Oriental Languages and Cultures

Artificial and Natural: Science, Technological Consciousness, Society, and Culture in the West and East Asia During the course, we will examine the shifting boundaries between the artificial and the natural in East Asia and the West resulting from technological transformations from the 15th century to the present. We will discuss some of the complex social, cultural, political-religious, and technical-economic conditions that contributed to the scientific and industrial revolutions in Europe in the early modern period, as well as the key historical factors that impeded or slowed their development in the East until the second half of the 20th century.

A knowledge corresponding to the level of the bachelor’s degree in Oriental Studies is required.

- J. Needham, Scienza e società in Cina, Il Mulino, Bologna, 1973 - Paolo Rossi, La nascita della scienza moderna in Europa, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2011 - Byung-chul Han, Le non cose: come abbiamo smesso di vivere il reale, Einaudi, Torino, 2022 - Byung-chul Han, L'espulsione dell'Altro: società, percezione e comunicazione oggi, Nottetempo, Milano 2017

attending the course is highly recommended

he exam will consist of a discussion in the classroom of one of the topics covered in the course, agreed with the teacher upon proposal of the student (or, alternatively, a paper on a topic agreed with the teacher); c) an oral interview on the scheduled texts. The oral examination will focus on all the texts to be studied. Students must show: 1. Knowledge of the content of the texts; 2. Skill of communicating it and mastery of the technical terminology of the various studied philosophers; 3. Ability to grasp the main issues and to discuss them critically; 4. Ability to elaborate an argument about the treated issues in an personal way. 1. and 2. are necessary conditions in order to pass the exam. A final grade superior to 27 will be given to students who reach all the goals.

Frontal lessons and seminar discussions of the text and the issues treated in the course.

Artificial and Natural: Science, Technological Consciousness, Society, and Culture in the West and East Asia During the course, we will examine the shifting boundaries between the artificial and the natural in East Asia and the West resulting from technological transformations from the 15th century to the present. We will discuss some of the complex social, cultural, political-religious, and technical-economic conditions that contributed to the scientific and industrial revolutions in Europe in the early modern period, as well as the key historical factors that impeded or slowed their development in the East until the second half of the 20th century.

A knowledge corresponding to the level of the bachelor’s degree in Oriental Studies is required.

- J. Needham, Scienza e società in Cina, Il Mulino, Bologna, 1973 - Paolo Rossi, La nascita della scienza moderna in Europa, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2011 - Byung-chul Han, Le non cose: come abbiamo smesso di vivere il reale, Einaudi, Torino, 2022 - Byung-chul Han, L'espulsione dell'Altro: società, percezione e comunicazione oggi, Nottetempo, Milano 2017

attending the course is highly recommended

he exam will consist of a discussion in the classroom of one of the topics covered in the course, agreed with the teacher upon proposal of the student (or, alternatively, a paper on a topic agreed with the teacher); c) an oral interview on the scheduled texts. The oral examination will focus on all the texts to be studied. Students must show: 1. Knowledge of the content of the texts; 2. Skill of communicating it and mastery of the technical terminology of the various studied philosophers; 3. Ability to grasp the main issues and to discuss them critically; 4. Ability to elaborate an argument about the treated issues in an personal way. 1. and 2. are necessary conditions in order to pass the exam. A final grade superior to 27 will be given to students who reach all the goals.

Frontal lessons and seminar discussions of the text and the issues treated in the course.