, particular attention will be given to their ability to reformulate in their own terms the ideas encountered in coursework and to their ability to make comparisons between the various thinkers they have studied.

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:

Aristotele, Organon, Adelphi or Bompiani (Cat. 1-10; De interpr. 1-4; An. pr. I 27; An. post. I 22; Top. I 9; Soph. el. 4, 22).

– passages from other tests of the Aristotelian corpus (Phys. III 1; V 1; De an. I 1, 5; Metaph. IV, 1-2; V 7, 28; VI 1-2; VII 1; IX 10; XIV 2; Eth. Nic. I 4 ). They are present on the Moodle platform.

I. Kant, Critica della ragion pura (Preface, Introduction, Analyitics of concepts). Qualsiasi edizione: Bompiani, Laterza, UTET.

B) Literature:

E. Berti (a cura di), Storia della metafisica, Roma: Carocci: 2019, pp. 25-250.

V. Raspa, Origine e significato delle categorie di Aristotele. Il dibattito nell’Ottocento, Macerata: Quodlibet, 2020.

C) Recommended readings:

O. Apelt, La dottrina delle categorie di Aristotele, Macerata: Quodlibet, 2020.

O. Höffe, Immanuel Kant, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010. (Recommended for non-attending students).

Assessment

An oral examination on the texts of Aristotle and Kant (indicated at point A) and on three texts chosen among others indicated at points (B) and (C).

Students' knowledge of the philosophical theories dealt with during the course will be subject to an evaluation.

Particular attention is given to the ability to expound philosophical theories with the terminology proper to each, as well as to the ability to grasp thoroughly and explain passages from the texts that have been studied.

Students will be expected to develop a critical approach with regard to the theories studied. In evaluating students, particular attention will be given to their ability to reformulate in their own terms the ideas encountered in coursework and to their ability to make comparisons between the various thinkers they have studied.

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.