Political Philosophy
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The aim of this course is to provide the methodological and theoretical tools of political philosophy to understand its central themes and contemporary debates. The proposed path will allow students to address the fundamental themes and authors of political philosophy. At the end of the course, students will have acquired the necessary skills to formulate an independent critical judgment on texts and their interpretations and to apply the knowledge learned to the analysis of contemporary political issues.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding:
At the end of the course, students will be able to: approach texts in political philosophy rigorously and critically; recognize the main rhetorical devices and conceptual structures at work in them; understand the vocabulary and methodology of political philosophy; establish connections between different authors and theories.
Ability to Apply Knowledge and Understanding:
At the end of the course, students will be able to: apply the knowledge acquired in the study of specific texts and authors to the historical framework and philosophical context of other works and thinkers; apply the knowledge acquired in the study of philosophical-political vocabulary to the analysis and discussion of contemporary problems; express an adequate autonomy of judgment in interpreting elements useful for determining issues related to their field of study and the broader socio-cultural context in which they operate.
At the end of the course, students will be able to: approach texts in political philosophy rigorously and critically; recognize the main rhetorical devices and conceptual structures at work in them; understand the vocabulary and methodology of political philosophy; establish connections between different authors and theories.
Ability to Apply Knowledge and Understanding:
At the end of the course, students will be able to: apply the knowledge acquired in the study of specific texts and authors to the historical framework and philosophical context of other works and thinkers; apply the knowledge acquired in the study of philosophical-political vocabulary to the analysis and discussion of contemporary problems; express an adequate autonomy of judgment in interpreting elements useful for determining issues related to their field of study and the broader socio-cultural context in which they operate.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Private Spaces, Public Bodies
This course examines some key junctures in 20th century feminist philosophies in order to analyse the fundamental concepts of body, gender, private and public. The aim of the course is to show how the situated point of view proposed by feminist philosophies challenges the status of political philosophy itself, questioning precisely what politics is, what counts as political action and what links there are between the public and the private.
The works of Simone de Beauvoir, Carla Lonzi and Judith Butler will therefore be examined in particular, in order to show at the same time the possible construction of a genealogy but also three different ways of working on the same concepts. In this sense, finally, the course is also intended to be a methodological training ground for dealing with contemporary debates on gender and sexuality.
This course examines some key junctures in 20th century feminist philosophies in order to analyse the fundamental concepts of body, gender, private and public. The aim of the course is to show how the situated point of view proposed by feminist philosophies challenges the status of political philosophy itself, questioning precisely what politics is, what counts as political action and what links there are between the public and the private.
The works of Simone de Beauvoir, Carla Lonzi and Judith Butler will therefore be examined in particular, in order to show at the same time the possible construction of a genealogy but also three different ways of working on the same concepts. In this sense, finally, the course is also intended to be a methodological training ground for dealing with contemporary debates on gender and sexuality.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisite is required.
Teaching methods
Lectures
Discussions
Group work
Discussions
Group work
Teaching Resources
- Simone de Beauvoir, Il secondo sesso, il Saggiatore, in particolare Libro Primo: Introduzione, Parte prima "Destino", Parte seconda "Storia"; Libro Secondo: Introduzione, Parte prima "Formazione", Parte quarta "Verso la liberazione", Conclusione
- Carla Lonzi, Sputiamo su Hegel e altri scritti, La Tartaruga
- Judith Butler, Questione di genere. Il femminismo e la sovversione dell'identità, Laterza
one of this texts:
- Angela Putino, I corpi di mezzo, ombre corte
- Barbara Duden, Il corpo della donna come luogo pubblico, Bollati Boringhieri
- bell hooks, Elogio del margine. Scrivere al buio, Tamu
- Carlotta Cossutta, Domesticità. Lo spazio politico della casa nelle pensatrici statunitensi del XIX secolo, ETS
- Colette Guillaumin, Sesso, razza e pratica del potere, ombre corte
- Donna Haraway, Manifesto cyborg, Feltrinelli
- Elsa Dorlin, Difendersi. Una filosofia della violenza, Fandango
- Gloria Anzaldúa, Terre di confine. La frontera, Black Coffee
- Monique Wittig, Il pensiero eterosessuale, ombre corte
- Paul Preciado, Testo tossico, Fandango
- Silvia Federici, Calibano e la strega. Le donne, il corpo e l'accumulazione originaria, Mimesis
Students who don't attend classes should also study:
- Adriana Cavarero e Franco Restaino, Le filosofie femministe, Mondadori
- Carla Lonzi, Sputiamo su Hegel e altri scritti, La Tartaruga
- Judith Butler, Questione di genere. Il femminismo e la sovversione dell'identità, Laterza
one of this texts:
- Angela Putino, I corpi di mezzo, ombre corte
- Barbara Duden, Il corpo della donna come luogo pubblico, Bollati Boringhieri
- bell hooks, Elogio del margine. Scrivere al buio, Tamu
- Carlotta Cossutta, Domesticità. Lo spazio politico della casa nelle pensatrici statunitensi del XIX secolo, ETS
- Colette Guillaumin, Sesso, razza e pratica del potere, ombre corte
- Donna Haraway, Manifesto cyborg, Feltrinelli
- Elsa Dorlin, Difendersi. Una filosofia della violenza, Fandango
- Gloria Anzaldúa, Terre di confine. La frontera, Black Coffee
- Monique Wittig, Il pensiero eterosessuale, ombre corte
- Paul Preciado, Testo tossico, Fandango
- Silvia Federici, Calibano e la strega. Le donne, il corpo e l'accumulazione originaria, Mimesis
Students who don't attend classes should also study:
- Adriana Cavarero e Franco Restaino, Le filosofie femministe, Mondadori
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral test on the topics discussed in class and on the texts included in the syllabus, aimed at ascertaining comprehension of the texts, in-depth knowledge of the main conceptual contributions analysed, and the ability to approach the general topics by adopting the appropriate methodological perspectives. The student will have to show that he/she is able to discuss the arguments of the proposed authors using an adequate vocabulary and be able to find his/her way around the bibliographical reference apparatus.
During the tests, the following will be assessed
- the level of knowledge of the history of political philosophy and political theory (exposition);
- the ability to analyse concepts (comprehension);
- the autonomy of judgement and the ability to apply concepts (development);
- communication skills and the appropriateness of language.
Students are required to bring their texts with them to the oral test: the colloquium may begin with the reading and commentary of a few significant passages from a philosophical work analysed in the course.
During the tests, the following will be assessed
- the level of knowledge of the history of political philosophy and political theory (exposition);
- the ability to analyse concepts (comprehension);
- the autonomy of judgement and the ability to apply concepts (development);
- communication skills and the appropriateness of language.
Students are required to bring their texts with them to the oral test: the colloquium may begin with the reading and commentary of a few significant passages from a philosophical work analysed in the course.
SPS/01 - POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Cossutta Carlotta
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Professor(s)