POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

The course fits into the degree course, because it aims to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the major philosophical-political approaches. Nonetheless, the course has not only the goal to provide an understanding of the primary and secondary bibliography related to the subject-matters, because it also aims to frame the social, political and cultural changes in the modern and contemporary world in the light of the fundamental philosophical-political concepts.

By the end of the course, the students should be able to 1) understand the meaning and the scope of the concepts discussed during the course; 2) reflect critically and autonomously about them; 3) apply them to the different political issues that animate our contemporary world. In order to achieve this result, the students will be familiarized with the basic aspects of the philosophico-political field and the main theoretical and interpretive traditions which have accompanied it.

Laurea magistrale (master's degree) students wishing to attend the course should be familiar with the basic concepts of political philosophy.

Course Topic:
Absolute Knowing and Politics

The course will examine one of the questions that is re-emerging with increasing force in contemporary philosophy, at least within the framework of that 'speculative turn' which seems to characterize some of its currents: what relationship exists, if any, between the notion of the 'absolute' — characteristic of classical German philosophy — and the problem of politics, understood as the organization of human communities according to alternative collective ends? The course will proceed by first commenting on the passages in Hegelian philosophy where this relationship is nonetheless posited and configured, before turning, in its concluding section, to the meaning of a contemporary revival of the theme.

Textbooks:
1. G.W.F. Hegel, La fenomenologia dello spirito, trad. it. di Gianluca Garelli, Einaudi, Torino 2008, pp. 517-532 (il sapere assoluto).
2. G.W.F. Hegel, Scienza della logica, trad. it. di A. Moni rivista da C. Cesa, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1996, vol. II, pp. 935-957 (l'idea assoluta).
3. G.W.F. Hegel, Enciclopedia delle scienze filosofiche, trad. it. di Valerio Verra, Utet, Torino 1995, parr. 553-577.
4. Adriaan Peperzak, Autoconoscenza dell'assoluto. Lineamenti della filosofia dello spirito hegeliana, Bibliopolis, Napoli 1988.
5. Paolo Vinci, Commentario della "Fenomenologia dello spirito". Il sapere assoluto, Istituto italiano per gli studi filosofici press, Napoli 2021.

Textbooks:
1. G.W.F. Hegel, La fenomenologia dello spirito, trad. it. di Gianluca Garelli, Einaudi, Torino 2008, pp. 517-532 (il sapere assoluto).
2. G.W.F. Hegel, Scienza della logica, trad. it. di A. Moni rivista da C. Cesa, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1996, vol. II, pp. 935-957 (l'idea assoluta).
3. G.W.F. Hegel, Enciclopedia delle scienze filosofiche, trad. it. di Valerio Verra, Utet, Torino 1995, parr. 553-577.
4. Adriaan Peperzak, Autoconoscenza dell'assoluto. Lineamenti della filosofia dello spirito hegeliana, Bibliopolis, Napoli 1988.
5. Paolo Vinci, Commentario della "Fenomenologia dello spirito". Il sapere assoluto, Istituto italiano per gli studi filosofici press, Napoli 2021.

The following list does not cover the textbooks. It covers some texts I could mention during the lectures.

J. Habermas, Solidarietà fra estranei, trad. it. di L. Ceppa, Guerini, Milano 1997.
J. Habermas, Teoria dell'agire comunicativo, trad. it di P. Rinaudo, il Mulino, Bologna 1986, 2 voll.
Th. Hobbes, Leviatano, ed. it. di A. Pacchi, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2014.
H. Kelsen, Lineamenti di dottrina pura del diritto, ed. it. a cura di M. G. Losano, Einaudi, Torino 1966.
N. Luhmann, Potere e complessità sociale, trad. it. di R. Schmidt e D. Zolo, il Saggiatore, Milano 2010.
J. Rawls, Una teoria della giustizia, ed. it. di S. Maffettone, Feltrinelli, Milano 1983.
J.J. Rousseau, Contratto sociale, in Id., Scritti politici, ed. it. a cura di M. Garin, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1994.
M. Weber, Economia e società, ed. it. a cura di P. Rossi, Edizioni di Comunità, Torino 1986.

As in the previous academic years, though, the exam will be oral. It will be structured in the following manner: students are required to answer four questions related to the contents developed within the course and the textbooks. Furthermore, the questions will be aimed to test the understanding of the conceptual contents and to develop the capacity to reflect critically on them. In order to pass the exam, at least three questions must be answered. The exam takes about twenty-five minutes.
The textbooks and the assessment methods are not different for non attending students. The latter are, though, invited to contact me (via email) in order to get an overview of the course.

oral

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

Regarding the grading scale for the oral exam:

A. Scores in the range of 18-22 will be assigned for:

- Sufficient knowledge of the textbooks and related topics

- Limited ability to use data and form independent judgments

- Sufficient communication skills.

B. Scores in the range of 23-26 will be assigned for:

- Fair knowledge of the textbooks and related topics

- Fair ability to use data and form independent judgments

- Fair communication skills.

C. Scores in the range of 27-30 will be assigned for:

- Good or excellent knowledge of the textbooks and related topics

- Good or excellent ability to use data and form independent judgments

- Fully appropriate communication skills.

D. The “laude” will be awarded to students with excellent knowledge and comprehension of the textbooks and related topics.

The teaching will be delivered in a frontal style, but the student participation will be encouraged and an interactive classroom strategy will be developed.