All first-year doctoral students must attend at least 34 hours of teaching dedicated to the PhD Students.
In particular, participation in the following is mandatory:
▪ 2 modules (each lasting 8 hours) organized by the PhD College in the second semester;
▪ 1 workshop (lasting 8 hours) on “Sources and tools for information retrieval” organized by the PhD College in collaboration with the Biblioteca di Filosofia in the second semester;
▪ at least 5 conferences/seminars/conventions (each lasting 2 hours) chosen from:
(1) the permanent seminars organized by the PhD College (see the “Seminars” section on the PhD website), and
(2) the conferences, seminars, and lectures promoted by the PhD College (announced on the PhD website, in the “Other scientific and educational activities” section).
All second-year PhD Students must attend at least 18 hours of teaching dedicated to the them.
In particular, participation in the following is mandatory:
▪ 1 module (lasting 8 hours) organized by the PhD College in the second semester;
▪ At least 5 conferences/seminars/conventions (lasting 2 hours each) chosen from:
(1) the permanent seminars organized by the PhD College (see the “Seminars” section on the PhD program website) and
(2) the conferences, seminars, and lectures promoted by the PhD Program (listed on the PhD program website, in the “Other scientific and educational activities” section).
All third-year doctoral students must attend at least 10 hours of teaching dedicated to PhD Students.
In particular, it is mandatory to:
▪ attend at least 5 conferences/seminars/conventions (lasting 2 hours each) chosen from:
(1) the permanent seminars organized by the PhD program (see the “Seminars” section on the PhD program website), or
(2) conferences, seminars, and lectures promoted by the PhD program (listed on the PhD program website, in the “Other scientific and educational activities” section);
▪ actively hold 4 hours of supplementary teaching activities under the supervision of a master's degree professor (laurea magistrale).
______ ______ ______ PHD CLASSES ______ ______ ______
2025/26
LUISA VALENTE
Language, lay people, female philosophers, non-Latin philosophies. Four emerging themes in the study of medieval philosophy.
The four lessons of the course will be dedicated to four different areas of research that are particularly lively in the current panorama of studies in the history of medieval philosophy. The aim is to highlight both the relevance of research in the field of medieval history and philosophy and the possibility that, beyond the field of specialists, it can provide useful themes and ideas for those dealing with related issues in other historical periods and in the contemporary world. Each lesson will consist of a selected bibliography and study centres that cultivate that particular area of research, as well as some commented readings of medieval texts, in Italian translation and in the original language where possible.
18 february 2026, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., room XI
20 february 2026, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., room XI
23 february 2026, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., room XI
25 february 2026, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., room XI
EMILIANO IPPOLITI
The construction of theories: artificial intelligence, algorithms and human beings
The construction of theories represents the core of human scientific and cognitive endeavour.
In recent years, this topic has been at the centre of philosophical inquiry, and has undergone a profound transformation with the emergence of artificial intelligence, which promises to redefine the very modes of scientific discovery and theory-building. This module offers a critical analysis of the main philosophical reflections on the theme of theory building, reconstructing its historical and conceptual evolution. Particular attention will be paid to the role of algorithms and artificial intelligence, highlighting both their potential and their epistemological limitations.
18 February 2026, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Room XI
20 February 2026, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Room XI
23 February 2026, 3:30–5:30 p.m., Room XI
25 February 2026, 3:30–5:30 p.m., Room XI, lecture with Prof. Sorin Bangu (Bergen
University)
CHIARA ADORISIO
Orientalism and Comparative Philosophy. Reflections on the method and canon of philosophy.
The gaps in the canon of Western philosophy, which still struggles to fully recognise the essential contribution of Arab or Arab-Jewish philosophy, or even Indian philosophy, are leading to a new flourishing of studies on little-known philosophical traditions and, at the same time, to a correction of the canon used until now and its theoretical assumptions. The methodological and conceptual problems that comparative philosophy—born within the context of European Orientalism and therefore strongly marked by the errors and prejudices of this trend of thought stigmatised by Edward Said in his book Orientalism (1979)—must address invite a reconsideration of the comparative method. Certainly, philosophy in general cannot completely do without comparative philosophy, in its function of constantly referring to the need for dialogue with different traditions of thought and the recognition of the mutual influences that these traditions have exerted. During the lessons of this module, we will analyse cases, currently under study, of philosophers and historians of philosophy who have innovated the comparative method, freeing themselves from the attitude of the Orientalist, and rethought philosophy and its purpose starting from a critical examination of the Western canon.
27 aprile 2026 h. 12-14 seminar room;
4 maggio 2026 h. 12-14 seminar room;
13 maggio 2026 h. 12-14 seminar room:
20 maggio 2026 h. 12-14 seminar room.
WILLEM LEMMENS
Monday, April 27
The Fate of Faith and Religion in the Enlightenment: introduction
(This talk will put the series of talks in context, ao on the basis of recent work of Jürgen
Habermas, Hans Joas, Charles Taylor and Robert Bellah)
Thursday, April 30
Spinoza on true religion and the emancipation of historical religion
Thursday, May 7
Hume: the voice of irreligion and the propagation of an ethics of humanity
Thursday, May 14
Kant: from moral metaphysics to a faith of reason
_____ ______ ______ REGULAR WORKSHOPS ______ ______ ______
SOURCES AND TOOLS FOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION RETRIEVAL
Elisabetta Tamburrini (Director of the Philosophy Library)
February 12, 2026, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Lecture Hall III, Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofia (Città universitaria)
PERMANENT SEMINAR IN GENDER STUDIES AND PRACTICES OF DIFFERENCE
Lecturers in charge: Caterina Botti, Maria Chiara Giorgi
PhD students in charge: Bianca Monteleone, Norma Felli
Scientific secretary: Martina Barnaba (research fellow)
Slaves, different and eccentric. Some turning points in feminist thought between history and current events.
