B2365 - Political Philosophy (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

This course focuses on the major topics, ideas, problems and authors of Western Political Philosophy and its history. The aim of the course is to provide students with an in depth understanding of the ways in which political philosophy has influenced economy, society and polity in the West across the ages, through a consideration of specific themes and authors. Students will be introduced to the reading of primary and secondary sources with a complexity appropriate to the graduate level (magistrale). Students will acquire a broad grasp of the evolution of political philosophy through some major author and text in the field. Using discipline-specific terminology, they will learn to analyse philosophical works thematically and conceptually. Students will also be able to apply a variety of theoretical and historiographical approaches to individual works.

Course contents

Plato and Political Platonism in Early Modernity

This year we focus on the theory and history of political Platonism, from its origins to early modernity. Starting with Plato's major political dialogues, we will examine the developments of Platonism in the New Academy (Cicero) and then in Greek Middle Platonism (Plutarch) and its syncretic encounter with Judaism (Philo of Alexandria) and Arab culture (Al-Farabi). We will continue with the great Platonic season of the Renaissance (European and not only Florentine, with Thomas More and Giorgio Gemisto Pletone). Finally, we will analyse the influences of Platonism in the construction of the modern concept of sovereignty (Bodin) and the tensions it aroused, in Reformation and Counter-Reformation Italy (Campanella) and in Revolutionary England (Harrington).

NB: For non-attending students from FILO or other departments who have already chosen a MA dissertation topic (in any discipline), it is possible to arrange an exam program that is partially or entirely alternative to this one and consistent with the MA dissertation topic, by contacting the instructor well in advance.

Readings/Bibliography

Primary sources (to be prepared using the editions indicated

here):

1. One text or group of texts chosen from:

a. Platone (2006), La Repubblica, traduzione di F. Sartori, introduzione di M. Vegetti, note di B. Centrone, Bari-Roma, Laterza.

b. Platone (2005), Le leggi, introduzione di F. Ferrari, traduzione di F. Ferrari e S. Poli, Milano, Rizzoli.

c. Platone (2000) i dialoghi Gorgia, Protagora, Politico e la Lettera VII, in Tutti gli scritti, a cura di G. Reale, Milano: Bompiani

NB: I recommend making the choice at point (1) based on the (complete) readings possibly already done in previous courses. In other words, if you have never done a (complete) reading of the Republic, choose this text as a priority; alternatively choose The Laws and finally, if these two texts have been read previously, choose the dialogues sub (c). The objective is in any case to fill any reading gaps.

2. One text or group of texts chosen from:

a. Cicerone (1994), Dello Stato, a cura di A. Resta Barrile, Milano: Mondadori + Cicerone (2003), Le leggi, a cura di F. Cancelli, Roma: ETAS.

b. Plutarco (2017), Tutti i Moralia, coordinamento di E. Lelli e G. Pisani, Milano: Bompiani, i seguenti testi: 19: Virtù di donne (Mulierum virtutes), pp. 452-91; 30: Si può insegnare la virtù? (An virtus doceri possit), pp. 824-7; 31: La virtù etica (De virtute morali), pp. 828-51; 52: I filosofi devono dialogare soprattutto con i potenti (Maxime cum principibus philosopho esse disserendum), pp. 1488-95; 53: Chi governa deve saper governare se stesso (Ad principem ineruditum), pp. 1496-501; 54: Se un anziano debba fare politica (An seni respublica gerenda sit), pp. 1502-29; 55: Consigli politici (Praecepta gerendae reipublicae), pp. 1530-81.

c. Filone di Alessandria (1978), La creazione del mondo, le allegorie delle leggi, a cura di G. Reale, Milano: Rusconi [selezione] + La vita di Mosè, introduzione, traduzione e apparati di P. Graffigna, Milano: Rusconi, 1999 [selezione]

d. Al-Farabi (2007), Scritti politici, a cura di M. Campanini, Torino: UTET.

3. One text or group of texts chosen from:

a. Moro, T. (1990), Utopia, a cura di T. Fiore, Bari-Roma: Laterza.

b. Pletone, G. G. (2012), Trattato delle leggi, con un saggio introduttivo di L. M. A. Viola, Forlì: Victrix + Pletone, G. G. (2023), Siamo Elleni. Scritti politici, saggio introduttivo, traduzione, note e apparati di M. Neri, Milano: Mimesis [selection].

c. Bodin, J. (1964), I sei libri dello Stato, a cura di M. Isnardi-Parente, Torino: UTET [libro I e libro VI].

d. Campanella, T. (2008), La città del sole – Civitas solis, con traduzione, apparati critici e note a cura di T. Tornatore, Torino: N. Aragno + Andrea, J. V. (1983), Descrizione della repubblica di Cristianopoli, a cura di E. De. Mas, Napoli: Guida.

e. Harrington, J. (2004), La repubblica di Oceana, a cura di G. Schiavone, Torino: UTET.

4. One text or group of texts chosen from:

a. Bonazzi, M. (2015). Il platonismo. Torino: Einaudi.

b. Hankins, J. (2009), La riscoperta di Platone nel Rinascimento italiano, Pisa: Edizioni della Normale.

c. Morrow, G. R. (1960), Plato’s Cretan City: A Historical Interpretation of the Laws. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

d. Neschke-Hentschke, A. (2003), Platonisme politique et theorie du droit naturel, Louvain: Peeters [NB: il volume 1 oppure il volume 2]

e. O’Meara, D. J. (2003), Platonopolis: Platonic Political Philosophy in Late Antiquity, Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Teaching methods

This module is based on the critical reading of primary sources, their commentary supported by secondary sources, and the discussion and active participation of students.

The course will be taught entirely in Italian.

Assessment methods

Assessment takes place through an oral exam.

Course attendance is not mandatory. Students can choose whether to take the exam as ‘attending’ or ‘non-attending’ students. Only in the first case is knowledge of what was discussed in class during lessons assumed, while in the second case the exam focuses exclusively on the content of the texts.

Exam sessions are scheduled (always and in any case for all students, without any restrictions), indicatively, in the months of May, July, September, November, January and March.

Please regularly check the exams' calendar for extra-exam sessions.

Teaching tools

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders have the right to special adjustments according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the instructor but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adjustments. For more information, visit the page: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students .

It is recommended that students contact the University office in advance. Any proposed adjustments must be submitted at least 15 days in advance for the instructor’s approval, who will evaluate their appropriateness in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Filippo Del Lucchese