The course aims to focus, from a theoretical point of view, the main ethical-political implications of the topics covered by trying to encourage the acquisition of specific disciplinary language and to stimulate the ability to read, understand and comment on a philosophical text by addressing the fundamental conceptual issues

Inspired by the famous description offered by Cesare Ripa in his Nova Iconologia, according to which his figure alludes to "bearing some weight, concealing the burden of it for some good purpose", the course will try to show the different meanings of modern "tolerance" as an expression that political language has inherited from religious controversies, adapting it gradually to the positive meaning of 'respect' and 'recognition' of different points of view in the perspective of wider pluralism of values.

In this way, the pages of the Spinozian Theological-political treatise, together with those of the famous Treatise on tolerance of Voltaire - in one case and another real 'manifestos' of freedom of thought and expression - will offer students the opportunity to reflect on a problem that is still current and significant in the contemporary debate.

The course will address the following topics in the order below:

1.  Introduction to Spinoza: The TTP and its anonymous publication

2.  Superstition and Prejudice in the Preface

2.1:  From the biblical God to God-Nature. Imagination, prophecy, miracle

2.2:  The "credo minimum" and the vera religio. The distinction between philosophy and theology

2.3:  Natural law as a power; the foundations of the state and the concept of democracy

2.4:  The events of the Jewish people and the nature of the "covenant". The changing nature of the masses (multitudo)

2.5:   "Tolerance" and peace of the State

2.6: Tolerance or endure?

2.7:   The libertas philosophandi in the TTP and Letters XXX and XLVII

3. Introduction to Voltaire: The Treatise on tolerance

3.1: Voltaire and Spinoza: superstition, atheism and deism

3.2. The  "Calas case"

3.3: How can "tolerance" be admitted

3.4: Abuses of "intolerance"

3.5: Socrates and Jesus Christ in Voltaire’s reading

3.6: The "universal tolerance"

3.7 The "prayer to God"

3.8: Conclusion of the course. The current nature of "tolerance".

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The graduates must be able to:

- comprehend and illustrate elementary and intermediate philosophical material;

- deal with classical problems from history and theory of philosophy, ethics and politics;

- use bibliographical and informational instruments that are relevant to the subject;

- know the problems of the subject with critical regard.

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

Activities are planned in collaboration with the permanent Seminar "Spinoza and modern philosophical thought". 

Teaching

Lectures and seminars.

Innovative teaching methods

Converstaiona lesson.

Attendance

It is required a regular attendance to the course (equal to AT LEAST 2/3 of the lectures). If the student does not attend to the course, he must refer, for the course material, to the "NO attendance" section.

Course books

A. Philosophical Texts: 

- Spinoza, B., Trattato teologico-politico, Prefazione dell’autore e capp. XVI-XX, traduzione e commenti di A. Droetto ed E. Giancotti Boscherini, Postfazione di P. Totaro, Einaudi, Torino 2007 sgg. (it is also recommended to read the Introduction by E. Giancotti, pp. XI-XXXVI and the chronology of the life and works, pp. XXXVII-XXXVIII).

- Voltaire, Trattato sulla tolleranza, tr. it. Feltrinelli, Milano 2014 (or another edition, provided that it is complete)

- Id., entry "Tolleranza" in Dizionario filosofico (any Italian translation may be consulted, provided that it is complete).

B. Reading Tools:

- L. Lanzillo, Tolleranza, Il Mulino ("Lessico della politica", 8), Bologna 2001 (with extensive bibliography).

 One paper chosen from the following:

- D. Bostrenghi, Le ragioni della tolleranza in Spinoza, in «Isonomia», rivista online di Filosofia, Università degli Studi di Urbino “Carlo Bo” (sez. Storica 2018), http://isonomia.uniurb.it/le-ragioni-della-tolleranza-in-spinoza/

- L. Lanzillo, Voltaire. La tolleranza dalla morale alla politica, in «Humanitas», LXIX, 6, 2014, pp. 978-990.

- F. Mignini, Emancipatio, ovvero Servitus e Libertas in Spinoza, «Pólemos», X, 1, 2017, pp. 13-41.

  For in-depth analysis  please consult:

D. Donna, M.F. Spallanzani (a cura di), Libertas philosophandi. Freedom of Expression, Conscience and Thought in Modern Philosophy, Mucchi Editore, Modena 2020 (con contributi in italiano, inglese e francese).

Assessment

It is required a regular attendance to the course (equal to AT LEAST 2/3 of the lectures). If the student does not attend to the course, he must refer, for the course material, to the section "NON-attendendig Students":

The evaluation criteria for the examination will be the following:

-  Relevance and effectiveness of the responses with reference to the contents of the course’s program;

-  Complexity of the responses;

-  Adequacy of the technical language of the discipline.

The final evaluation will be expressed in thirtieths according to the following scale: 30 and praise = excellent; 30 = very good / excellent; 27-29 = good; 24-26 = discrete; 21-23 = sufficient; 18-21 = just enough. The exam is not passed when the essential knowledge is not acquired, the understanding and re-elaboration of the learned contents is poor and the disciplinary lexicon is not proper. 

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

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Attendance

It is required that the student makes contact with the lecturer AT LEAST two months in advance.

Course books

Please refer to the points (A) and (B) above and to the specific point (C).

- N. Bobbio, L'età dei diritti, Einaudi, Torino [1990], 2014r (C).

Assessment

Oral exam on all the material at point (A), (B) and (C). Optional essay which has to be agreed upon with the lecturer in advance.

The evaluation criteria for the examination will be the following:

-  Relevance and effectiveness of the responses with reference to the contents of the course’s program;

-  Complexity of the responses;

-  Adequacy of the technical language of the discipline.

The final evaluation will be expressed in thirtieths according to the following scale: 30 and praise = excellent; 30 = very good / excellent; 27-29 = good; 24-26 = discrete; 21-23 = sufficient; 18-21 = just enough. The exam is not passed when the essential knowledge is not acquired, the understanding and re-elaboration of the learned contents is poor and the disciplinary lexicon is not proper. 

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.