This series of meetings offers a critical reinterpretation of the thinking of Mary Wollstonecraft, Luce Irigaray, and Teresa de Lauretis, key figures in three theoretical turning points that have marked the history of feminism. The aim is not only to reconstruct the contributions that each author has made to the feminist and philosophical debate, but also to question their ability to speak to the present, exploring how their perspectives can function as theoretical and critical tools for addressing current social and political issues.
Calendar:
March 20 Carlotta Cossutta (University of Milan)
What is a woman? Education, femininity, and power in Mary Wollstonecraft
04/15 Viola Carofalo (L'Orientale University of Naples)
Luce Irigaray: the difference between subjectivation and subjection
05/03 Federico Zappino (University of Sassari)
An eccentric feminism: Teresa De Lauretis, theorist (and critic) of queer
PERMANENT SEMINAR ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE. THEORIES AND HISTORY
Lecturers in charge: Prof. Marina De Palo, Filomena Diodato, Marco Mazzeo
PhD students in charge: Claudia Cicerchia, Francesco Verde
Contemporary classics: authors and themes
The meetings will be an opportunity to discuss some classics of the debate that animates contemporary philosophy of language.
This is an initial survey, necessarily partial, which draws This is an initial survey, necessarily partial, which draws
inspiration above all from recent publications that demonstrate the theoretical vitality of authors
(Saussure, Wittgenstein, Vygotsky) and themes (the relationship between body and language, the specific
anthropology of spoken languages) central to the so-called “Roman School”.
Calendar:
-17 February Alessandra Falzone (University of Messina) presents with F. Diodato (Sapienza University of
Rome) the book by S. Gallagher, “Paradigms of embodied and enactive cognition”, Mimesis 2025.
Discussant: C. Cicerchia (PhD in philosophy, Sapienza)
- 25 February Valentina Bisconti (University of Picardie) presents, with one of the authors, M. De Palo (
Sapienza University of Rome), the volume ‘The Bloomsbury Handbook of Saussure’ (Bloomsbury 2025).
Discussant S. Dellino (PhD in Philosophy, Sapienza)
-6 March M. Mazzeo (Sapienza University of Rome) presents, together with the author Silvana Borutti (University of
Pavia), the book ‘Fare filosofia con Wittgenstein’ (Einaudi 2025). Discussant E. Morè (PhD in
Philosophy, Sapienza University of Rome)
-20 March F. Albano Leoni (University of Naples Federico II) presents, together with author F. Cotugno
(University of Naples Federico II), the book ‘Intendi? Come gli umani riconoscono il parlato naturale’ (Do you understand? How humans recognise natural speech)
(Aracne, 2025). Discussant: A. Bertollini (University of Palermo)
-17 April M. Mazzeo (Sapienza University of Rome) presents ‘Psychology of Art’ by L. Vygotsky
(Editori Riuniti 1972). Discussant F. Verde (PhD in Philosophy, Sapienza University of Rome)
PERMANENT SEMINAR ON THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY
SEMINARIO PERMANENTE DI STORIA DELLA FILOSOFIA
Lecturer in charge: Francesco Fronterotta
PhD students in charge: Livia Blundo, Filippo Bruni, Anna Leonilde Bucarelli, Vincenzo Antonio Fusco, Davide Pasanisi, Giulia Rescigno
Metaphysics is said in many senses.Historical figures of an anonymous science (II)
Calendario
Giovedì 15 gennaio 2026, Aula II - 15.00-18.00
Riccardo Chiaradonna (Univ. Roma Tre), Nozioni comuni e verità prime: i principi della scienza da Galeno a Plotino
Luisa Valente (Sapienza Univ. di Roma), La metafisica prima della Metafisica. La figura e il pensiero di Gilberto di Poitiers (m. 1154)
Giovedì 22 gennaio 2026, Aula II - 15.00-18.00
Diana Quarantotto (Sapienza Univ. di Roma), Aristotele e la costruzione fisica della metafisica
Gennaro Imbriano (Alma Mater Studiorum Univ. di Bologna), «Un tempio riccamente ornato, ma privo di santuario». Su Kant e la metafisica nella Scienza della Logica di Hegel
Giovedì 29 gennaio 2026 - Aula Seminari - 15.00-16.30
Pietro Secchi (Liceo classico di Roma “F. Vivona”), I fondamenti metafisici della magia
Giovedì 5 febbraio 2026, Aula II - 15.00-18.00
Pasquale Terracciano (Univ. di Roma Tor Vergata), I confini della metafisica nelle Conclusiones di Pico
della Mirandola
Alfredo Ferrarin (Pisa SNS), La metafisica in Kant
Giovedì 12 febbraio 2026, Aula II - 15.00-18.00
Carlo Altini (Univ. di Modena e Reggio Emilia), Il meccanicismo in Hobbes: tra filosofia prima e teologia
Elena Alessiato (Univ. Suor Orsola Benincasa), Trascendenza e ragione. Cenni di metafisica jaspersiana
Giovedì 19 febbraio 2026, Aula II - 15.00-18.00
Geminello Preterossi (Univ. di Salerno), Teologia politica e metafisica moderna
Emidio Spinelli (Sapienza Univ. di Roma), Hans Jonas e il sistema “metafisico” di Platone: dualità, ma non dualismo?
Giovedì 26 febbraio 2026, Aula II - 15.00-18.00
Andrea Bocchetti (Univ. di Napoli Federico II), Oltrepassamento o compimento? Nietzsche e la metafisica
Elisabetta Basso (Univ. di Pavia), Il manoscritto del giovane Foucault su Binswanger e l'analisi esistenziale