Course description
The course is directed to those who wish to gain a structured and detailed overview of the political philosophical development from ancient times to modernity. Lectures will provide a selection of primary texts of classical authors accompanied by the support of secondary literature. Core topics will include the definition of normative political thinking, as with the relation between morality and politics, morality and law as well as the role of individual and collective subjectivity.

A particular consideration will be devoted to modern and contemporary contractualism as well as to the major philosophical turning points as with Idealism, Marxism and Liberalism. The first five lectures will be devoted to the introduction of the most influential schools of political thought. These will include the discussion of general themes as well as specific texts and debates, and philosophical traditions such as: democratic thinking, Cosmopolitanism, Republicanism, Feminism, Utilitarianism, Liberalism, Communitarianism, Socialism etc. The remaining lectures will be grouped around five themes: Theme 1 - The Greek Polis and the Order of the Cosmos, Theme 2 - The Birth of the State, Theme 3 – Paradigm Shifts Across the 18th and 19th Century, Theme 4 – (In)Justice, Theme 5 – Italian Political Thought. The course’s fil rouge is devoted to the capturing of the approximation, birth, the development and the decline of the State. This trajectory will be seen as part of a context of interstate relations, as with the arousal of the ius gentium as well as cosmopolitanism and/or liberal internationalist approaches. Organized around prominent key philosophers, the course will proceed following the development of the above-mentioned thematic issues, including the assessment of contemporary problems linked to globalization, feminism, post-colonial studies, with a special section dedicated to the Italian political thought..

Teaching methods
Frontal teaching with the use of power point slide presentation; plus 2-3 seminars (to be agreed)

Evaluation
Written exam answering 3-4 open questions; plus a mid-course essay 3-4000 words (to be agreed)

Evaluation:
10% course attendance
30% mid-course essay
60% final written exam

Readings
Mandatory Texts. Supplementary texts are strongly advised. Only exceptionally readings will exceed 40/50 pp of mandatory texts for each lecture.

Below are the topics and the corresponding authors/texts selected.

Lectures 1-5 Introduction to Classics in Political Thought
What is political philosophy? What are the main traditions, approaches to political philosophy and thought? How to orient oneself into these different schools?
Lecture 1 Mandatory Readings
L.Strauss, “What is Political Philosophy?” In, The Journal of Politics, 19(3), 1957, pp.343-368.
Lecture 1 Supplementary Readings
L.Straus, “On Classical Political Philosophy”, in An Introduction to Political Philosophy. Ten Essays, Wayne State University Press, Detroit, 1959, pp.59-80.
C.Larmore, “What is political philosophy?” In, Journal of Moral Philosophy, Volume 10, Issue 3, 2013, 276 – 306.

Lecture 2 Mandatory Readings
Entries:
“The History of Utilitarianism” in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/utilitarianism-history/
“Liberalism” in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/liberalism/
“Libertarianism” in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/libertarianism/
Lecture 2 Supplementary Readings
W.Kymlicka, “Utilitarianism,” in Contemporary Political Philosophy. An Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2002, 10-52.
W.Kymlicka, “Liberal Equality” in Contemporary Political Philosophy. An Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2002, 53-101.
W.Kymlicka, “Libertarianism” in Contemporary Political Philosophy. An Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2002, 102-165.

Lecture 3 Mandatory Readings
Entries:
“Communitarianism” in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/communitarianism/
“Feminist Political Philosophy” in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-political/
“Socialism” in Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
https://www.iep.utm.edu/socialis/
Lecture 3 Supplementary Readings
W.Kymlicka, “Communitarianism” in Contemporary Political Philosophy. An Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2002, 208-283.
W.Kymlicka, “Feminism” in Contemporary Political Philosophy. An Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2002, 377-430.
W.Kymlicka, “Marxism” in Contemporary Political Philosophy. An Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2002, 166-207.

Lecture 4 Mandatory Readings
Entries:
“Contractualism” in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/contractualism/
“Republicanism” in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/republicanism/?PHPSESSID=112a66dd706702daf2be9e53c27ef408
Lecture 4 Supplementary Readings
L.Straus, “The Three Waves of Modernity”, in An Introduction to Political Philosophy. Ten Essays, Wayne State University Press, Detroit, 1959, pp-81-98.

