2015/2016

2015/2016

DM270

M-FIL/01 (THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY)

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES

PHILOSOPHY

PERCORSO COMUNE

1°

2nd semester (22/02/2016 - 28/05/2016)

6

36 lesson hours

ITALIAN

ORAL TEST

VANZAGO LUCA (titolare) - 6 ECTS

Having passed the examination in Theoretical Philosophy.

The course aims to provide the means to acquire the basic concepts of the discipline, and the attitude at critical thinking.

The problem of consciousness in contemporary neuro-philosophy

Neuro-cognitive research has accomplished a remarkable advancement in recent years, posing relevant philosophical questions to traditional approaches. The main positions in this field, however, are not without problems and immune from criticisms. In the lecture course we will, in the first place, discuss one of the most important texts belonging to the prevalent tradition, written by a researcher who has become a front-woman of neuro-philosophy: Touching a Nerve. The Self as Brain, by Patricia Churchland. After its reading, an attempt at problematizing such a perspective in the light of other possible interpretations of the problem of consciousness will be made, still remaining within the Anglo-Saxon tradition in philosophy of mind. The work by John Searle, The Mistery of Consciousness, will be studied, in which the American philosopher critically discusses some of the most relevant books published in these years on the topic. Eventually, contemporary classical texts will be read, with the aim of further broadening the perspective; from the paper written by David Chalmers, What is consciousness? to the famous article by Thomas Nagel, What is it like to be a bat?

Lectures

Introductory text:

S. Nannini, L'anima e il corpo, Laterza 2011.

Main texts:

P. Churchland, L'io come cervello, Cortina 2014.
J. Searle, Il mistero della coscienza, Cortina 1998.
D. Chalmers, Che cos'è la coscienza? Castelvecchi 2014.
Th. Nagel, Cosa si prova ad essere un pipistrello? Castelvecchi 2013.

Written examination

Written examination