Ateneo - UPO

Power, struggle and recognition in social philosophy and political thought.

First part (Social Philosophy) 1. Iris Marion Young (2024), Le politiche della differenza, Società Aperta; Nancy Fraser, Axel Honneth (2020), Redistribuzione o riconoscimento?, Milano Meltemi; Angela Davis, Donne, razza e classe, Edizioni Alegre Roma, 2018. Second part (History of political thought) 1. Lecture handouts with an anthology of excerpts from the works of Machiavelli, Montesquieu, Sieyes, Tocqueville, Weber, Schmitt, Arendt, and Foucault (handouts will be uploaded to DIR). 2. One of the following texts of your choice: J.-J. Rousseau, Emilio, o dell'educazione, libri I e V, a cura di Roberto Gatti, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2019; Mary Wollstonecraft, Rivendicazione dei diritti della donna, a cura di Carlotta Cossutta, Milano, Mondadori, 2025; Max Weber, La scienza come professione. La politica come professione, a cura di Pietro Rossi, Torino, Einaudi, 2004; Carl Schmitt, Le categorie del 'politico', a cura di Gianfranco Miglio e Pierangelo Schiera, Bologna, il Mulino, 2013 Hannah Arendt, Responsabilità e giudizio, Torino, Einaudi, 2010; Michel Foucault, La volontà di sapere, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2019.
Students who do not attend classes may consult one of the following textbooks: Carlo Galli (a cura di), Manuale di storia del pensiero politico, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2011; Raffaella Gherardi, La politica e gli Stati. Problemi e figure del pensiero occidentale. Terza edizione, Roma, Carocci, 2022.

The course, which is divided into two modules, aims to provide students with the following learning outcomes.
At the basic level, students are expected to acquire: (knowledge and understanding): a basic knowledge of social philosophy and the history of political thought and their different methodologies; a basic knowledge of the fundamental themes and authors of these disciplines; 2. (autonomy of judgement): the ability to exercise sufficient autonomy of judgement; 4. (communication skills): the ability to present acquired knowledge clearly and correctly; 5. (learning skills): a sufficient ability to analyse texts and to connect the topics covered.
At a more advanced level, the course aims to enable the acquisition of: 1. (knowledge and understanding): a thorough knowledge of social philosophy and the history of political thought political thought, with particular reference to theories of sovereignty and political power, the question of the struggle for recognition or equality in theories of democracy and issues relating to gender injustice; 2. (ability to apply knowledge understanding): a good ability to reconstruct the arguments of the authors and texts analysed in a precise and thorough manner; 3. (autonomy of judgement): a good ability to critically analyse the different theories analysed; 4. (communication skills): a good ability to present the knowledge acquired in a clear and correct manner, showing full mastery of terminology and vocabulary; 5. (learning ability): a good ability to analyse texts and to link the topics dealt with, demonstrating awareness of the problems connected to the interpretation of the classics and the theoretical debates relating to the theories of political power and the struggle for recognition.

Logical and linguistic abilities and historical knowledge acquired in high school.

Lectures, reading and comment of texts, classroom discussions.

Please register on the DIR pages for both modules (Social Philosophy and the History of Political Thought).

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/servicesstudents-physical-or-learning-disabilities
Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The final assessment consists of two oral examinations: one in Social Philosophy and the other in the History of Political Thought, both lasting approximately 20 to 30 minutes to test the knowledge included in the objectives and expected learning outcomes.
The grade is expressed in thirtieths and the evaluation is carried out according to the following parameters: 1) knowledge and understanding of the main topics covered: 18 points out of 30 (sufficiency); 2) ability to set out clearly and correctly the knowledge acquired: 6 points out of 30; 3) ability to establish links between the topics covered and to examine them in depth critically and with independent judgement: 6 points out of 30.

The course, divided into two modules, aims to introduce two closely related disciplines in an introductory way: social philosophy and the history of political thought.
The subject of the first module is the conflict for equality between redistribution and recognition. A critical analysis of the categories of distribution and recognition, and their relation to the concept of political change, will make it possible to analyse the different dimensions of equality and critically evaluate the contemporary economic, political and social context and the struggles for equality that characterise it. Among the different cases analysed, special attention will be paid to the claims of the feminist movement and the intersection of racial, gender and class injustices.
The second module will examine the relationship between law and power through the works of selected authors in modern and contemporary political thought. Particular attention will be devoted to the theories of Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Mary Wollstonecraft, and to their relevance for the revolutionary period and the declarations of rights, including debates on women's rights. The relationship between sovereignty, democracy, and constitutionalism will then be explored through the political thought of Alexis de Tocqueville, Max Weber, Carl Schmitt, Hannah Arendt, and Michel Foucault.

To achieve the knowledge and corresponding skills at the basic level, students will have to demonstrate:
1. (knowledge and understanding): to have acquired sufficient knowledge of some classic texts of social and political thought in their disciplinary specificity, and of the different theoretical positions concerning the concepts of sovereignty, legitimacy, freedom, equality, and recognition;
2. (ability to apply knowledge and understanding): to be able to recognize the main lines of argument and conceptual structure of the texts and theories analyzed;
3. (autonomy of judgment): to be able to compare correctly the different issues considered;
4. (communication skills): to be able to present clearly and correctly the knowledge acquired;
5. (learning skills): to have acquired sufficient ability to analyze texts and connect the topics covered.

For the attainment of an advanced level, one must demonstrate:
1. (knowledge and understanding): to have acquired a thorough knowledge of themes and authors in social philosophy and the history of thought, with particular reference to theories of recognition and the theory of sovereignty;
2. (ability to apply knowledge and understanding): to be able to reconstruct accurately and thoroughly the theoretical-political debates of modern and contemporary authors, and to recognize the different methodologies and interpretive perspectives adopted;
3. (autonomy of judgment): to be able to critically compare the different theories analyzed, also to develop an autonomous view concerning contemporary case studies;
4. (communication skills): to be able to present the knowledge acquired clearly and correctly, showing full command of the terminology and vocabulary of both disciplines;
5. (learning skills): to possess a good ability to analyze texts and connect the topics covered, demonstrating awareness of the problems arising in texts' interpretation and the ability to carry out individual in-depth studies.

These learning outcomes are consistent with the provisions of the SUA of the Philosophy and Communication Course, framework A4.b2.