Lecture 5 Mandatory Readings
A.Ryan, “Historical Figures”, in C.Grayling, Philosophy, vol.2, Oxford University Press, 1998, pp.361-391.
Lecture 5 Supplementary Readings
A.Ryan, “Introduction”, in C.Grayling, Philosophy, vol.2, Oxford University Press, 1998, pp.352-360
A.Ryan, “Modern Treatments”, in C.Grayling, Philosophy, vol.2, Oxford University Press, 1998, pp.391-414.

Lectures 6-8: Theme 1 - The Greek Polis and the Order of the Cosmos
Lecture 6 Mandatory Reading
Plato, “Book VII (The Myth of the Cave)”, in The Republic, ed.Ferrari trans. Griffith, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2000, pp. 220-7 (514a–520a).
Lecture 6 Supplementary Reading
M.Schofield, Plato, Oxford University Press, 2006, p.100-135.

Lecture 7 Mandatory Reading
Aristotle, “Book III, Chap.7-18”, pp.77-100 and “Book IV”, pp.101-133, in Politics, trans. By C.D.C. Reeve, Hackett Publishing Company, Indianapolis/Cambridge, 1998.
Lecture 7 Supplementary Reading
Aristotle, “5.7 Political Justice”, in Nichomachean Ethics, trans. with notes by T.Irwin, Hackett Publishing, Indianapolis/Cambridge, 1985, p.131-147 (1134a30-1138b10).

Lecture 8 Mandatory Reading
Seneca, “On the Happy Life” in Seneca, Dialogues and Essays, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2007, pp.85-112.
Lecture 8 Supplementary Reading
T.Reinhardt, “Introduction”, in Seneca, Dialogues and Essays, Oxford University Press, Oxford,
pp.2007, VII-XXXII.
Seneca, “On the Shortness of Life”, in Seneca, Dialogues and Essays, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2007, pp.140-163.

Lectures 9-13: Theme 2 - The Birth of the State
Lecture 9 Mandatory Reading
N.Machiavelli, The Prince, Oxford University Press, Oxford, trans. P.Bondarella, intro.M. Viroli, 2005, pp.7-15, pp.34-37, pp.53-71, pp.82-90.
Lecture 9 Supplementary Reading
N.Machiavelli, “Introduction”, The Prince, Oxford University Press, Oxford, trans. P.Bondarella, intro.M. Viroli, 2005, vii-xxxiv.

Lecture 10 Mandatory Reading
T.Hobbes, “On Commonwealth”, Leviathan, Oxford University Press, Oxford, ed. And introd. G.C.A Gaskin, 1998, pp.111-148.
Lecture 10 Supplementary Reading
Q.Skinner, “The State”, in Contemporary Political Philosophy. An Anthology, R.E.Goodin and P.Pettit (eds.), Blackwell Publisher, 1997, pp.3-26

Lecture 11 Mandatory Reading
J.Locke, Second Treatise on Government, Chap. II, III, IV, V,VII, VIII, IX, XII, XVIII, XVIX, in Two Treaties on Government and a Letter Concerning Toleration, I.Shapiro ed., Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 2003.
Lecture 11 Supplementary Reading
J.Locke, “John Locke’s Democratic Theory”, in Two Treaties on Government and a Letter Concerning Toleration, I.Shapiro (ed.), Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 2003, pp. 309-332.

Lecture 12 Mandatory Reading
D.Hume, “Of the Original Contract”, in Political Essays, Cambrdge University Press, Cambridge, 1994, pp.186-201.
Lecture 12 Supplementary Reading
R.Hardin, D.Hume, “Is and Ought”, in David Hume: Moral and Political Theorist, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2007, pp. 8-15
R.Cohon, “Is Hume a non-cognitivist in the motivation argument?”, in R.Cohon (ed.), Hume: Moral and Political Philosophy, reprinted from Philosophical Studies, 85, 1997, pp.145-162.

Lecture 13 Mandatory Reading
J.J. Rousseau, The Social Contract, Oxford University Press, Oxford, Book II, pp.63-90 and Book IV, pp.134-140,
Lecture 13 Supplementary Reading
J.Cohen, “The Society of the General Will”, in Rousseau. A Free Community of Equals, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2010, pp.23-59.


Lecture 14 Mandatory Reading
I.Kant, “Toward Perpetual Peace”, in Practical Philosophy, ed. M.Gregor, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999, pp.311-352.
Lecture 14 Supplementary Reading
C.Corradetti, “Kant’s Legacy and the Idea of a ‘Transitional’ Jus Cosmopoliticum”, in Ratio Juris, 29(1), 2016, pp.105-121.

