OVERVIEW

This course aims to provide the students with a basic knowledge of the most important models of political order by analyzing the most relevant theories in the history of Western political thought.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course aims to

• provide the students with a conceptual overview of the main classical and contemporary theories concerning political order and of the most important related concepts (justice, legitimacy, political normativity, inclusion and exclusion);
• Compare different models of political order and draw their normative implications;
• Investigate the different argumentative strategies of the main traditions in political philosophy.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Capacity to understand and use some fundamental concepts in political philosophy

• Legitimacy and political order 
• Realism vs. idealism
• Monism vs. institutionalism 
• Artificial vs natural order 
• Contract vs. convention 

Capacity to apply these concepts to the interpretation of the classical texts 

Capacity to reconstruct the main arguments of the classical texts 

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures will be held in presence, if possible. But students will have the oppurtunity to attend online lectures too (the code to attend classes on Teams platform will be provided here in due course). 

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The most important models of political order will be critically analysed. In particular, the course will investigate the following traditions as competing paradigms: idealism vs realism, artificialism vs naturalism, contractualism vs conventionalism, monism vs. institutionalism. Such investigation will be addressed via the analysis of the political theories of Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hume, Bentham, Mill, and Rawls.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For all

• S. Petrucciani, Modelli di filosofia politica, Einaudi
• J. Rawls, Una teoria della giustizia (§§ 1-40), Feltrinelli

One among the following

• Platone, Repubblica (libri 1-4), trad. M. Vegetti, Rizzoli
• T. Hobbes, Leviatano (parte I-II), Laterza
• J. Locke, Trattato sul governo (tutto il secondo trattato)
• D. Hume, Trattato sulla natura umana (libro III), Laterza + J.S. Mill, L’utilitarismo, in La libertà. L’utilitarismo. L’asservimento delle donne, Rizzoli
• J.-J. Rousseau, Il contratto sociale (qualsiasi edizione recente)

Further suggested readings (not compulsory)

T. Magri, Contratto e convenzione, Roma-Bari, Laterza

V. Ottonelli, Leggere Rawls, Bologna, Il Mulino

M. Reichlin, L’utilitarismo, il Mulino

M. Vegetti, Il potere della verità. Saggi platonici, Carocci  

S. Veca, Filosofia politica, Roma-Bari, Laterza 2003

The reading list might change before the course begins. 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

FEDERICO ZUOLO (President)

CORRADO FUMAGALLI

MARIA SILVIA VACCAREZZA (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The starting date will be communicated as soon as possible. 

Class schedule

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

EXAMS

Exam schedule