History of Political Philosophy (MA)
A.Y. 2024/2025
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 can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Beyond Leviathan: Power according to Hannah Arendt and Michel Foucault
The aim of the course is to examine and compare two conceptions of power developed in the second half of the twentieth century that openly break with the traditional notion of power rooted in the modern age. The first part of the course will analyse Hannah Arendt's conception of power, paying particular attention to her theory of action, her critique of totalitarianism, and the relationship between power and freedom. The second part of the course will examine Foucault's conception of power, focusing on the relationship between power and freedom, the role of dissent and the forms of resistance to power, biopower and biopolitics. In the third part of the course, Arendt's and Foucault's conceptions of power will be related to those of other authors from the second half of the twentieth century in order to better understand the critical scope of their view of liberalism and democracy.
The aim of the course is to examine and compare two conceptions of power developed in the second half of the twentieth century that openly break with the traditional notion of power rooted in the modern age. The first part of the course will analyse Hannah Arendt's conception of power, paying particular attention to her theory of action, her critique of totalitarianism, and the relationship between power and freedom. The second part of the course will examine Foucault's conception of power, focusing on the relationship between power and freedom, the role of dissent and the forms of resistance to power, biopower and biopolitics. In the third part of the course, Arendt's and Foucault's conceptions of power will be related to those of other authors from the second half of the twentieth century in order to better understand the critical scope of their view of liberalism and democracy.
Prerequisites for admission
No prior knowledge is required
Teaching methods
Lectures
Student presentations and/or work group
Class discussion
Student presentations and/or work group
Class discussion
Teaching Resources
Readings and assignments for attending and non attending students. Assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
1) H. Arendt, Vita activa, Milano, Bompiani 2008
2) S. Forti, Hannah Arendt tra filosofia e politica, Milano, Mondadori, 2006
3) M. Foucault, Bisogna difendere la società, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2020 e M. Foucault, Illuminismo e critica, Roma, Donzelli, 1997
4) V. Sorrentino, Il pensiero politico di Foucault, Roma, Meltemi, 2008 oppure L. Bernini, Le pecore e il pastore: critica, politica, etica nel pensiero di Michel Foucault, Milano, Liguori, 2008
5) Teaching materials that will be uploaded to the course's Ariel website
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
6) One text of your choice from:
a) Cavarero, Democrazia sorgiva, Milano, Cortina, 2019
b) H. Arendt, Socrate, a cura di I. Possenti, con saggi critici di A. Cavarero e S. Forti, Milano, Cortina, 2015
c) H. Arendt, Che cos'è la politica, a cura di U. Ludz, Torino, Einaudi, 2006 e R. Bernstein, Hannah Arendt: la politica tra crisi e rivoluzione, pref. di D. Bassi, post. di I. Possenti, Verona, Ombre corte 2022
d) H. Arendt, La rivoluzione ungherese e l'imperialismo totalitario, a cura di S.Forti e G. Parrino, Milano, Cortina, 2024
e) O. Guaraldo (a cura di), ll Novecento di Hannah Arendt: un lessico politico, Verona, Ombrecorte, 2008
7) One text of your choice from:
a) J. Marchetti, Foucault e Hayek: tra biopolitica e liberalismo, pref. di E. Castrucci, Torino, IBL Libri, 2018 and e F.A. von Hayek, Legge, legislazione e libertà. Critica dell'economia pianificata [1973], Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2010: vol. II, cap. 10 (L'ordine di mercato o catallassi) e Vol. III, cap. 18 ( Il contenimento del potere e lo spodestamento della politica.
b) U. Curi (a cura di), Che cos'è l'Illuminismo, testi di Immanuel Kant, Michel Foucault, Jürgen Habermas, Milano-Udine,-Mimesis, 2021 e M. Foucualt, Discorso e verità nella Grecia antica, introd. di R. Bodei, Milano, Donzelli, 2019
c) M. Foucault, Il soggetto e il potere, a cura di A. di Gesu, Napoli, Istituto di studi filosofici Press, 2024
d) A. Vinale, Biopolitica e Democrazia, Milano, Mimesis, 2005
e) J. Nale, The Cambridge Foucault Lexicon, accesso on line dalla biblioteca digitale di unimi, cap. Biopower, Critique, Genealogy, Parresia, Self, Sovereignity, Subjectification, Immauel Kant or Niccolò Machiavelli
Non-attending students must also study P. Portinaro, Il lessico del potere: l'arte di governo dall'antichità alla globalizzazione, Roma, Carocci, 2021
Attending students will have the opportunity to participate in ongoing assessments through classroom presentations and/or group work.
General warnings:
The program may be subject to minor changes. The final version will be uploaded to the Ariel website shortly after the start of the course.
