History of Political Philosophy (MA)
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide students with the theoretical and methodological tools of the history of political philosophy. The student will be able to deal with the texts of the history of political philosophy in a rigorous and critical way; s/he will be able to recognize the main rhetorical devices and the conceptual structures at work in them; s/he will master those interdisciplinary skills necessary for the formulation of an autonomous critical judgment on the texts and their interpretation. The student will acquire the ability to apply the knowledge gained in the study of the history of political philosophy to the rethinking of contemporary political problems.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student:
1. masters in-depth knowledge of the theories and the themes dealt in the history of political philosophy, and can identify and discuss their crucial points;
2. surely masters the argumentative forms, concepts, and theoretical meaning of the texts in the history of political philosophy;
3. understands the diversity of interpretations to which texts in political philosophy are subjected in different historical, cultural and linguistic contexts;
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student:
1. Can critically apply the knowledge acquired studying specific texts and authors to the historical understanding and philosophical contextualization of other works and thinkers;
2. Can confidently and autonomously apply the acquired understanding of interpretations to texts and problems different from those previously studied;
3. Can surely master the methodological resources and bibliographic tools of political-philosophical research and s/he is able to produce original research, to discuss the results acquired.
At the end of the course, the student:
1. masters in-depth knowledge of the theories and the themes dealt in the history of political philosophy, and can identify and discuss their crucial points;
2. surely masters the argumentative forms, concepts, and theoretical meaning of the texts in the history of political philosophy;
3. understands the diversity of interpretations to which texts in political philosophy are subjected in different historical, cultural and linguistic contexts;
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student:
1. Can critically apply the knowledge acquired studying specific texts and authors to the historical understanding and philosophical contextualization of other works and thinkers;
2. Can confidently and autonomously apply the acquired understanding of interpretations to texts and problems different from those previously studied;
3. Can surely master the methodological resources and bibliographic tools of political-philosophical research and s/he is able to produce original research, to discuss the results acquired.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Private Vices, Public Benefits: Bernard Mandeville and the Origin of Modern Individualism
The aim of the course is to reconstruct the intellectual origins of individualism and commercial society and to analyze the first debates regarding its nature and its internal dynamics. We will analyze the origin of homo oeconomicus and the emergence of the commercial society through the studies of Friedrich von Hayek, Louis Dumont, Elena Pulcini and Christopher Berry. The the second part of the course will instead be dedicated to the reading of and commentary on Mandeville's Fable of the Bees, a fundamental work in understanding the relationship between economics, ethics and politics as at the beginning of the eighteenth century.
The aim of the course is to reconstruct the intellectual origins of individualism and commercial society and to analyze the first debates regarding its nature and its internal dynamics. We will analyze the origin of homo oeconomicus and the emergence of the commercial society through the studies of Friedrich von Hayek, Louis Dumont, Elena Pulcini and Christopher Berry. The the second part of the course will instead be dedicated to the reading of and commentary on Mandeville's Fable of the Bees, a fundamental work in understanding the relationship between economics, ethics and politics as at the beginning of the eighteenth century.
Prerequisites for admission
No prior knowledge is required
Teaching methods
Lectures
Debate and discussion
Work Group
Debate and discussion
Work Group
Teaching Resources
Readings and assignments for attending students. Assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
1) E. Pulcini, L'individuo senza passioni. Individualismo moderno e perdita del legame sociale, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2001.
2) B. Mandeville, La favola delle api, a cura di T. Magri, Bari-Roma, Laterza, 1987.
3) B. Mandeville, Dialoghi tra Orazio e Cleomene, a cura di G. Belgioioso, Lecce, Milella, 1978
4) One text of your choice from:
- A. Branchi, Pride, Manners, and Morals. Bernard Mandeville's Anatomy of Honour, Leiden, Brill, 2022.
- P. Carrive, Bernard Mandeville. Passions, Vices, Vertus, Paris, Vrin, 1980.
- M. Goldsmith, Private Vices, Public Benefits. Bernard Mandeville Social and Political Thought, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1985.
- E. Hundert, The Enlightenment's Fable, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1994.
- I. Primer (edited by), Mandeville Studies. New Explorations in the Art and Thought of Dr. Bernard Mandeville (1670-1733), The Hague, Martin Nijhoff, 1975.
- M.E. Scribano, Natura umana e società competitiva. Studio su Mandeville, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1980.
