Languages, Cultures, Literature, Translation

Natural emotions and artificial emotions: the embodied perspective The emotional dimension of the human being has always been a central aspect of aesthetic reflection. This course aims to address a number of themes and issues from the perspective of the new "embodied" cognitive sciences, focusing on the emotional reactions of natural and artificial agents, and extending this reflection to social robotics. To this end, the naturalist turn in the theories of emotions will be outlined, starting with the work of Darwin, James, Dewey and Mead and ending with the recent 4E cognitive sciences. This theoretical and design horizon aims to overcome the mentalism and dualism that still characterise many recent theories. Secondly, this course aims to analyse the way in which social robotics deals with the theme of emotions, starting from two main approaches: the "internal" approach, which aims to artificially reproduce emotional processes in order to improve the adaptive processes of artificial agents, and the "external" approach, which instead aims at the "simulation" of the expressive and behavioural dimension of natural agents. The attempt to link "natural" and "artificial" emotions gives rise to a new paradigm that allows us to rethink the nature of emotions within a naturalist framework as embodied "dynamic interactions".

A basic knowledge of philosophy at secondary school level is required.

(1) Baggio G., Caruana F., Parravicini A., Viola M. (a cura di), Emozioni. Da Darwin al Pragmatismo, Rosenberg & Sellier, 2020; (2) Dumouchel P., Damiano L., Vivere con i robot. Saggio sull'empatia artificiale, Raffaello Cortina, 2019.

Class attendance is highly recommended.

The assessment consists of an oral examination lasting approximately 30 minutes on the topics and texts covered in class. The following will be assessed: (1) A comprehensive understanding of the theories of the authors covered; (2) The ability to comprehend and analyse the texts in the examination programme; (3) The ability to discuss and reconstruct topics and issues covered in class; (4) The ability to master the vocabulary of the authors covered; (5) The ability to explore the theories covered in class in a personalised manner. In order to pass the examination, it is necessary to satisfy points (1) and (2) in full. Marks above 27 will be awarded to students who satisfy all five points indicated.

The following reference bibliography is not an examination material. (a) Caruana F., Viola M., Come funzionano le emozioni, il Mulino, 2018; (b) Oatley K., Breve storia delle emozioni, il Mulino, 2021.

Frontal teaching and analysis of course materials.

Natural emotions and artificial emotions: the embodied perspective The emotional dimension of the human being has always been a central aspect of aesthetic reflection. This course aims to address a number of themes and issues from the perspective of the new "embodied" cognitive sciences, focusing on the emotional reactions of natural and artificial agents, and extending this reflection to social robotics. To this end, the naturalist turn in the theories of emotions will be outlined, starting with the work of Darwin, James, Dewey and Mead and ending with the recent 4E cognitive sciences. This theoretical and design horizon aims to overcome the mentalism and dualism that still characterise many recent theories. Secondly, this course aims to analyse the way in which social robotics deals with the theme of emotions, starting from two main approaches: the "internal" approach, which aims to artificially reproduce emotional processes in order to improve the adaptive processes of artificial agents, and the "external" approach, which instead aims at the "simulation" of the expressive and behavioural dimension of natural agents. The attempt to link "natural" and "artificial" emotions gives rise to a new paradigm that allows us to rethink the nature of emotions within a naturalist framework as embodied "dynamic interactions".

A basic knowledge of philosophy at secondary school level is required.

(1) Baggio G., Caruana F., Parravicini A., Viola M. (a cura di), Emozioni. Da Darwin al Pragmatismo, Rosenberg & Sellier, 2020; (2) Dumouchel P., Damiano L., Vivere con i robot. Saggio sull'empatia artificiale, Raffaello Cortina, 2019.

Class attendance is highly recommended.

The assessment consists of an oral examination lasting approximately 30 minutes on the topics and texts covered in class. The following will be assessed: (1) A comprehensive understanding of the theories of the authors covered; (2) The ability to comprehend and analyse the texts in the examination programme; (3) The ability to discuss and reconstruct topics and issues covered in class; (4) The ability to master the vocabulary of the authors covered; (5) The ability to explore the theories covered in class in a personalised manner. In order to pass the examination, it is necessary to satisfy points (1) and (2) in full. Marks above 27 will be awarded to students who satisfy all five points indicated.

The following reference bibliography is not an examination material. (a) Caruana F., Viola M., Come funzionano le emozioni, il Mulino, 2018; (b) Oatley K., Breve storia delle emozioni, il Mulino, 2021.

Frontal teaching and analysis of course materials.