Learning objectives
Adequate Knowledge of Renaissance philosophical thought, with special regard to moral concepts; understanding and analysis of Neo-Stoic and Neo-sceptic philosophical texts (I Dublin descriptor);
Application of the argumentative techniques developed by ancient and late-medieval philosophy to contemporary problems (II descriptor);
Ability of arguing and communicating about the philosophical concepts examined during the course, and of developing them autonomously (III, IV, V descriptor).
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
The course will focus on Niccolò Machiavelli’s Discorsi sopra la prima decade di Tito Livio and will examine three main issues: the roman and other archaic religions; the relations between politics and religion in the Roman republic; and the criticism of Christianity.
Full programme
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Bibliography
N. Machiavelli, Discorsi sopra la prima decade di Tito Livio, any complete edition (the one published by Einaudi with the comment by Corrado Vivanti is suggested); E. Cutinelli-Rendina, Introduzione a Machiavelli, Laterza.
Teaching methods
The course will be in the form of lectures.
Assessment methods and criteria
Evaluation is based on an oral exam, in which the individual competence of the student will be assessed, together with his/her performance during the reading of the texts in class.
Other information
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