Political Theory
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
The course of Political Theory aims to inquire theoretically political problems both in the classical and in the contemporary traditions. The basic objective consists of encouraging the learning of evaluative language to orient in the interpretation of political events, given that philosophers cannot be restricted to their description. So the basic question is: what criteria are desirable to judge and to act politically? Learning to compare different answers students are engaged to measure their performances and to test their strengths and weaknesses.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Explain the problem of the relation between ethics and politics.
2. Describe and explain the differences among the major normative approaches for evaluating political actions and actors (consequentialism and deontological ethics).
3. Explain what it means to judge politically and how it differs from both describing and prescribing.
4. Critically evaluate and construct normative arguments, namely offer justifications in favour of certain normative positions, with respect to political action and facts.
5. Investigate particular political issues by debating contrasting and opposite theses on the bases of academic articles or with respect to specific cases.
1. Explain the problem of the relation between ethics and politics.
2. Describe and explain the differences among the major normative approaches for evaluating political actions and actors (consequentialism and deontological ethics).
3. Explain what it means to judge politically and how it differs from both describing and prescribing.
4. Critically evaluate and construct normative arguments, namely offer justifications in favour of certain normative positions, with respect to political action and facts.
5. Investigate particular political issues by debating contrasting and opposite theses on the bases of academic articles or with respect to specific cases.
Lesson period: Second trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second trimester
If the evolution of the pandemic will prompt the university to hold the course online, classes will take place through either the MS Teams or Zoom platforms. All the information to connect to the online meetings will be available on the Ariel website of the course.
Course syllabus
Unit 1
- Introduction: political philosophy and political science; prescriptive and evaluative functions; the perspective of the actor vs. the perspective of the spectator
- Consequentialism: utilitarianism and political realism
- The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli
- The right to lie: a dispute between Immanuel Kant and Benjamin Constant
Unit 2
- Politics as vocation, Max Weber
- The problem of dirty hands
- Contemporary perspectives on dirty hands
Unit 3
- Hannah Arendt's theory of action
- Lying and Truth in politics, and the theory of judgment
- The problem of hypocrisy
- Introduction: political philosophy and political science; prescriptive and evaluative functions; the perspective of the actor vs. the perspective of the spectator
- Consequentialism: utilitarianism and political realism
- The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli
- The right to lie: a dispute between Immanuel Kant and Benjamin Constant
Unit 2
- Politics as vocation, Max Weber
- The problem of dirty hands
- Contemporary perspectives on dirty hands
Unit 3
- Hannah Arendt's theory of action
- Lying and Truth in politics, and the theory of judgment
- The problem of hypocrisy
Prerequisites for admission
No previous knowledge required.
Teaching methods
The teaching methods of the course include:
- Traditional frontal lectures
- Presentations offered by students on specific texts and cases
- Discussions of case studies and short videos
- Group discussion
- Traditional frontal lectures
- Presentations offered by students on specific texts and cases
- Discussions of case studies and short videos
- Group discussion
Teaching Resources
Attendant students
Unit 1
Machiavelli, N. (1532) The Prince (any edition).
Kant, I. (1797) On a supposed right to lie from philanthropy. In: Gregor MG (ed.) Practical Philosophy. With an Introduction by Allen Wood. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
Constant, B. (1797) Des Reactions Politiques. In: Constant B. (ed.) De La Force du Gouvernement Actuel de la France. Paris: Flammarion, 1998.
Unit 2
Weber, M. (1919) Politics as vocation (any edition).
Walzer, M. (1973),"Political Action: The Problem of Dirty Hands", Philosophy and Public Affairs, 2 (2): 160-180.
Williams, B. (1973) George and Jim, in Utilitarianism: For and Against, with J.J.C. Smart, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nagel, T. (1978) "Ruthlessness in Public Life", in S. Hampshire (ed.), Public and Private Morality, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1978, pp. 75-91.
Unit 3
Arendt, H. (1970), On violence, New York, Harcourt.
Non attendant students
Unit 1
Neri, D. (2013) La struttura teoretica dell'etica normativa, in Filosofia morale. Manuale introduttivo, Guerini, Milano, 2013.
