Learning objectives
At the end of the course, students are familiar with the background, main categories and main authors of contemporary social philosophy; they know how to contextualise them in relation to the social, structural and cultural transformations that have affected Western societies in recent decades; they know some basic sociological categories; they develop critical and learning skills by comparing authors and perspectives
Prerequisites
Written text comprehension
Course unit content
The course is an introduction to contemporary social philosophy.
After defining this branch of philosophy and framing its main current developments, some of the notions on which the contemporary international debate focuses are presented, including those of 'recognition', 'objectivisation' and 'domination'.
Important contemporary philosophers, including Axel Honneth, Nancy Fraser, Martha Nussbaum and Rahel Jaeggi, will be confronted on these notions.
Full programme
The course is an introduction to contemporary social philosophy.
After defining this branch of philosophy and framing its main current developments, some of the notions on which the contemporary international debate focuses are presented, including those of 'recognition', 'objectivisation' and 'domination'.
Important contemporary philosophers, including Axel Honneth, Nancy Fraser, Martha Nussbaum and Rahel Jaeggi, will be brought into dialogue on these notions.The relationship between the person and contemporary society, which is the transversal theme of the various notions, will be thematised following its placement within the framework of social theory and an overview of the main transformations that have affected Western societies in recent decades. To describe these transformations of modern institutions and social relations, we will use the reflections of, among others, Zygmunt Bauman, Anthony Giddens and Luc Boltanski. Against the backdrop of the individual-society theme, great questions stand out - such as that of freedom, the possibility of self-realisation, emancipation - addressed from critical theory perspective, which has an interdisciplinary vocation. In addition to the compulsory bibliography, a wide selection of texts will be made available to students for optional in-depth studies on the topics of interest and the authors covered during the course.
Bibliography
For attending and non-attending students: Jaeggi R., Celikates R., Filosofia sociale: una introduzione, Mondadori, Milano 2018
Gherardi L., La dotazione: l’azione sociale oltre la giustizia, Mimesis 2018
Teaching methods
Lessons in presence, reading included. Interactions between students and teacher are encouraged by discussion at the end of every lesson
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral examination on main notions exposed during lessons.Grading:
Insufficient: not even approximate knowledge of the subject or not correct
18-21: elementary knowledge of the subject, and/or not always correct, partial expository and argumentative skills
22-25: satisfactory knowledge of the subject, fairly sound presentation and argumentation skills
26-29: good or very good knowledge of the subject, good or very good presentation and argumentation skills
30: precise knowledge of the subject, very good presentation and argumentation skills
30 cum laude: precise knowledge of the subject, very good presentation and argumentation skills, relevant personal reworking of knowledge.
Other information
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