PHILOSOPHICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2

This course will attempt to highlight the philosophical dimension of one of the main texts of philosophical modernity: Pascal's Pensées. Through this text it will also explore other places in Pascal's work and critically introduce many themes of the mathematical, physical and theological culture of western modernity.

The fundamental objectives that the course pursues are:
(a) To introduce students to the critical reading of an incomplete, complex and richly implied text - such as Pascaì's Pensées -, giving order to its properly philosophical contents.
(b) To introduce students to the appreciation of Pascal's particular aptitude for combining the theoretical, mathematical, experimental and theological dimensions of human thought.

No special prerequisites are required.

Title: Heart and Reason in the Pensées.
1. The coeur as the faculty of principles.
2. The role of heart and reason in the work of the ‘esprit de géométrie’.
3. Esprit de géométrie and mathematics.
4. Esprit de géométrie and physics (the experimental method in Galileo and Pascal).
5. The role of heart and reason in the work of the ‘esprit de finesse’. Finesse and illative sense (Pascal, Locke and Newman).
6. Deism and theism in the face of Revelation.
7. Epistemological status of the Christian faith.
8. The intemperances of the esprit de géométrie: univocism and reductionism.

BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR THE EXAM
1. Pascal, Pensieri (an edition fallowing CHEVALIER numbering).
2. Lecture notes by professor.
3. Introduction to philosophy, notes by Professor.
Texts 2 and 3 will be provided by the lecturer during the course.

For those who have the 12 cfu examination in their study plan, there will be only one examination at the end of the entire lecture cycle (60 hours). The scheduled duration of the overall examination is 45 minutes.
For those who wish, it will be possible to divide the examination into two phases: one for each part of the course.
The examination will be oral and will begin with the exposition of the paper prepared by the student. In addition, one question will concern the exposition of an important paragraph from Pascal's text. Others will concern theoretical topics (finite.infinity; misery-greatness; the Peer; heart and reason; 'esprit de géométrie' and 'esprit de finesse'; Pascal's epistemology; the status of Faith).
The ability to respond by making relevant references to Pascal's texts; lexical precision; argumentative coherence will be assessed.

oral

Those who answer two thirds of the questions in a relevant manner will be rated sufficient.

The course will based on head-on lectures, enhancing students’ contribution.
The course will be complemented by three series of seminar appointments led - each - by one of the professor's collaborators. The student can choose to deepen - under the guidance of one of these collaborators - the relationship between philosophy and mathematics or that between philosophy and physics or that between philosophy and theology. During these seminars the student will have to start preparing a paper to be presented in the examination.

Accessibility, Disability and Inclusion
Ca' Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.