Machiavelli, N. (1532) The Prince (any edition).
Kant I. (1797) On a supposed right to lie from philanthropy. In: Gregor MG (ed.) Practical Philosophy. With an Introduction by Allen Wood. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
Constant B (1797) Des Reactions Politiques. In: Constant B. (ed.) De La Force du Gouvernement Actuel de la France. Paris: Flammarion, 1998.
Unit 2
Weber, M. (1919) Politics as vocation (any edition).
Walzer, M. (1973),"Political Action: The Problem of Dirty Hands", Philosophy and Public Affairs, 2 (2): 160-180.
Unit 3
Arendt, H. (1972) Lying in Politics. Reflections on the "Pentagon Papers", New York, Harcourt.
Unit 1
Machiavelli, N. (1532) The Prince (any edition).
Kant, I. (1797) On a supposed right to lie from philanthropy. In: Gregor MG (ed.) Practical Philosophy. With an Introduction by Allen Wood. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
Constant, B. (1797) Des Reactions Politiques. In: Constant B. (ed.) De La Force du Gouvernement Actuel de la France. Paris: Flammarion, 1998.
Unit 2
Weber, M. (1919) Politics as vocation (any edition).
Walzer, M. (1973),"Political Action: The Problem of Dirty Hands", Philosophy and Public Affairs, 2 (2): 160-180.
Williams, B. (1973) George and Jim, in Utilitarianism: For and Against, with J.J.C. Smart, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nagel, T. (1978) "Ruthlessness in Public Life", in S. Hampshire (ed.), Public and Private Morality, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1978, pp. 75-91.
Unit 3
Arendt, H. (1970), On violence, New York, Harcourt.
Non attendant students
Unit 1
Neri, D. (2013) La struttura teoretica dell'etica normativa, in Filosofia morale. Manuale introduttivo, Guerini, Milano, 2013.
Machiavelli, N. (1532) The Prince (any edition).
Kant I. (1797) On a supposed right to lie from philanthropy. In: Gregor MG (ed.) Practical Philosophy. With an Introduction by Allen Wood. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
Constant B (1797) Des Reactions Politiques. In: Constant B. (ed.) De La Force du Gouvernement Actuel de la France. Paris: Flammarion, 1998.
Unit 2
Weber, M. (1919) Politics as vocation (any edition).
Walzer, M. (1973),"Political Action: The Problem of Dirty Hands", Philosophy and Public Affairs, 2 (2): 160-180.
Unit 3
Arendt, H. (1972) Lying in Politics. Reflections on the "Pentagon Papers", New York, Harcourt.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Attendant students
For attendant students, evaluation will be based on participation in class (15%), a presentation (30%) and a final written test (55%) to be taken at the end of the course.
Non attendant students
Non attendant students are required to take a written test constituted by two parts. In the first part, students are asked to answer five open questions regarding the major problems and basic notions of the issues covered by the course. In the second part of the written test, students are required to answer one essay question (minimum half a page) in order to apply the knowledge acquired from the studying of the texts proposed to a case or a particular political situation.
For attendant students, evaluation will be based on participation in class (15%), a presentation (30%) and a final written test (55%) to be taken at the end of the course.
Non attendant students
Non attendant students are required to take a written test constituted by two parts. In the first part, students are asked to answer five open questions regarding the major problems and basic notions of the issues covered by the course. In the second part of the written test, students are required to answer one essay question (minimum half a page) in order to apply the knowledge acquired from the studying of the texts proposed to a case or a particular political situation.
SPS/01 - POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Bistagnino Giulia
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Bistagnino GiuliaEducational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Tuesday, 10 am-1 pm ATTENTION: office hours that are supposed to take place on Tuesday March 28 are posponed to Wednesday March 29 h. 3-6 p.m.
Office hours are held online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89939983032?pwd=NEhPWm44MHVQTWFSUEIvZER3MS85Zz09. It is possible to have in person office hours (room 18, II floor Via Conservatorio), but only if previously arranged by email.