History of Political Thought
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the acquisition of theoretical, methodological and critical tools proper to the history of political thought. The student will acquire the ability to apply the knowledge learned in the context of the history of political thought for the purpose of a critical re-elaboration of the problems and will be able to express critical judgments. At the end of the course, students will have achieved the ability to communicate clearly, and to write in a correct way, synthetic considerations on the main issues of modern and contemporary politics, critically reshaping ideas and theses put forward by the main authors who have contributed to the Western political and philosophical tradition.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student:
1. will have a fully adequate knowledge of the theories and themes in the history of political thought and will be able to identify and discuss their critical points;
2. will have a systematic and in-depth knowledge of the history of political thought from ancient times to contemporary times, acquired through the reading of the classics and the study of secondary literature.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student:
1. will be able to apply appropriately the knowledge and critical skills acquired from the study of the history of political thought in order to make critical judgments in different areas of contemporary concrete reality;
2. will be able to apply the acquired knowledge in order to develop the ability to discuss and compare different theoretical and cultural perspectives;
3. will be able to apply with mastery the methodology of historical-political research and will be able to produce original research.
At the end of the course, the student:
1. will have a fully adequate knowledge of the theories and themes in the history of political thought and will be able to identify and discuss their critical points;
2. will have a systematic and in-depth knowledge of the history of political thought from ancient times to contemporary times, acquired through the reading of the classics and the study of secondary literature.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student:
1. will be able to apply appropriately the knowledge and critical skills acquired from the study of the history of political thought in order to make critical judgments in different areas of contemporary concrete reality;
2. will be able to apply the acquired knowledge in order to develop the ability to discuss and compare different theoretical and cultural perspectives;
3. will be able to apply with mastery the methodology of historical-political research and will be able to produce original research.
Lesson period: Second 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
Second semester
Course syllabus
Course Title:
Hegel and the genesis of self-consciousness.
The Master/Servant relationship and its contemporary interpretations
(60 hours 9 CFUs)
Unit A ( (20 hours and 3 CFUs):
The Hegelian approach to philosophy: reason and history.
The pursuit of self-consciousness: the master/servant relationship.
Unit B (20 hours and 3 CFUs):
The Influential Interpretation of Alexandre Kojève.
Unit C (20 hours and 3 CFUs):
The interpretations proposed by Judith Butler and Remo Bodei.
The course requires the active participation of students, through the presentation of reports, teamwork and classroom discussions.
Hegel and the genesis of self-consciousness.
The Master/Servant relationship and its contemporary interpretations
(60 hours 9 CFUs)
Unit A ( (20 hours and 3 CFUs):
The Hegelian approach to philosophy: reason and history.
The pursuit of self-consciousness: the master/servant relationship.
Unit B (20 hours and 3 CFUs):
The Influential Interpretation of Alexandre Kojève.
Unit C (20 hours and 3 CFUs):
The interpretations proposed by Judith Butler and Remo Bodei.
The course requires the active participation of students, through the presentation of reports, teamwork and classroom discussions.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is open to post graduate students (Laurea magistrale) and requires a basic knowledge of the history of modern and contemporary philosophy and history of political thought gained during the B.A. degree (Laurea Triennale).
Teaching methods
Lectures
Discussions
Teamwork
Discussions
Teamwork
Teaching Resources
Bibliography
First Unit - Program for attending and non-attending students:
G.W.F. Hegel, «Fenomenologia dello Spirito»,
con testo tedesco a fronte, introduzione, traduzione, note e apparati di Vincenzo Cicero, Milano, Bompiani, 2017:
- «Prefazione» e «Introduzione», pp. 42-167;
- cap. IV «La verità della certezza di se stesso», pp. 260-331.
Second Unit - Program for attending and non-attending students:
Alexandre Kojève,
«La dialettica e l'idea della morte in Hegel», con un saggio introduttivo di R. Bodei, Torino, Einaudi, 1991
or
Alexandre Kojève,
«Introduzione alla lettura di Hegel. Lezioni sulla "Fenomenologia dello Spirito" tenute dal 1933 al 1939 all'École Pratique des Hautes Études raccolte e pubblicate da Raymond Queneau», a cura di G.F. Frigo,
Milano, Adelphi, 1996, pp. 1-95; 555-720.
Third Unit - Program for attending and non-attending students:
a)
Judith Butler, «Soggetti di desiderio», presentazione di A. Cavarero, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2009;
and
Judith Butler - Catherine Malabou, «Che tu sia il mio corpo. Una lettura contemporanea della signoria e della servitù in Hegel», a cura di G. Tusa, Milano, Mimesis, 2017.
b)
Remo Bodei, «Dominio e sottomissione. Schiavi, animali, macchine, Intelligenza artificiale», Bologna, il Mulino, 2019.
