ART, MIND, LANGUAGE

The course emphasizes the dialogue of philosophy with other disciplines. It provides techniques of analysis related to concerns in different areas of study: art, science, and language. Careful attention is given to the interrelations of art theory, philosophy of language and philosophy of mind.

Learning outcomes

The course concernes itself with the possible comparison between fundamental problems of art, mind, and language, including an emphasis on methods of styles of reasoning e criticizing.
The student, on successful completion of this module, will be able to:
1. critically engage with philosophical arguments, criticizing and organizing arguments
2. apply philosophical concepts to artistic issues
3. distinguish dimensions relevant to their own specialties

The course is designed for students in whom philosophical and artistic interests are interrelated.
Attendance requirement: attend all (or all but two) of the seminars.

The Art of Thought

This course will explore the relations between art, mind, and language by examining what artist, philosopher and scientists have to say about the intersections of art, science, and philosophy.
It threats the topics of image, depiction, emotion. Topics include also the definition of art, representation, perception and expression.

- L. Wittgenstein, «Lezioni e conversazioni sull'etica, l'estetica, la psicologia e la credenza religiosa», Adelphi

- M. Merleau-Ponty, «L'occhio e lo spirito», SE

- G. Deleuze, «Che cos'è l'atto di creazione?», Cronopio

- Carl E. Schorske, «Vienna fin-de-siècle. La culla della cultura mitteleuropea», Bompiani; oppure A. Toulmin, S. Janik, «La grande Vienna. La formazione di Wittgenstein nella Vienna di Schönberg, di Musil, di Kokoshka, del dottor Freud e di Francesco Giuseppe», Garzanti

- P. Engel, «Filosofia e psicologia», Einaudi

Method of evaluation: oral and written examination based on problems considered during the course.

Written/oral examination forme and criteria:

- one five-page essay: 40%
- class participation (including presentation): 20 %
- finall examination: 40%

Method of instruction: the main teaching methods of the course are the lecture, the lecture-discussion, and the seminar. Every student will be encouraged to participate in the discussion of the materials (small group seminars and presentations).

Italian

Additional readings may be found online. I will make them electronically available (Moodle material).
The material on JSTOR can be downloaded directly from the electronic resources of the Library.

written and oral