POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY I

The course fits into the degree course, because it allows students to know some of the major philosophical-political positions and their underlying concepts. Having achieved this result, students should be able to better evaluate the grounds of political obligation and to understand the main issues that animate the contemporary political debate.

By the end of the course, the students should be able to 1) understand the meaning and the scope of the concepts discussed during the course; 2) reflect critically about them; 3) apply them to the different political issues that animate our contemporary world.

Students must have a good level of general education.

Course Topic:
The theories of justice in the contemporary world: John Rawls

The renaissance of political philosophy in the contemporary world is due to the publication in 1971 of John Rawls' A Theory of Justice. In this course, the structure and content of the book will be analysed, focusing on its novelties (the contractual re-conceptualisation of the civil and political order, for example), as well as its more problematic elements.

Textbooks (provisional list):
John Rawls, Una teoria della giustizia, ed. it. di S. Maffettone, Feltrinelli, Milano 1983.
The handbook of political philosophy:
Stefano Petrucciani, Modelli di filosofia politica, Einaudi, Torino 1983.

Textbooks (provisional list):
John Rawls, Una teoria della giustizia, ed. it. di S. Maffettone, Feltrinelli, Milano 1983.
Il manuale di filosofia politica:
Stefano Petrucciani, Modelli di filosofia politica, Einaudi, Torino 1983.

The following list does not cover the textbooks. It covers some texts I could mention during the lectures.

J. Habermas, Solidarietà fra estranei, trad. it. di L. Ceppa, Guerini, Milano 1997.
J. Habermas, Storia e critica dell'opinione pubblica, trad. it di A. Illuminati, F. Masini e W. Perretta, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2005.
J. Habermas, Teoria dell'agire comunicativo, trad. it di P. Rinaudo, il Mulino, Bologna 1986, 2 voll.
Th. Hobbes, Leviatano, ed. it. di A. Pacchi, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2014.
H. Kelsen, Lineamenti di dottrina pura del diritto, ed. it. a cura di M. G. Losano, Einaudi, Torino 1966.
N. Luhmann, Potere e complessità sociale, trad. it. di R. Schmidt e D. Zolo, il Saggiatore, Milano 2010.
J.J. Rousseau, Contratto sociale, in Id., Scritti politici, ed. it. a cura di M. Garin, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1994.
M. Weber, Economia e società, ed. it. a cura di P. Rossi, Edizioni di Comunità, Torino 1986.

As in the previous academic years, the exam will be oral. It will be structured in the following manner: students are required to answer four questions related to the contents developed within the course and the textbooks. Furthermore, the questions will be aimed to test the understanding of the conceptual contents and to develop the capacity to reflect critically on them.
In order to pass the exam, at least three out of four questions must be answered. Each of the four answers thus corresponds to 25% of the final grade. However, it must be borne in mind, over and above the percentage scheme, that the assessment of an exam always involves a unitary understanding of the performance provided, an overall assessment of argumentative skills. The percentage scheme will therefore only serve as a general guideline for the assessment.
By correct answers, it is meant both the exact reproduction of the contents of the textbooks and the ability to explain them in a rich and precise manner, employing the appropriate terminology. All philosophical, historical and political knowledge relevant to the questions asked each time can of course be used to answer them.
The exam takes about twenty-five minutes.
The textbooks and the assessment methods are not different for non attending students. The latter are, though, invited to contact me (via email) in order to get an overview of the course.

oral

Regarding the grading scale for the oral exam:

A. Scores in the range of 18-22 will be assigned for:

- Sufficient knowledge of the textbooks and related topics

- Limited ability to use data and form independent judgments

- Sufficient communication skills.

B. Scores in the range of 23-26 will be assigned for:

- Fair knowledge of the textbooks and related topics

- Fair ability to use data and form independent judgments

- Fair communication skills.

C. Scores in the range of 27-30 will be assigned for:

- Good or excellent knowledge of the textbooks and related topics

- Good or excellent ability to use data and form independent judgments

- Fully appropriate communication skills.

D. The “laude” will be awarded to students with excellent knowledge and comprehension of the textbooks and related topics.

The course will be realized by using the frontal lecture as teaching method. However, the student participation will be encouraged.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development