Aesthetics a.y. 2025-2026 – Corso di laurea magistrale in Scienze pedagogiche

CFU: 6
Course code: 804002510
SSD: M-FIL/04
Master’s Degree: Digital Humanities
Language: Italian

Period:
Course delivery modalities: in-presence
Attendance: Optional
Assessment method: Oral examination

Pre-requisites:
no prerequisite

Program:
“Foams” in Spherology Week 1: a) What are spheres?b) The central metaphor of “foam” Week 2: a) Tremor in the air, b) Increasing explication: gas and air conditioning Week 3: a) Societies as islands (absolute, atmospheric, anthropogenic) Week 4: a) The architectures of foamb) Foam city Week 5: a) Upward thrust: luxury and whim, b) The spheres (bubbles, globes, and foams)

Text books:
P. Sloterdijk, Sfere III, Schiume, Cortina Editore, Milano 2015

Bibliography:

Educational goals and expected learning outcomes:
Course Objectives The course aims to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of Peter Sloterdijk’s theory of spheres, with a particular focus on the third volume of his trilogy on human cultures, dedicated to the notion of “Foams”. This metaphor is used to interpret modern pluralism and individualism through biological, political, aesthetic, and political-scientific models. Expected Learning Outcomes Knowledge and Understanding Students will develop the ability to read and interpret the key theoretical and philosophical themes of spherology, enabling them to critically reconstruct the cultural history of the twentieth century, particularly through the lens of the immunological paradigm. Applying Knowledge and Understanding Students will be able to understand the problems addressed and apply the studied concepts to their own everyday experience. They will be equipped to assess the usefulness of this perspective in reflecting on their existential condition in the new century. Autonomy of Judgment Students will cultivate critical thinking toward dominant conceptions of social life and their underlying cultural assumptions. They will learn to challenge the traditional, often pessimistic, view that philosophy has of technoscience and its impact on everyday life—emphasizing instead the notion of lightening (or relief) explored by Sloterdijk, also in relation to the digital world. Communication Skills Students will gain the ability to discuss and convey the main topics related to Sloterdijk’s spherological theory, highlighting the central role of the drive toward universal explication in twentieth-century thought. Learning Skills Students will acquire tools to grasp the tension between traditional philosophical theories of the contemporary world and Sloterdijk’s original and optimistic interpretation of its developments—including technological and digital transformations—as proposed within the spherological paradigm.

Educational goals and expected learning outcomes:

Course Objectives
The course aims to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of Peter Sloterdijk’s theory of spheres, with a particular focus on the third volume of his trilogy on human cultures, dedicated to the notion of “Foams”. This metaphor is used to interpret modern pluralism and individualism through biological, political, aesthetic, and political-scientific models.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Students will develop the ability to read and interpret the key theoretical and philosophical themes of spherology, enabling them to critically reconstruct the cultural history of the twentieth century, particularly through the lens of the immunological paradigm.
Applying Knowledge and Understanding
Students will be able to understand the problems addressed and apply the studied concepts to their own everyday experience. They will be equipped to assess the usefulness of this perspective in reflecting on their existential condition in the new century.
Autonomy of Judgment
Students will cultivate critical thinking toward dominant conceptions of social life and their underlying cultural assumptions. They will learn to challenge the traditional, often pessimistic, view that philosophy has of technoscience and its impact on everyday life—emphasizing instead the notion of lightening (or relief) explored by Sloterdijk, also in relation to the digital world.
Communication Skills
Students will gain the ability to discuss and convey the main topics related to Sloterdijk’s spherological theory, highlighting the central role of the drive toward universal explication in twentieth-century thought.
Learning Skills
Students will acquire tools to grasp the tension between traditional philosophical theories of the contemporary world and Sloterdijk’s original and optimistic interpretation of its developments—including technological and digital transformations—as proposed within the spherological paradigm.

Methods and criteria for verifying the learning:
Oral Examination (max 30 min.) For the purposes of assessment, the following criteria will be taken into account: the clarity with which the main contents of the course are presented, the command of disciplinary language, the ability to concisely articulate the core issues addressed during the course, the knowledge acquired, the student’s critical analysis of the texts studied, and the appropriateness of the methodological approach adopted. Grades will be assigned according to the following indicative scale: Fail (Non idoneo): Inadequate knowledge of the exam materials and serious misunderstandings of the essential contents; inability to adequately present the topics discussed or to use the appropriate disciplinary terminology. 18–20: Minimal knowledge of the exam texts and very limited ability to summarize; poor understanding of the issues covered and weak use of the relevant terminology. 21–23: Somewhat superficial knowledge of the course topics; limited ability to convey their general meaning clearly; insufficient presentation skills and weak use of subject-specific terminology. 24–26: Fair understanding and knowledge of the topics discussed; good analytical and summarizing skills, though the language used may not always be fully appropriate to the discipline. 27–29: Very good knowledge and understanding of the topics, supported by strong summarizing and presentation skills concerning the core issues of the course; good level of independent critical thinking. 30–30 cum laude (with honors): Excellent knowledge and understanding of the topics; high-level ability to summarize and clearly present ideas; strong critical analysis of texts, including some original insights; excellent command of disciplinary terminology and good overall mastery of the course content.

Methods and criteria for verifying the learning:

Oral Examination (max 30 min.)
For the purposes of assessment, the following criteria will be taken into account: the clarity with which the main contents of the course are presented, the command of disciplinary language, the ability to concisely articulate the core issues addressed during the course, the knowledge acquired, the student’s critical analysis of the texts studied, and the appropriateness of the methodological approach adopted.
Grades will be assigned according to the following indicative scale:
Fail (Non idoneo): Inadequate knowledge of the exam materials and serious misunderstandings of the essential contents; inability to adequately present the topics discussed or to use the appropriate disciplinary terminology.
18–20: Minimal knowledge of the exam texts and very limited ability to summarize; poor understanding of the issues covered and weak use of the relevant terminology.
21–23: Somewhat superficial knowledge of the course topics; limited ability to convey their general meaning clearly; insufficient presentation skills and weak use of subject-specific terminology.
24–26: Fair understanding and knowledge of the topics discussed; good analytical and summarizing skills, though the language used may not always be fully appropriate to the discipline.
27–29: Very good knowledge and understanding of the topics, supported by strong summarizing and presentation skills concerning the core issues of the course; good level of independent critical thinking.
30–30 cum laude (with honors): Excellent knowledge and understanding of the topics; high-level ability to summarize and clearly present ideas; strong critical analysis of texts, including some original insights; excellent command of disciplinary terminology and good overall mastery of the course content.

Attendance modalities:
Lectures (6 hours per week of guided lessons; 30 total hours; 90 hours of self-directed learning) The course will focus on explaining the historical and philosophical context of the text, as well as on close reading and commentary of extended passages, with special attention to internal references, quotations, and the overall conceptual structure of the work. Students will be encouraged to actively participate in discussions, with the aim of developing and refining their analytical and argumentative skills.

Attendance modalities:

Lectures (6 hours per week of guided lessons; 30 total hours; 90 hours of self-directed learning)
The course will focus on explaining the historical and philosophical context of the text, as well as on close reading and commentary of extended passages, with special attention to internal references, quotations, and the overall conceptual structure of the work. Students will be encouraged to actively participate in discussions, with the aim of developing and refining their analytical and argumentative skills.