In the context of today's political philosophy, the basic learning goals of the course concern both the awareness of, and critical ability to relate to, the major aspects of contemporary philosophical debate and, more specifically, the ability to analyze the conceptual and historical roots of the current debates. The course favors the thematic and conceptual dimension of philosophical-political inquiry, while it profits from historiographical findings. The course is structured in such a way as to allow the achievement of the following specific learning goals:
- critical apprehension of the presuppositions, research methods, purposes and heuristic significance of political philosophy
- critical awareness in respect of the ties that connect political philosophy to disciplines that are primarily concerned with the political such as political science, political sociology and the history of political ideas as well as of the features that distinguish the former from the latter
- critical apprehension of the main issues and aspects of the development of the fundamental problems, ideas and concepts of Western philosophical-political thought
- critical and aware use of the lexicon of political philosophy
- critical apprehension of the presuppositions, research methods, purposes and heuristic significance of political philosophy
- critical awareness in respect of the ties that connect political philosophy to disciplines that are primarily concerned with the political such as political science, political sociology and the history of political ideas as well as of the features that distinguish the former from the latter
- critical apprehension of the main issues and aspects of the development of the fundamental problems, ideas and concepts of Western philosophical-political thought
- critical and aware use of the lexicon of political philosophy
teacher profile teaching materials
Francesco Maiolo, Foucault e la sovranità, Aracne Editrice, Roma 2012 (ISBN 978-88-548-5068-2).
Fruizione: 21810550 FILOSOFIA POLITICA in Scienze politiche L-36 MAIOLO FRANCESCO
Programme
In the first part of the course, taking into account the specificity of the object of our study, the method of investigation and its objectives, we will analyse in a reflective manner the relationship between political philosophy and political science on the one hand, and with the history of political thought on the other. More generally, we will have the opportunity to situate political philosophy in the context of the political and social sciences in order to grasp its specific epistemological status, and the link with the sphere of historically and culturally given values. This responds to the need to critically reflect on the ways in which politics has been "rationalized" in the context of Western thought, and on the ways that have guided the various attempts at such rationalization. We will focus on the analysis of the questions concerning the nature of "matters of politics" and the determination of the "political good" both in the individual and in the collective sense through the various interpretative grids that constitute the essential reference points on the subject. In the second part of the course a series of problems will be analyzed: political order between human nature and the human condition; the question of social justice; authority, power, freedom and obedience; public ethics, the common good, freedom of speech and democracy. The third part of the course is dedicated specifically to the critique of power and sovereignty in the thought of Michel Foucault.Core Documentation
Roberto Gatti, Filosofia politica. Gli autori, i concetti, i problemi, Editrice La Scuola, Brescia 2016 (ISBN 978-88-350-2727-0)Francesco Maiolo, Foucault e la sovranità, Aracne Editrice, Roma 2012 (ISBN 978-88-548-5068-2).
Type of delivery of the course
Class proceedings consist of inter-active lectures based upon the use of the ‘Socratic method’. Each session introduces the students to a specific topic through expository and exegetical work. The teacher will draw attention to the key points in the texts on the basis of adequate contextualization, and to difficulties of interpretation. The teacher will also refer to the key issues in current debates through relevant examples, cases and comparisons. Each session, for which students have read materials previously assigned, requires active participation. Debating is an indispensable feature of class proceedings. The possible contribution by one or two qualified guest-lecturers will be sought and audio-video materials will be employed for support.Type of evaluation
The final evaluation is based upon an oral exam.