Learning objectives
Acquire a deeper and more sophisticated knowledge of the origins and the historical development of Western political thought both in ancient and modern times.
- This course will help students to understand the main themes and authors of the Western political tradition in the historical contexts where they developed.
- Students are expected to be able to analyze and interpret past and present national and international political scenarios.
- They are also supposed to elaborate an independent critical textual analysis, and to associate different authors to their political thoughts.
- By analyzing political thinkers’ thought, students will be able to clearly develop critical ideas on the main questions related to modern and contemporary politics.
Prerequisites
None.
Course unit content
By focussing on the works of some of the most important Western political thinkers, the course will address the origins and development of the main concepts in ancient and modern history. This knowledge will be helpful to understand the political experiences of past epochs and of the contemporary world too. The course will address the works of some of the classic authors in the history of political thought, such as Plato's Republic, Machiavelli's Prince, Hobbes's Leviathan, Tocqueville's Democracy in America etc., including some sections of the ideological debates in the 20th century. For a more detailed (though preliminary) list of authors and key-concepts (absolutism, constitutionalism, revolution, liberalism, socialism etc.) check below in the section 'Programma esteso'.
Full programme
The origins of political thought in ancient Greece; the political thought of the main Greek philosphers: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle; political thought and law in the Roman Republic; Roman thought: Polybius and Cicero; the coming of Christianity: Augustine and Aquinas; Machiavelli; More and the utopical thought; State and sovereignty: Bodin; State of nature, civil society, authority and liberty in Hobbes; Locke’s political thought; Constitution, powers and liberty in Montesquieu; liberty and equality in Rousseau; David Hume; Adam Smith; the American Revolution and “the Federalist”; representation, parties and revolution in Burke; Kant’s political thought; liberalism: B. Constant; democracy and liberty in Tocqueville; socialist currents in the early 19th century and the communist doctrine of K. Marx; liberty and representation in John Stuart Mill; twentieth century political thought: the elitist school (Mosca, Pareto, Michels); Carl Schmitt; Max Weber; totalitarianism.
Bibliography
L.M. Bassani, A. Mingardi, Dalla Polis allo Stato. Introduzione alla Storia del pensiero politico, Giappichelli, Torino 2017 up to page 287.
J.-J. Chevallier, Le grandi opere del pensiero politico, il Mulino, Bologna 1998.
No difference between attending and not attending students.
Teaching methods
Lectures
Particular attention will be paid to the analysis of texts, which will be read and discussed in the classroom.
Assessment methods and criteria
Written exam with 3 multiple choice items (each item values 2/30) and 4 open-ended questions on the main arguments (each item values 6/30).
Other information
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