Political Philosophy and Public Ethics
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
Can we disobey democratic laws? Is freedom of speech unlimited? What is wrong with corruption? Can you kill one person to save five others? These are just some of the diverse questions posed by political philosophy and public ethics, to which this course offers a basic introduction. In the sense favored by this course, political philosophy carries out conceptual and normative analyses of values, institutions, and political practices that shape collective life, while public ethics focuses on the justifiability of policies and actions, as well as rights, and duties that citizens and political actors have, especially in democratic contexts.
Alongside an overview of the main theoretical and methodological approaches, the course will show how these perspectives can be applied to current dilemmas in public debate (e.g., the democratic value of elections, the defensibility of civil disobedience, the permissibility of hate speech). The aim is not only to develop students' theoretical knowledge, but also to stimulate their critical and argumentative skills, which are useful both in their studies and in their future careers.
Alongside an overview of the main theoretical and methodological approaches, the course will show how these perspectives can be applied to current dilemmas in public debate (e.g., the democratic value of elections, the defensibility of civil disobedience, the permissibility of hate speech). The aim is not only to develop students' theoretical knowledge, but also to stimulate their critical and argumentative skills, which are useful both in their studies and in their future careers.
Expected learning outcomes
1.
Ability to use technical language accurately and to understand and distinguish the main theoretical and methodological paradigms of political philosophy and public ethics (deontological vs. consequentialist approach, liberal, realist, and neo-republican paradigms)
2.
Ability to apply these skills appropriately, critically, and independently to the analysis and discussion of controversies at the centre of public debate
3.
Ability to formulate judgments and defend arguments in an informed, comprehensible, and convincing manner.
Ability to use technical language accurately and to understand and distinguish the main theoretical and methodological paradigms of political philosophy and public ethics (deontological vs. consequentialist approach, liberal, realist, and neo-republican paradigms)
2.
Ability to apply these skills appropriately, critically, and independently to the analysis and discussion of controversies at the centre of public debate
3.
Ability to formulate judgments and defend arguments in an informed, comprehensible, and convincing manner.
Lesson period: Second trimester
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 trimester
Course syllabus
The course is divided into two parts.
The first consists of lectures, both in person and online, aimed at providing students with the conceptual and normative categories necessary to address political and social issues. To this end, the following will be presented and discussed: (1) the distinction between normative and descriptive levels; (2) the trolley problem; (3) deontological and consequentialist methodologies; (4) the issue of dirty hands in politics; (5) some specific normative approaches, such as political realism, liberalism, and neo-republicanism.
The second part of the course, also divided into face-to-face and synchronous online lessons, is seminar-based and aims to develop students' analytical and critical-argumentative skills through the application of the methodological and theoretical framework illustrated during the first part of the course. To this end,
relevant case studies involving public intervention will be discussed in class through group presentations: democratic elections, political corruption, civil disobedience, and the tension between freedom of speech and hate speech.
The first consists of lectures, both in person and online, aimed at providing students with the conceptual and normative categories necessary to address political and social issues. To this end, the following will be presented and discussed: (1) the distinction between normative and descriptive levels; (2) the trolley problem; (3) deontological and consequentialist methodologies; (4) the issue of dirty hands in politics; (5) some specific normative approaches, such as political realism, liberalism, and neo-republicanism.
The second part of the course, also divided into face-to-face and synchronous online lessons, is seminar-based and aims to develop students' analytical and critical-argumentative skills through the application of the methodological and theoretical framework illustrated during the first part of the course. To this end,
relevant case studies involving public intervention will be discussed in class through group presentations: democratic elections, political corruption, civil disobedience, and the tension between freedom of speech and hate speech.
Prerequisites for admission
No prior knowledge is required to attend the course.
Teaching methods
The course is delivered through blended learning, which includes the following breakdown:
20 hours of in-person lectures;
12 hours of synchronous online lectures via video conference on the Teams platform;
8 hours of asynchronous online lectures on the MyAriel platform.
The proposed teaching methodology includes: lectures, readings and discussions of scientific articles, group work, examination and joint discussion of case studies, research projects conducted by students with presentation and critical evaluation of results.
Registration for the exam is subject to attending at least 60% of the total class hours (which means at least 12 hours of in-person lectures and at least 12 hours of synchronous/asynchronous online lectures)
20 hours of in-person lectures;
12 hours of synchronous online lectures via video conference on the Teams platform;
8 hours of asynchronous online lectures on the MyAriel platform.
The proposed teaching methodology includes: lectures, readings and discussions of scientific articles, group work, examination and joint discussion of case studies, research projects conducted by students with presentation and critical evaluation of results.
Registration for the exam is subject to attending at least 60% of the total class hours (which means at least 12 hours of in-person lectures and at least 12 hours of synchronous/asynchronous online lectures)
Teaching Resources
First part:
1. David Edmonds, Uccideresti l'uomo grasso? Il dilemma etico del male minore, Raffaello Cortina Editore, Milano 2014.
2. Salvatore Veca, La filosofia politica, Laterza Editore, Bari-Roma 1998, 2010.
3. Gianfranco Pellegrino, Etica pubblica. Una piccola introduzione, LUISS Editore, Roma 2015.
4. Walzer, Michael, "Azione politica: il problema delle mani sporche", in Id., Il filo della politica. Democrazia, critica sociale, governo del mondo, Diabasis, Reggio Emilia, 2002, pp. 1-25.
