The course of Social Philosophy is part of the program in Philosophical Sciences (MA level) and is included among the characterising training activities. The objective of the course is to provide an in-depth understanding of some aspects of the essential issues and debates connected to the field of Social Philosophy. The course aims at achieving specific skills related to fundamental structures of social nexus. It aims also at developing critical abilities in order to deal with contemporary debates in social philosophy.Students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to discuss and to develop arguments both in a theoretical and philosophical perspective. Upon completion of the course students are expected to acquire the following skills: 1) advanced critical thinking and its relation to wider issues; 2) advanced language and argumentation skills required to the issues discussed in the course; 3) capacity to read and analyse philosophical sources and the relevant critical debate.
teacher profile teaching materials
Through the course, students will address one of the dominant themes in the contemporary public debate, particularly but not only in Italy: corruption. The topic will be addressed looking at two domains defined on the basis of two distinct - though intimately intertwined - roots of the phenomenon: politics and economics. As far as the relationship between politics and corruption is concerned, the republican orientation will be taken into consideration, from the Renaissance to the twentieth century. As for the relationship between economics and corruption, the contrasting approaches of the 18th and 19th centuries, utilitarianism and materialism, will be examined. Finally, some characteristic features of corruption in economic and political globalization will be investigated.
Saint-Just L.A., Frammenti sulle istituzioni repubblicane (ed. Einaudi o Sugar);
Arendt H., Cos’è l’autorità? (VI paragrafo) e Cos’è la libertà?, in Tra passato e futuro (ed. Garzanti; pp. 184-192; pp. 193-227);
Mandeville B., La favola delle api o Vizi privati, benefizi pubblici, in La polemica sul lusso nel Settecento francese (ed. Einaudi; pp. 7-22);
D’Holbach P.H.D., La politica naturale o Discorso sui veri principî del governo, in La polemica sul lusso nel Settecento francese (ed. Einaudi; pp. 425-433);
Marx K., Manoscritti economico-filosofici del 1844 (ed. Einaudi; Terzo manoscritto, Denaro, pp. 151-157); Lineamenti fondamentali di critica dell’economia politica (ed. Einaudi), passi scelti sul denaro dei Quaderni I e II.
Programme
Corruption between politics and economicsThrough the course, students will address one of the dominant themes in the contemporary public debate, particularly but not only in Italy: corruption. The topic will be addressed looking at two domains defined on the basis of two distinct - though intimately intertwined - roots of the phenomenon: politics and economics. As far as the relationship between politics and corruption is concerned, the republican orientation will be taken into consideration, from the Renaissance to the twentieth century. As for the relationship between economics and corruption, the contrasting approaches of the 18th and 19th centuries, utilitarianism and materialism, will be examined. Finally, some characteristic features of corruption in economic and political globalization will be investigated.
Core Documentation
Machiavelli N., Discorsi sopra la prima deca di Tito Livio (ed. BUR), Libro primo, Proemio, capitoli 1-7, 16-18, 24-30, 34, 37, 43-45, 53, 55, 58; Libro secondo, Proemio, capitolo 5; Libro terzo, capitoli 1, 16, 25;Saint-Just L.A., Frammenti sulle istituzioni repubblicane (ed. Einaudi o Sugar);
Arendt H., Cos’è l’autorità? (VI paragrafo) e Cos’è la libertà?, in Tra passato e futuro (ed. Garzanti; pp. 184-192; pp. 193-227);
Mandeville B., La favola delle api o Vizi privati, benefizi pubblici, in La polemica sul lusso nel Settecento francese (ed. Einaudi; pp. 7-22);
D’Holbach P.H.D., La politica naturale o Discorso sui veri principî del governo, in La polemica sul lusso nel Settecento francese (ed. Einaudi; pp. 425-433);
Marx K., Manoscritti economico-filosofici del 1844 (ed. Einaudi; Terzo manoscritto, Denaro, pp. 151-157); Lineamenti fondamentali di critica dell’economia politica (ed. Einaudi), passi scelti sul denaro dei Quaderni I e II.
Reference Bibliography
Ferrari Bravo L., Corruzione e politica (ed. manifestolibri, pp. 261-277); Ménissier T., Filosofia della corruzione (ed. Cronopio; pp. 25-40, 125-142); Janet M. Dine, L'appropriazione della corruzione: complessità e cultura aziendale, in Governance, società civile e movimenti sociali (ed. Ediesse, pp. 169-202). Letture consigliate su Machiavelli e i Discorsi: Lefort C., Machiavelli e la verità effettuale, in Scrivere, alla prova del presente (ed. il Ponte, pp. 123-157); Negri A., Virtù e fortuna. Il paradigma machiavellico, in Il potere costituente. Saggio sulle alternative del moderno (ed. Sugarco, pp. 48-116).Type of delivery of the course
Frontal lessons.Attendance
Optional attendance.Type of evaluation
Oral examination.