The module aims at developing the necessary competences for orienteering in the field of social ontology by focusing on the conceptual pair individual intentionality/collective intentionality

Aiming at such goal, I intend to offer my student the tools for:

-understanding the grounding outlines of John Searle's general theory of social facts;

-problematizing some aspects of social ontology by moving from the critical analysis of core notions such as intentionality and language;

-using Peirce's dialogical theory of thought in the field of social ontology.

John Searle bases his own social ontology upon the theories of intentionality and of language. A physical fact becomes a social fact by declaration, i.e. by a simultaneusly linguistic and mental act. The course will analyse the relationship between language and society as it is conceived by Searle, yet it will offer critical insights on this topic from the standpoint of Charles S. Peirce's logic. The program is thus articulated:

1) Introduction to the problems of Searle's philosophy:

- the Chinese Room argument as access point to the notions of language and intentionality

- the theory of linguistic acts according to Searle

2) General theory of social facts:

- ontology and epistemology 

- general assumptions of the theory 

- mental acts and collective intentionality

- from "X counts as Y in C" to "Y is declared"

3) Peirce and social ontology:

- Peirce and Plato 

- existential graphs as theory of thought 

- nods to the synechistic theory of community

None.

Knowledge and understanding

- knowledge of the main aspects of Searle's social ontology;

- ability to grasp similarities and differences with Peirce's thought.

Knowledge and understanding skills applied

- the student will manage to apply some aspects of the theory of linguistic acts;

-  the student will manage to comment on some of the key-texts of the philosophy of language.    

Autonomy of judgment

- the student will be able to critically assess social ontology.

Communication skills

- the student will be provided with some elements to argue clearly and convincingly concerning the ontological and epistemological status of social facts.     

Ability to learn

- once the module will be over, the student will have gained acquaintance with the main notions of Searle's philosophy and of Peirce's thought in order to autonomously deepen his knowledge about them;

- the student will be inclined to consider the multiple perspectives required by the study of the relationship between language, mind, and society.

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 guest lecture on language as a social factor will be hosted in presence.

Collective seminar on general semiotics.

During some of the module hours, the following activities will be held by guests by means of a videoconference.

Lecture on language and society in the Daodejing

Philosophical game on language and society according to the method of "Ludosofia"

Teaching

Lectures with final discussion

Innovative teaching methods

One of the supporting activities will be a philosophical game.

Attendance

Students who intend to be examined as attending students do not need to reach a certain attendance percentage but they are just advised to attend regularly, otherwise they should look at the non attending section for information.

Course books

A) Exam books:

1) J. Searle, Creare il mondo sociale, tr. it. P. Di Lucia, Milano 2010, pp. 1-161;

2) F. Valgimigli, In un mondo indipendente da noi, Torino 2020.

B) Further readings:

1) G. Graham, L'argomento della Stanza Cinese, tr. it. I. Olivero e E. Piccaluga, online: http://www.sifa.unige.it/?page_id=4214;

2) Valerio Marconi, Il pensiero come dialogo: la logica della coscienza in Charles Sanders Peirce in R. Santi (a cura di), Coscienza individuale e coscienza collettiva nella società contemporanea. Un approccio filosofico, Milano 2020, pp. 136-147;

3) Noreena Hertz, Sesso, amore e robot in N. Hertz, Il secolo della solitudine. L'importanza della comunità nell'economia e nella vita di tutti i giorni, tr. it. L. Muneratto, Milano 2021, pp. 207-236.

Assessment

Learning assessment consists of an oral exam on singular passages from the text by Searle to be read and commented by the candidate. There is the possibility of sending a short paper by the date of the chosen assessment in order to have a sensibly shorter oral examination (further information is available on Moodle). The paper is meant to make use of the further reading listed in section B of the course books. In the paper, the student must show a grasp of the main theoretical problems underlying a freely chosen singular passage and contextualization skills in relation to Searle's social ontology.

Specific attention will be payed to proper use of technical language.

Critical approach to studied theories is highly valued. Personal insights and comparative skills are positively valued.

Assessment criteria:

- Excellence is described in terms of clear exposition and proper language, skilful linkage among different theories, good critical and deepening skills;

- Goodness is described in terms of clear exposition (even if mnemonic), good linkage among different theories, some critical skills and proper language;

- Sufficiency is described in terms of minimal knowledge, generic linkage among theories, barely proper language;

- Insufficiency is described in terms of lack of minimal knowledge, evident failure in attaining learning objectives, lack of use of technical language.

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

Non-attending students can arrange meetings with the teacher to ask for explanations about the contents of exam books.

Attendance

Attendance is substituted by individual and autonomous study.

Course books

The same as attending student’s ones, but the study of the further readings (section B of the course books) becomes a necessity even in the case in which the student is not going to submit a paper.

Assessment

Learning assessment consists of an oral exam on singular passages from the text by Searle to be read and commented by the candidate. There is the possibility of sending a short paper by the date of the chosen assessment in order to have a sensibly shorter oral examination (further information is available on Moodle). The paper is meant to make use of the further reading listed in section B of the course books. In the paper, the student must show a grasp of the main theoretical problems underlying a freely chosen singular passage and contextualization skills in relation to Searle's social ontology.

Specific attention will be payed to proper use of technical language.

Critical approach to studied theories is highly valued. Personal insights and comparative skills are positively valued.

Assessment criteria:

- Excellence is described in terms of clear exposition and proper language, skilful linkage among different theories, good critical and deepening skills;

- Goodness is described in terms of clear exposition (even if mnemonic), good linkage among different theories, some critical skills and proper language;

- Sufficiency is described in terms of minimal knowledge, generic linkage among theories, barely proper language;

- Insufficiency is described in terms of lack of minimal knowledge, evident failure in attaining learning objectives, lack of use of technical language.

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.

My paper on Peirce's logic of consciousness is available only for consulting at the biblioteca umanistica in via Saffi:

Book location 001 Sc.Fs-06-B 0844