Second part:
Democratic Elections
1. Urbinati, Nadia, e Luciano Vandelli, La democrazia del sorteggio, Giulio Einaudi Editore, Torino 2020, capitoli 3-5.
2. Sintomer, Yves, Il potere al popolo. Giurie cittadine, sorteggio e democrazia partecipativa, Dedalo edizioni, Bari, 2009, capitolo 5.
Corruption
1. Ceva, Emanuela e Maria Paola Ferretti, "La corruzione dei pubblici ufficiali: un male politico o un problema di etica personale?", in Notizie di Politeia, XXXIV, 129, 2018, pp. 35-49.
2. Pellegrino, Gianfranco, "L'ingiustizia della corruzione politica. Integrità, rappresentanza e delega democratica", Rivista Italiana di Filosofia Politica, 4 (2023): 75-98.
Civil Disobedience
1. Zuolo, Federico, Disobbedire. Se, come, quando, Laterza editore, Bari-Roma 2025, capitolo 2
2. Zuolo, Federico, Disobbedire. Se, come, quando, Laterza editore, Bari-Roma 2025, capitolo 4
Freedom of speech and hate speech
1. Riva, Nicola, (2019), "Il principio del danno e le espressioni d'avversione o d'odio", Biblioteca della libertà, 224, pp. 19-38.
2. Fumagalli, Corrado, "Discorsi d'odio come pratiche ordinarie", Biblioteca della libertà, LIV, 2019, 55-75.
1. David Edmonds, Uccideresti l'uomo grasso? Il dilemma etico del male minore, Raffaello Cortina Editore, Milano 2014.
2. Salvatore Veca, La filosofia politica, Laterza Editore, Bari-Roma 1998, 2010.
3. Gianfranco Pellegrino, Etica pubblica. Una piccola introduzione, LUISS Editore, Roma 2015.
4. Walzer, Michael, "Azione politica: il problema delle mani sporche", in Id., Il filo della politica. Democrazia, critica sociale, governo del mondo, Diabasis, Reggio Emilia, 2002, pp. 1-25.
Second part:
Democratic Elections
1. Urbinati, Nadia, e Luciano Vandelli, La democrazia del sorteggio, Giulio Einaudi Editore, Torino 2020, capitoli 3-5.
2. Sintomer, Yves, Il potere al popolo. Giurie cittadine, sorteggio e democrazia partecipativa, Dedalo edizioni, Bari, 2009, capitolo 5.
Corruption
1. Ceva, Emanuela e Maria Paola Ferretti, "La corruzione dei pubblici ufficiali: un male politico o un problema di etica personale?", in Notizie di Politeia, XXXIV, 129, 2018, pp. 35-49.
2. Pellegrino, Gianfranco, "L'ingiustizia della corruzione politica. Integrità, rappresentanza e delega democratica", Rivista Italiana di Filosofia Politica, 4 (2023): 75-98.
Civil Disobedience
1. Zuolo, Federico, Disobbedire. Se, come, quando, Laterza editore, Bari-Roma 2025, capitolo 2
2. Zuolo, Federico, Disobbedire. Se, come, quando, Laterza editore, Bari-Roma 2025, capitolo 4
Freedom of speech and hate speech
1. Riva, Nicola, (2019), "Il principio del danno e le espressioni d'avversione o d'odio", Biblioteca della libertà, 224, pp. 19-38.
2. Fumagalli, Corrado, "Discorsi d'odio come pratiche ordinarie", Biblioteca della libertà, LIV, 2019, 55-75.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Learning assessment and evaluation are structured as follows:
1. 20% active participation in class discussions. In the first part of the course (lectures), active participation takes the form of questions and contributions. In the second part (seminars), students must prepare the readings each time and be ready to discuss other groups' presentations, each preparing a question and an objection to ask the presenters. Attendance of at least 60% of classes
is mandatory.
2. 30% group presentation. In the seminar part of the course, students can select a text from those listed in the materials to be presented in groups. The presentation requires the preparation of PowerPoint slides in which the main theses of the text are listed and the arguments in favor of these theses are explained to their fellows (who will also have read the text). Students are also asked to formulate one or more objections to the theses supported in the text presented. The list of texts available for students to choose from is available on Moodle.
3. 50% final written exam. The final exam consists of ten open-ended questions on the topics covered in both parts of the course. During two asynchronous online lessons, students will have the opportunity to take a mock test to familiarize themselves with the structure of the final exam.
1. 20% active participation in class discussions. In the first part of the course (lectures), active participation takes the form of questions and contributions. In the second part (seminars), students must prepare the readings each time and be ready to discuss other groups' presentations, each preparing a question and an objection to ask the presenters. Attendance of at least 60% of classes
is mandatory.
2. 30% group presentation. In the seminar part of the course, students can select a text from those listed in the materials to be presented in groups. The presentation requires the preparation of PowerPoint slides in which the main theses of the text are listed and the arguments in favor of these theses are explained to their fellows (who will also have read the text). Students are also asked to formulate one or more objections to the theses supported in the text presented. The list of texts available for students to choose from is available on Moodle.
3. 50% final written exam. The final exam consists of ten open-ended questions on the topics covered in both parts of the course. During two asynchronous online lessons, students will have the opportunity to take a mock test to familiarize themselves with the structure of the final exam.
SPS/01 - POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 6
: 6 hours
: 14 hours
Lessons: 20 hours
: 14 hours
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Destri Chiara
Professor(s)
Reception:
Second Term: Friday, 2pm-4pm or via Teams by appointment