Introduction to Political Philosophy as a peculiar field of studies: nature, history, authors, issues, theretical approaches.
Course Content - Last names M-Z
First module
Ideal and non ideal theories of justice. Sen's spproch to justice.
Teorie ideali e teorie non ideali della giustizia. Il contributo di Amartya Sen.
Second module
Tolerance and multicuturalism. The reformulation of the modern idea of tolerance in John Rawls's Political Liberalism.
Third module
Contemporary feminist thought: an introduction to the second and the third wave.
(1) Stefano PETRUCCIANI, Modelli di filosofia politica, Einaudi, Torino 2003 [282 pp.].
and one more to be chosen among the two following:
(2a) Alessandro PASSERIN D'ENTREVES, La dottrina dello Stato. Elementi di analisi e di interpretazione (1967), Terza edizione: prefazione di Eligio Resta, postfazione di Enrica Rigo, Giappichelli, Torino 2009 [XVIII+366 pp.].
(2b) Michael WALZER, Spheres of Justice (1983), It.trans. Sfere di giustizia, Feltrinelli, Milano 1987 (out of commerce); Laterza, Roma-Bari 2008 [available, 335 pp.].
First module:
Amartya Sen, The Idea of Justice, Cambridge University press, Cambridge, Mass. 2009.
Second module:
John Rawls, Political Liberalism, Columbia University Press, New York 2003 (expanded edition).
Third module:
Choose one of the following books:
Judith Butler, Undoing Gender, Routledge, London 2004.
or
Silvia Federici, Revolution at point zero, PM Press, 2012
Learning Objectives - Last names A-L
Learning to (a) recognize the ideal orientations behind political actors, as well as (b) critically discuss the problems they raise – in philosophical, rather than ideological, terms.
Learning Objectives - Last names M-Z
The course aims at developing analytical and critical capabilities and at clarifying the precise meaning of particular claims.
Prerequisites - Last names A-L
Some previous acquaintance with the history of political thought, as well as a HighSchool-level knowledge of general philosophy, will turn useful. However, the teacher will provide all explanations that are needed, whenever asked to.
Prerequisites - Last names M-Z
Knowledge of the history of political doctrines.
Teaching Methods - Last names A-L
Lectures (about 70 hours).
Teaching Methods - Last names M-Z
Frontal lessons and seminars.
Further information - Last names A-L
However not compulsory, regularly attending the course turns out useful, and is highly recommended.
Type of Assessment - Last names A-L
The exam, only written, will include (A) a closed-answer questionnaire consisting in a set of multiple-choice questions on a broad variety of issues, followed by (B) a couple of open questions requiring a longer answer of about half-to-one page each. Getting a pass mark in the overall questionnaire will be considered a precondition for the longer answers to be read and evaluated.
Type of Assessment - Last names M-Z
Written examination.
Course program - Last names A-L
1st module: Political Philosophy: its definition and tasks. Models of Political Philosophy.
2nd module: Political Philosophy and/or Social Philosophy.
2rd module: Theories of Justice.
Course program - Last names M-Z
First module
Ideal and non ideal theories of justice. Sen's spproch to justice.
Teorie ideali e teorie non ideali della giustizia. Il contributo di Amartya Sen.
Second module
Tolerance and multicuturalism. The reformulation of the modern idea of tolerance in John Rawls's Political Liberalism.
Third module
Contemporary feminist thought: an introduction to the second and the third wave.