Lectures 15-17: Theme 3 – Paradigm Shifts Across the 18th and 19th Century

Lecture 15 Mandatory Reading
M.Warnock (ed.), Utilitarianism and On Liberty, Blackwell, London, 2003: J.Bentham, An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, Chap.1-5, pp.17-51 & J.S. Mill, Utilitariansim, pp. 181-235.
Lecture 15 Supplementary Reading
J.S.Mill, “On Bentham”, M.Warnock (ed.), Utilitarianism and On Liberty, Blackwell, London, 2003, pp.52-87.

Lecture 16 Mandatory Reading
G.F.W. Hegel, Elements of the Philosophy of Rights (Excerpts from Section 3: Ethical Life), Sec. I The Family, p.199-200, Civil Society/The System of Needs, 200-239, The State pp.275-281, International Law and World History, pp.366-375, trans.Nisbet, A.Wood ed., Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1991.
Lecture 16 Supplementary Reading
I.Berlin, “Two Concepts of Liberty”, in Contemporary Political Philosophy. An Anthology, R.E.Goodin and P.Pettit (eds.), Blackwell Publisher, 1997, pp.391-417.

Lecture 17 Mandatory Reading
K.Marx and F. Engels, The Communist Manifesto, Oxford University Press, New York, 1992.
Lecture 17 Supplementary Reading
A.Wood, “Marx on Right and Justice”, in Karl Marx, Routledge, New-York and London, 2004, pp.127-142

Lectures 18-20: Theme 4 – (In)Justice

Lecture 18 Mandatory Reading
J.Rawls, “Lecture Four - Overlapping Consensus”, in Political Liberalism, Columbia University Press, New-York, 1993, pp.133-172.
Lecture 18 Supplementary Reading
J.Rawls, “Introduction to the Paperback Edition”, Political Liberalism, Columbia University Press, xxxv-xl.

Lecture 19 Mandatory Reading
J.Habermas, “3. A Reconstructive Approach to Law 1. A System of Rights”, Between Facts and Norms. Contributions to a Discourse Theory of Law and Democracy, the MIT Cambridge Mass., Cambridge, 1996, pp. 82-131.
Lecture 19 Supplementary Reading
J.Bohman, “Introduction: Deliberation and Democracy”, in Public Deliberation. Pluralism, Complexity and Democracy, the MIT Press, Boston, 1996, pp.1-22.
J.Cohen, Deliberation and Democratic Legitimacy, in Contemporary Political Philosophy. An Anthology, R.E.Goodin and P.Pettit (eds.), Blackwell Publisher, 1997, pp.143-155.

Lecture 20 Mandatory Reading
P.Pettit, “Freedom as non-domination”, in On the People’s Term: a Republican Theory and Model of Democracy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp.26-74.
R.Bellamy, “The Norms of Political Constitutionalism: non-Domination and Political Equality”, in Political Constitutionalism. A Republican Defense of the Constitutionality of Democracy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 145-175.
Lecture 20 Supplementary Reading
P.Pettit, “Introduction. The Republic Old and New”, in On the People’s Term: a Republican Theory and Model of Democracy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp.1-25.

Lectures 21-24: Theme 5 – Italian Contemporary Political Thought

Lecture 21 Mandatory Readings
B.Croce, “What is Art?”, Breviary of Aesthetics, University of Toronto Press, 2007, pp.5-25.
Lecture 21 Supplementary Reading
B.Croce, “Prejudices about Art?”, Breviary of Aesthetics, University of Toronto Press, 2007, pp.26-42

Lecture 22 Mandatory Reading
A.Gramsci, “Notes on Politics”, Selections from Prison’s Notebooks, International Publishers , New York, 1971, pp.123-156.
Lecture 22 Supplementary Reading
A.Gramsci, “Introduction”, Selections from Prison’s Notebooks, International Publishers , New York, 1971, XVII-XCVI.

Lecture 23 Mandatory Reading
G.Agamben, Homo Sacer. Sovereign Power and Bare Life, pp.71-80 and 119-135
Lecture 23 Supplementary Reading
G.Agamben, Homo Sacer. Sovereign Power and Bare Life, pp.166-180.

Lecture 24 Mandatory Reading
R.Esposito, “Experience”, Communitas. The Origin and Destiny of Community, Stanford University Press, 2010, 112-154.
Lecture 24 Supplementary Reading
R.Esposito, “Nihilism and Community”, Communitas. The Origin and Destiny of Community, Stanford University Press, 2010, 135-149

Final Discussion
Q&A on the topics discussed