OVERVIEW

The course “Rights of Freedom and Social Rights” offers an analytical overview of the major transformations reshaping the relationships between individuals, social groups, and public power within the technological and environmental context in which contemporary constitutionalism is evolving. In this perspective, the course will approach constitutional law not only as a cultural and normative system, but also through the natural and emotional dimension of human coexistence.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning outcomes are the following: (a) allowing the student to study in more detail, human rights and fundamental freedoms, which they have already studied at the beginning of their University career. In particular the course will focus on a single human right or fundamental freedom; (b) learning how to study human rights and fundamental freedoms not only via a theoretical approach but also through a practical analysis of the Italian Constitutional Court’s, European Court of Justice’s and European Court of Human Right’s relevant case law.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, students will be expected to achieve the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding

• acquire knowledge of the constitutional principles concerning rights of freedom and social rights within the framework of contemporary technological, digital, and environmental transformations;
• understand the evolution of the categories of subjectivity, identity, citizenship, and forms of coexistence in the age of digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and robotics;
• acquire knowledge of the main judicial approaches concerning fundamental rights, with particular regard to self-determination, affective relationships, environmental protection, and new technologies.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding

• critically interpret legal texts, judicial decisions, and contemporary social phenomena;
• apply the categories of constitutional law to the analysis of transformations produced by digitalization, algorithms, artificial intelligence, and environmental and health emergencies;
• identify the constitutional, ethical, and emotional implications arising from new forms of communication, social relations, and interactions between human beings and technological systems.

Autonomy thinking

• develop critical thinking with regard to the relationship between freedom, security, sustainability, technological innovation, and the protection of the person;
• reflect on the role of law and politics in regulating human relationships, new forms of coexistence, and social and environmental conflicts;
• develop awareness of the impact of digital and robotic technologies on human subjectivity itself.

Communication skills

• appropriately use constitutional and legal terminology, also with reference to technological and digital phenomena;
• clearly and critically discuss issues relating to fundamental rights, also emphasizing their relational and emotional dimensions.

Learning skills

• acquire methodological tools useful for further study of contemporary transformations in constitutional law and fundamental rights;
• develop autonomous skills of study and critical analysis regarding contemporary legal, technological, social, and environmental phenomena.

PREREQUISITES

To deal with the contents of this course without difficulty, it is essential that the student possess the knowledge of constitutional law (and in particular regarding the study of fundamental freedoms).

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of lectures for a total of 36 hours (6 ECTS credits).

Teaching activities will mainly be carried out through lectures, supplemented by guided discussions, analysis of judicial cases, legal materials, and interdisciplinary perspectives.

Particular attention will be devoted to contemporary phenomena related to technological, environmental, and social transformations, also through the use of digital materials, multimedia content, and current events.

Classes will aim to encourage students’ active participation and the development of critical and argumentative skills concerning the issues addressed during the course.

Occasionally, public officials, scholars, and experts may be invited to hold seminars on topics of particular interest and relevance, in order to help students gain greater awareness of the practical and applied dimensions of the subject.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs are invited to contact the lecturer and the Department disability coordinator at the beginning of the course in order to agree on possible teaching arrangements consistent with the learning objectives of the course and respectful of individual learning needs.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course will focus in particular on the following topics:

1. Natural family and forms of coexistence
   Individual identities and affective relationships
2. Groups, pluralism, and democracy
   Social formations and institutional pluralism
   Contemporary democratic transformations
3. Environment and ecological constitutionalism
   Nature, technology, and future generations
4. Robotics and (post-)humanity
   Fundamental rights in the age of androids and humanoids

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For attending students it will be sufficient to study on the notes and material provided by the teacher in class and reported on Aulaweb

Textbook for non-attending students chosen between:

L. Trucco, Natura e Sentimento nel Diritto, Milano, Mimesis, 2024

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

I semester from September 2025
 

Class schedule

FREEDOM RIGHT AND SOCIAL RIGHTS

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination consists of an oral exam normally structured around three/four open-ended questions aimed at assessing the student’s understanding of the protection of freedoms and fundamental rights, also through a reasoned commentary on one or more judicial decisions included in the course syllabus.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment of learning outcomes is intended to verify:

• knowledge of the topics covered during the course;
• the ability to critically understand contemporary transformations affecting fundamental rights;
• the ability to connect legal, technological, environmental, and social aspects;
• the appropriate use of constitutional and legal terminology;
• autonomy in analysis and argumentation regarding the issues addressed during the course.

Students holding a valid certification of disability or a diagnosis of Specific Learning Disorders (SLD/DSA) may request compensatory measures during examinations (e.g. additional time, concept maps, adjustments to written/oral examination formats), following the procedure indicated in the official guidelines (p. 5) published by the University. For further information, students may contact the Department’s disability and inclusion coordinator at: Isa.fanlo@unige.it

FURTHER INFORMATION

Ask the professor for other information not included in the teaching schedule