- M. Simonazzi, Mandeville, Roma, Carocci, 2011.
- M. Tolonen, Mandeville and Hume anatomists of civil society, Oxford, Voltaire Foundation, 2013.
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
5) B. Mandeville, La ricerca sull'origine dell'onore e sull'utilità del Cristianesimo in guerra, a cura di A. Branchi, Firenze, La Nuova Italia, 1998.
6) B. Mandeville, Lettera a Dione, a cura di M. Simonazzi, Milano, Mimesis (in corso di stampa).
Readings and assignments for non-attending students. Assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
1) E. Pulcini, L'individuo senza passioni. Individualismo moderno e perdita del legame sociale, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2001.
2) B. Mandeville, La favola delle api, a cura di T. Magri, Bari-Roma, Laterza, 1987.
3) B. Mandeville, Dialoghi tra Orazio e Cleomene, a cura di G. Belgioioso, Lecce, Milella, 1978
4) Two texts of your choice:
- A. Branchi, Pride, Manners, and Morals. Bernard Mandeville's Anatomy of Honour, Leiden, Brill, 2022.
- P. Carrive, Bernard Mandeville. Passions, Vices, Vertus, Paris, Vrin, 1980.
- M. Goldsmith, Private Vices, Public Benefits. Bernard Mandeville Social and Political Thought, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1985.
- E. Hundert, The Enlightenment's Fable, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1994.
- I. Primer (edited by), Mandeville Studies. New Explorations in the Art and Thought of Dr. Bernard Mandeville (1670-1733), The Hague, Martin Nijhoff, 1975.
- M.E. Scribano, Natura umana e società competitiva. Studio su Mandeville, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1980.
- M. Simonazzi, Mandeville, Roma, Carocci, 2011.
- M. Tolonen, Mandeville and Hume anatomists of civil society, Oxford, Voltaire Foundation, 2013.
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
5) B. Mandeville, La ricerca sull'origine dell'onore e sull'utilità del Cristianesimo in guerra, a cura di A. Branchi, Firenze, La Nuova Italia, 1998.
6) B. Mandeville, Lettera a Dione, a cura di M. Simonazzi, Milano, Mimesis (in corso di stampa).
The course will end with an international conference dedicated to Mandeville, in which students will be invited to actively participate.
The course will take place in seminar form, with the active participation of the students, through reading and commenting on Mandeville's works and in-depth articles, so it will not be recorded.
Teams will only be activated if the lecture room is not large enough to accommodate all the students who have booked to attend the lecture.
For those students who are unable to attend the course, I have planned to organise some lessons on Teams to be held in the late afternoon or evening hours, more or less once every two or three weeks, in which the main concepts will be summarised. These lessons will be recorded and will remain available.
The schedule of lectures for non-attending students, but also open to attending students, will be published on my Ariel website.
The first lecture on Teams will be held on Friday 7 October at 7pm.
Team: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/team/19%3a93a24721668145078768db01cccc5347%40thread.tacv2/conversations?groupId=92484a43-432f-4464-a4e3-4d372bda4525&tenantId=13b55eef-7018-4674-a3d7-cc0db06d545c
Team Code: 25ko05q
1) E. Pulcini, L'individuo senza passioni. Individualismo moderno e perdita del legame sociale, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2001.
2) B. Mandeville, La favola delle api, a cura di T. Magri, Bari-Roma, Laterza, 1987.
3) B. Mandeville, Dialoghi tra Orazio e Cleomene, a cura di G. Belgioioso, Lecce, Milella, 1978
4) One text of your choice from:
- A. Branchi, Pride, Manners, and Morals. Bernard Mandeville's Anatomy of Honour, Leiden, Brill, 2022.
- P. Carrive, Bernard Mandeville. Passions, Vices, Vertus, Paris, Vrin, 1980.
- M. Goldsmith, Private Vices, Public Benefits. Bernard Mandeville Social and Political Thought, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1985.
- E. Hundert, The Enlightenment's Fable, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1994.
- I. Primer (edited by), Mandeville Studies. New Explorations in the Art and Thought of Dr. Bernard Mandeville (1670-1733), The Hague, Martin Nijhoff, 1975.
- M.E. Scribano, Natura umana e società competitiva. Studio su Mandeville, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1980.
- M. Simonazzi, Mandeville, Roma, Carocci, 2011.
- M. Tolonen, Mandeville and Hume anatomists of civil society, Oxford, Voltaire Foundation, 2013.
