OVERVIEW

The course is divided into three parts: the first is devoted to the definition of ethics, ethical competence, and the relationship between ethics and professional ethics; the second to the study of ethical issues relating to inequalities and social justice, with particular reference to the new inequalities brought about by globalisation; the relationship between merit and social justice, and equity; and the third to the analysis of poverty and its ethical and social implications.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

- acquire knowledge of the relationship between individual and public ethics with particular reference to the security-insecurity pair - know the fundamental issues concerning the relationship between ethics - applied ethics - professional ethics - know, on the basis of an interdisciplinary approach, the main problems and moral dilemmas concerning inequalities, social justice, equal opportunities - acquire the ability to analyse contexts according to the methodologies and modalities of applied ethics - acquire the ability to analyse and reflect on the ethical implications of social inequalities, equal opportunities and poverty - know how to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to the analysis and resolution of moral dilemmas, with particular reference to the professional ethical dimension of the socio-educational educator

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attendance and active participation in the proposed training activities (lectures and interactive lessons) together with individual study will enable the student to :
- know the fundamental issues relating to the relationship between ethics - applied ethics - professional ethics
- know, on the basis of an interdisciplinary approach, the main moral problems and dilemmas concerning inequalities, social justice and equal opportunities
- acquire the ability to analyse contexts in accordance with the methodologies and methods of applied ethics 
- acquire the ability to analyse and reflect on the ethical implications of social inequalities, equal opportunities and poverty
- know how to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to the analysis and resolution of moral dilemmas, with particular reference to the professional ethical dimension of the socio-educational educator

PREREQUISITES

The following basic knowledge is necessary to deal effectively with the teaching content
- fundamental vocabulary of ethics
- the main types of ethics: teleological ethics; deontological ethics; eudemonistic ethics; rationalist ethics; autonomous ethics; heteronomous ethics; emotivist ethics; utilitarian ethics; formal ethics; substantive ethics

TEACHING METHODS

1. Lectures at the beginning of the course, aimed at providing the concentric tools, vocabulary and key expressions of the discipline's sectorial language
2. Interactive lectures based on students' questions and requests for further information. Peer-to-peer lessons are also envisaged within this modality
3. Case studies
The lectures will be supported with the use of slides and documents that will be published on the Aulaweb  

Students with disabilities, with a Specific Learning Disorder (SLD), or with Special Educational Needs (SEN) are reminded that, in order to request exam accommodations, they must first submit their certification to the University’s Office for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and SLD.

After this step, students with a disability or SLD who wish to request exam accommodations are required to complete the online form available on the following page: Services for Students with Disabilities or SLD | UniGe | University of Genoa.

Students with SEN, instead, must send an e‑mail to the course instructor, copying the School Representative for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and SLD (laura.traverso@unige.it) and the “Student Inclusion” Office (inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it). The e‑mail must specify:

the title of the course

the date of the exam session

the student’s surname, name, and student ID number

the compensatory tools and dispensatory measures considered necessary and requested

For all students, accommodation requests must be submitted well in advance (7 working days) before the exam date. Requests submitted after this deadline may not be accepted.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The teaching is divided into three parts:
- introduction to ethics
- analysis of ethical-social issues concerning the relationship between equality, inequality, social justice and that between justice, merit and equity
 - analysis of poverty from the modern age to the present day and its social-ethical implications  

The teaching contributes to the achievement of the following Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda:

Goal10.Reduce inequality within and among countries

Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective,accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

B. Giovanola (a cura di), Etica, giustizia sociale, diseguaglianze, Carocci Editore, Roma 2016

N.Cola, Una Teoria Sistemica Della Cura, Mimesis, Milano, 2024

For non-attending students

M. De Caro, S.F.Magni, M.S. Vaccarezza, Le sfide dell'Etica, Mondadori, Milano, 2021 Cap. 2, 8, 9, 10

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MAURO MIGLIAVACCA (President)

NATASHA COLA (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Wednesday, 5 November, 2025

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral
The examination is structured as follows:
- Colloquium concerning fundamental aspects of ethics
- Colloquium on topics covered in the adopted texts
- Case studies

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The examination is designed to assess                                                                                                                                                   

 - knowledge relating to ethics and the topics covered in the books adopted (maximum mark 10/30)

-skils relating to argumentation, mastery of sectorial language, clarity of exposition, personal reworking (maximum mark 7/30)

- competencies in developing links between the various parts into which the teaching programme is divided and between different disciplines, with particular reference to the ethical implications of analyses produced by the various social sciences (maximum mark 7/30)

- analytical and argumentation skills relating to case studies (maximum mark 6/30)

FURTHER INFORMATION

Subject matter experts:

Dr. Luisa Bellissimo

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