Mimesis International

Despite the significance of suffering, illness, and disability, for long time little attention has been devoted to the moral flourishing of individuals living with chronic diseases. Instead, philosophers have primarily focus on examining healthcare providers’ virtues as well as those traits that are relevant to patient-caregiver relationships. This work aims to prioritize patients’ experiences, exploring the compatibility between illness and individual moral progress, while also identifying virtues that can help them in coping with their condition and enhancing their overall well-being. In summary, the book offers a nuanced understanding of the role of character in fostering functional coping and positive adaptation and promoting “illfullness”, the flourishing of the sick person amidst their illness.

The history of the Italian peninsula is characterized by exposure to natural hazards due to geological fragility, intense volcanic and seismic activity, and hydrographic vulnerability associated with the Mediterranean climate. This volume aims to explore how Italian cinema, audiovisual imagery, and visual culture have reflected on this distinctive feature of the Italian territory and landscape. In doing so, it questions the very concept of catastrophe, beginning with its being visible: can catastrophe actually be seen? In what ways can it be represented? And how do images of catastrophe contribute to the development of a collective identity? Through different disciplinary approaches — primarily film studies, but also philosophy and sociology — the volume seeks to offer a new perspective on Italian cinema and visual culture.