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

Providing students with a conceptual overview of the main classical and contemporary theories regarding the political order and the most important concepts related to it (justice, legitimacy, political normativity, inclusion and exclusion). Comparing the main key models and understanding their regulatory implications. Learning about the argumentative structures of the main theoretical families of political philosophy which characterize their differences.

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. 

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

Reading list for attending students  

• J. Rawls, Una teoria della giustizia (§§ 1-40), Feltrinelli

a text 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)

Reading list for non attending students: 

• J. Rawls, Una teoria della giustizia (§§ 1-40), Feltrinelli
• S. Maffettone, Introduzione a Rawls, Laterza (pp. 17-78)

one text 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)

and the chapter of the chosen author in the following handbook: 

O. Guaraldo, A. Salvatore, F. Zuolo (a cura di), Manuale di filosofia politica. Dai sofisti a Arendt, Quodlibet 2022 

Check the slides in AulaWeb ( https://2023.aulaweb.unige.it/course/view.php?id=9126 ) for further information. 

Reading the following handbook is advisable, not compulsory, for all students: O. Guaraldo, A. Salvatore, F. Zuolo (a cura di), Manuale di filosofia politica. Dai sofisti a Arendt.  

Check the slides in AulaWeb ( https://2023.aulaweb.unige.it/course/view.php?id=9126 ) for further information. 

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

Paolo BODINI (Substitute)

VALERIA OTTONELLI (Substitute)

MARIA SILVIA VACCAREZZA (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

17 february 2025

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination 

Exam schedule