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
5) B. Mandeville, La ricerca sull'origine dell'onore e sull'utilità del Cristianesimo in guerra, a cura di A. Branchi, Firenze, La Nuova Italia, 1998.
6) B. Mandeville, Lettera a Dione, a cura di M. Simonazzi, Milano, Mimesis (in corso di stampa).
Readings and assignments for non-attending students. Assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
1) E. Pulcini, L'individuo senza passioni. Individualismo moderno e perdita del legame sociale, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2001.
2) B. Mandeville, La favola delle api, a cura di T. Magri, Bari-Roma, Laterza, 1987.
3) B. Mandeville, Dialoghi tra Orazio e Cleomene, a cura di G. Belgioioso, Lecce, Milella, 1978
4) Two texts of your choice:
- A. Branchi, Pride, Manners, and Morals. Bernard Mandeville's Anatomy of Honour, Leiden, Brill, 2022.
- P. Carrive, Bernard Mandeville. Passions, Vices, Vertus, Paris, Vrin, 1980.
- M. Goldsmith, Private Vices, Public Benefits. Bernard Mandeville Social and Political Thought, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1985.
- E. Hundert, The Enlightenment's Fable, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1994.
- I. Primer (edited by), Mandeville Studies. New Explorations in the Art and Thought of Dr. Bernard Mandeville (1670-1733), The Hague, Martin Nijhoff, 1975.
- M.E. Scribano, Natura umana e società competitiva. Studio su Mandeville, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1980.
- M. Simonazzi, Mandeville, Roma, Carocci, 2011.
- M. Tolonen, Mandeville and Hume anatomists of civil society, Oxford, Voltaire Foundation, 2013.
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
5) B. Mandeville, La ricerca sull'origine dell'onore e sull'utilità del Cristianesimo in guerra, a cura di A. Branchi, Firenze, La Nuova Italia, 1998.
6) B. Mandeville, Lettera a Dione, a cura di M. Simonazzi, Milano, Mimesis (in corso di stampa).
The course will end with an international conference dedicated to Mandeville, in which students will be invited to actively participate.
The course will take place in seminar form, with the active participation of the students, through reading and commenting on Mandeville's works and in-depth articles, so it will not be recorded.
Teams will only be activated if the lecture room is not large enough to accommodate all the students who have booked to attend the lecture.
For those students who are unable to attend the course, I have planned to organise some lessons on Teams to be held in the late afternoon or evening hours, more or less once every two or three weeks, in which the main concepts will be summarised. These lessons will be recorded and will remain available.
The schedule of lectures for non-attending students, but also open to attending students, will be published on my Ariel website.
The first lecture on Teams will be held on Friday 7 October at 7pm.
Team: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/team/19%3a93a24721668145078768db01cccc5347%40thread.tacv2/conversations?groupId=92484a43-432f-4464-a4e3-4d372bda4525&tenantId=13b55eef-7018-4674-a3d7-cc0db06d545c
Team Code: 25ko05q
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of a preliminary written test, on a subject to be agreed upon, to be handed in to the professor at least two weeks before the oral examination. The oral examination consists of an interview on the topics and texts provided by the program, aimed at ascertaining the comprehension of the texts, a thorough knowledge of the main conceptual contributions of the history of political philosophy and the ability to approach the issues of a general nature adopting the appropriate methodological perspectives. The student must show that he is able to discuss the arguments of the various authors using a suitable vocabulary and to know how to orient himself within the bibliographic apparatus of reference in the historical-political field.
Students who follow the course will have the opportunity to take part of the exam through exercises, lectures and group work.
Evaluation criteria:
- knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the topics discusses during the course (exposition);
- ability to exemplify concepts (understanding);
- autonomy of judgement, capacity of use and apply concepts (development);
- communication skills and the adequacy of language.
Students who follow the course will have the opportunity to take part of the exam through exercises, lectures and group work.
Evaluation criteria:
- knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the topics discusses during the course (exposition);
- ability to exemplify concepts (understanding);
- autonomy of judgement, capacity of use and apply concepts (development);
- communication skills and the adequacy of language.
Unita' didattica
SPS/02 - HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Unita' didattica
SPS/02 - HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Office hours: Thursday, 4.30 pm-7.30 pm via Teams, with prior appointment by email.
Cortile della Ghiacciaia, first floor, or Microsoft Teams.