The study of the materials distributed in class, as well as the prefaces and introductions to the indicated editions, is an integral part of the preparation for the examination.
Students repeating the exam must contact the teacher in order to agree on the necessary modifications to the programme.
The teacher is available to agree partial modifications to the programme in response to motivated requests made by students during office hours.
Examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or DSA must be agreed with the teacher in accordance with the relevant office.
1) H. Arendt, Vita activa, Milano, Bompiani 2008
2) S. Forti, Hannah Arendt tra filosofia e politica, Milano, Mondadori, 2006
3) M. Foucault, Bisogna difendere la società, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2020 e M. Foucault, Illuminismo e critica, Roma, Donzelli, 1997
4) V. Sorrentino, Il pensiero politico di Foucault, Roma, Meltemi, 2008 oppure L. Bernini, Le pecore e il pastore: critica, politica, etica nel pensiero di Michel Foucault, Milano, Liguori, 2008
5) Teaching materials that will be uploaded to the course's Ariel website
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
6) One text of your choice from:
a) Cavarero, Democrazia sorgiva, Milano, Cortina, 2019
b) H. Arendt, Socrate, a cura di I. Possenti, con saggi critici di A. Cavarero e S. Forti, Milano, Cortina, 2015
c) H. Arendt, Che cos'è la politica, a cura di U. Ludz, Torino, Einaudi, 2006 e R. Bernstein, Hannah Arendt: la politica tra crisi e rivoluzione, pref. di D. Bassi, post. di I. Possenti, Verona, Ombre corte 2022
d) H. Arendt, La rivoluzione ungherese e l'imperialismo totalitario, a cura di S.Forti e G. Parrino, Milano, Cortina, 2024
e) O. Guaraldo (a cura di), ll Novecento di Hannah Arendt: un lessico politico, Verona, Ombrecorte, 2008
7) One text of your choice from:
a) J. Marchetti, Foucault e Hayek: tra biopolitica e liberalismo, pref. di E. Castrucci, Torino, IBL Libri, 2018 and e F.A. von Hayek, Legge, legislazione e libertà. Critica dell'economia pianificata [1973], Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2010: vol. II, cap. 10 (L'ordine di mercato o catallassi) e Vol. III, cap. 18 ( Il contenimento del potere e lo spodestamento della politica.
b) U. Curi (a cura di), Che cos'è l'Illuminismo, testi di Immanuel Kant, Michel Foucault, Jürgen Habermas, Milano-Udine,-Mimesis, 2021 e M. Foucualt, Discorso e verità nella Grecia antica, introd. di R. Bodei, Milano, Donzelli, 2019
c) M. Foucault, Il soggetto e il potere, a cura di A. di Gesu, Napoli, Istituto di studi filosofici Press, 2024
d) A. Vinale, Biopolitica e Democrazia, Milano, Mimesis, 2005
e) J. Nale, The Cambridge Foucault Lexicon, accesso on line dalla biblioteca digitale di unimi, cap. Biopower, Critique, Genealogy, Parresia, Self, Sovereignity, Subjectification, Immauel Kant or Niccolò Machiavelli
Non-attending students must also study P. Portinaro, Il lessico del potere: l'arte di governo dall'antichità alla globalizzazione, Roma, Carocci, 2021
Attending students will have the opportunity to participate in ongoing assessments through classroom presentations and/or group work.
General warnings:
The program may be subject to minor changes. The final version will be uploaded to the Ariel website shortly after the start of the course.
The study of the materials distributed in class, as well as the prefaces and introductions to the indicated editions, is an integral part of the preparation for the examination.
Students repeating the exam must contact the teacher in order to agree on the necessary modifications to the programme.
The teacher is available to agree partial modifications to the programme in response to motivated requests made by students during office hours.
Examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or DSA must be agreed with the teacher in accordance with the relevant office.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination consists of two parts: a written preliminary test and an oral test. The written test consists of a short argumentative essay (paper of approximately 5 pages) on one of the topics covered in the course. Students are expected to discuss the topic of the paper with the teacher by email and to send the paper to the teacher by email at least two weeks before the date of the oral test. The oral test consists of a colloquium on the topics and texts provided by the programme. The aim of the examination is to test the comprehension of the texts to be studied, a thorough knowledge of the main conceptual contributions to the history of political philosophy, and the ability to approach general issues from appropriate methodological perspectives. Students will be required to demonstrate their ability to discuss the arguments of different authors using appropriate vocabulary and to navigate the bibliographical references in the historical-political field. Attending students will have the opportunity to complete part of the examination through presentations 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.
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
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Professor(s)
Reception:
Thursday, 10.00-13.00. Please, write an e-mail to arrange an appointment.
Teams and/or office