Students who have NOT passed the exam of "History of Political Philosophy", in the course of the bachelor's degree, are also required to study the following textbook:
B. Henry, A. Loretoni, A. Pirni, M. Solinas, eds.,
«Filosofia politica», Milano, Mondadori Università 2020.
Students in this situation will have to discuss with the professor, during the office-hours, in order to have a partial reduction of the program.
The program for 6 CFU for attending and non-attending students requires the study of the first and the second units or the study of the first and third units (and the preparation of the textbook «Filosofia politica», Milano, Mondadori Università 2020, for those who have not passed the exam of "Storia della filosofia politica" during the three-years degree).
First Unit - Program for attending and non-attending students:
G.W.F. Hegel, «Fenomenologia dello Spirito»,
con testo tedesco a fronte, introduzione, traduzione, note e apparati di Vincenzo Cicero, Milano, Bompiani, 2017:
- «Prefazione» e «Introduzione», pp. 42-167;
- cap. IV «La verità della certezza di se stesso», pp. 260-331.
Second Unit - Program for attending and non-attending students:
Alexandre Kojève,
«La dialettica e l'idea della morte in Hegel», con un saggio introduttivo di R. Bodei, Torino, Einaudi, 1991
or
Alexandre Kojève,
«Introduzione alla lettura di Hegel. Lezioni sulla "Fenomenologia dello Spirito" tenute dal 1933 al 1939 all'École Pratique des Hautes Études raccolte e pubblicate da Raymond Queneau», a cura di G.F. Frigo,
Milano, Adelphi, 1996, pp. 1-95; 555-720.
Third Unit - Program for attending and non-attending students:
a)
Judith Butler, «Soggetti di desiderio», presentazione di A. Cavarero, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2009;
and
Judith Butler - Catherine Malabou, «Che tu sia il mio corpo. Una lettura contemporanea della signoria e della servitù in Hegel», a cura di G. Tusa, Milano, Mimesis, 2017.
b)
Remo Bodei, «Dominio e sottomissione. Schiavi, animali, macchine, Intelligenza artificiale», Bologna, il Mulino, 2019.
Students who have NOT passed the exam of "History of Political Philosophy", in the course of the bachelor's degree, are also required to study the following textbook:
B. Henry, A. Loretoni, A. Pirni, M. Solinas, eds.,
«Filosofia politica», Milano, Mondadori Università 2020.
Students in this situation will have to discuss with the professor, during the office-hours, in order to have a partial reduction of the program.
The program for 6 CFU for attending and non-attending students requires the study of the first and the second units or the study of the first and third units (and the preparation of the textbook «Filosofia politica», Milano, Mondadori Università 2020, for those who have not passed the exam of "Storia della filosofia politica" during the three-years degree).
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 exam, and of an oral exam, aimed at ascertaining a thorough knowledge of the texts and topics in the program.
In the oral exam, in particular, the degree of understanding and knowledge of the texts will be evaluated: students will have to show that they know how to deal with the texts of the history of political thought in a rigorous and critical way, contextualising them and recognising the conceptual and argumentative devices at work in them. The oral exam will also assess the students' ability to master the main philosophical-political problems addressed and to discuss general issues by adopting the appropriate methodological perspectives.
Students will have to show that they are able to discuss the arguments of the different authors and the main problems faced, using an adequate vocabulary and taking into account the most important contributions of the reference historiography.
In summary, during the tests will be evaluated:
- the knowledge of the conceptual aspects addressed during the course (exposition);
- the ability to analyse concepts (comprehension);
- the autonomy of judgment and the ability to apply the concepts (development);
- communication skills and language adequacy.
Students are required to bring their texts with them to the oral exam: the interview may begin with the reading and commentary of some significant passages from a work analysed during the course.
In the oral exam, in particular, the degree of understanding and knowledge of the texts will be evaluated: students will have to show that they know how to deal with the texts of the history of political thought in a rigorous and critical way, contextualising them and recognising the conceptual and argumentative devices at work in them. The oral exam will also assess the students' ability to master the main philosophical-political problems addressed and to discuss general issues by adopting the appropriate methodological perspectives.
Students will have to show that they are able to discuss the arguments of the different authors and the main problems faced, using an adequate vocabulary and taking into account the most important contributions of the reference historiography.
In summary, during the tests will be evaluated:
- the knowledge of the conceptual aspects addressed during the course (exposition);
- the ability to analyse concepts (comprehension);
- the autonomy of judgment and the ability to apply the concepts (development);
- communication skills and language adequacy.
Students are required to bring their texts with them to the oral exam: the interview may begin with the reading and commentary of some significant passages from a work analysed during the course.
SPS/02 - HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Geuna Marco
Professor(s)