AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Public ethics concerns the study of methodologies and justifications for socially and politically relevant choices that raise questions about the relationship between individuals, groups, organisations and institutions both locally and globally. Among the fundamental issues it addresses are: environmental issues, inequalities and discrimination, health, immigration, rules and ways of managing economic relations, in profit and non-profit organisations, and company relations. The educational objective of the teaching is to provide knowledge and develop competencies aimed at giving reasons for the critical and considered evaluation of social, public and institutional decisions and the principles and rules according to which they are made. Aims and Learning Outcomes Knowledge of the main contemporary theories relating to public ethics and its sectorial language Acquisition of skills aimed at argumentation and the formulation of judgments giving reasons and skills for their communication taking into account the contexts in which it takes place Ability to deal with the analysis and discussion of relevant cases in public debate and at a professional level Development of awareness of methodologies and strategies for making considered judgements concerning choices in the various areas of public ethics and, in particular, at a professional level Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to: 1. Identify and describe the main theoretical models related to public ethics; 2. Elaborate, formulate and justify judgements and decision-making strategies; 3. Apply the theories to the study of professionally relevant cases; 4. Give reasons for choices and decisions at the methodological and substantive level

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The fundamental aim of the teaching is to develop an understanding of the methodologies and strategies employed in forming well-considered judgements regarding choices in the various fields of public ethics, through the acquisition of argumentation competencies and the ability to communicate these effectively, taking into account the contexts in which they arise.

By the end of the course, students will be able to: 1. Identify and describe the main theoretical models relating to public ethics; 2. Develop, formulate and justify judgements and decision-making strategies; 3. Apply theories to the study of professionally relevant case studies; 4. Justify choices and decisions at both a methodological and substantive level.

TEACHING METHODS

1. Lectures, aimed at providing the conceptual tools, vocabulary and key expressions of the sector-specific language of the discipline

2. Interactive lessons based on questions and requests for further information from students. This method also includes peer-to-peer lessons

3. Group work

Lessons will be supported by the use of slides, videos and testimonials, which will be published on AulaWeb.

Delivery-based teaching:

In-person classes 18 hours, of which: 4 lectures; 10 interactive sessions; 4 group work sessions

Synchronus distance learning or hybrid learning 12 hours, of which: 2 lectures; 8 interactive sessions; 2 group work sessions

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs), disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the teacher and the School's contact person for disability at the beginning of teaching to agree on possible teaching arrangements that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning patterns. Contacts of the teacher and the School's disability contact person can be found at the following link Comitato di Ateneo per l’inclusione delle studentesse e degli studenti con disabilità o con DSA | UniGe | Università di Genova

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The programme is divided into two parts. The first, introductory part is dedicated to the paradigm of public ethics with particular reference to the relationship between ethics and politics (ethical neutrality and political neutrality, political moralism and realism; politics and anti-politics; the republican ethos and the Italian Constitution). The second part concerns toleration and its central role in public debate. The key themes are: the ethical and political issues surrounding toleration at local and global levels; the justifications for toleration; toleration and intolerance; toleration as a modus vivendi; tolerantion and political neutrality; tolerantion, pluralism and political liberalism. Both parts involve  case studies relevant to public ethics.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

G. Pellegrino, Etica pubblica, LUISS University Press, Roma 2025

P. Ricoeur, Tolleranza, intolleranza, intollerabile, tr.it., Morcelliana, Brescia 2024

Non-attending students are required to supplement the programme with the following articles (all available in open access):

F. Manti, La neutralità politica come principio deontologico, in Etica e politica, vol. 17, No. 3, 2015, pp. 247-261

F. Manti, Good Government and Participatory  Democracy. A Model  of Social Partnership, in Philosophy and Public Issue, Vol. 7, No. 3, 2017, pp.123-156

F. Manti, Identity, identification and the “invention” of nation, in Philosophy and Public Issues (New Series), Vol. 10, No. 2, 2020, pp. 153 - 193

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ALESSANDRA MODUGNO (President)

FRANCO MANTI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

21 September 2026 – 10.00 am

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination.

Structure of the examination:

Oral exam on topics relating to the two parts of the programme

Analysis of cases related to the programme and relevant to the profession

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The examination aims to assess:

Knowledge of the programme content and any personal insights

Ability to argue, present clearly and develop personal ideas

Competence relating to connections between different programme content and interdisciplinary topics, logical consistency in presentation.

The evaluation grid  is available on AulaWeb.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Subject matter expert:

Dott.ssa Luisa Bellissimo

E-mail: luisa.bellissimo@edu.unige.it