98922 - Political Philosophy (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

This course focuses on the major topics, ideas, problems and authors of Western Political Philosophy and its history. Students will be introduced to an advanced level of reading, analysing and deep understanding of key themes and concepts in the Western tradition of political philosophy. They will develop strong skills as critical readers, capable of describing and analysing the conceptual framework of and the specific historiographical debates on some of the major texts in the field, in their historical and cultural context

Course contents

This module, taught in English, will consist in a close reading of selections from Niccolò Machiavelli’s major works. We will also study Machiavelli's historical background and influence. We will pay particularly detailed attention to the questions of power, violence, ontology’s relationship with politics, Machiavelli’s reading of his classical and medieval sources.

If you would like to prepare in advance for this seminar, I recommend studying Machiavelli’s historical context using the background readings, e.g. Albertini’s monograph or Ridolfi’s biography (see infra, the bibliography).

Readings/Bibliography

1) Machiavelli, N. (1998). The Prince. Trans. H. C. Mansfield. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.

2) Machiavelli, N. (1995). Discourses on Livy. Trans. H. C. Mansfield and N. Tarcov. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.

3) Del Lucchese, F. (2015). The Political Philosophy of Niccolò Machiavelli. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

4-5) Two books from the following list:

Albertini, R. von (1982). Firenze dalla Repubblica al Principato. Storia e coscienza politica. Torino: Einaudi [Original edition: Das Florentinische Staatsbewusstsein im Übergang von der Republik zum Prinzipat. Bern: Francke, 1955]. 

Del Lucchese, F., Frosini, V., Morfino, V. eds. (2015). The Radical Machiavelli: Politics, Philosophy, and Language. Leiden-Boston: Brill Academic Publisher.

Falco, M. J. ed. (2004). Feminist interpretations of Machiavelli. University Park, PA: The University of Pennsylvania State University Press.

Gaille, M. (2018). Machiavelli on Freedom and Civil Conflict. Leiden: Brill.

Lefort, C. (2012). Machiavelli in the Making. Evanston Ill.: Nothwestern University Press.

McCormick, J. P. (2011). Machiavellian Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Pedullà, G. (2018). Machiavelli in Tumult: The “Discourses on Livy” and the Origins of Political Conflictualism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Pitkin, H. F. (1984). Fortune is a Woman: Gender and Politics in the Thought of Niccolò Machiavelli. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Ridolfi, R. (1978⁷). Vita di Niccolò Machiavelli. Firenze: Sansoni [English translation: The Life of Niccolò Machiavelli. Abingdon: Routledge, 2010].

Winter, Y. (2018). Machiavelli and the Orders of Violence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

6) For non-attending students:

Coleman, J. (2000). A History of Political Thought. Vol. I, From Ancient Greece to Early Christianity and vol. II, From the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Oxford: Blackwell.

Teaching methods

This module is based on the critical reading of primary sources, on their commentary supported by secondary sources, and on the discussion and the active participation of students. Guest speakers will be invited, depending on availability, during the teaching period.

The class will be taught in English.

Assessment methods

The final assessment of this module will be done with an oral exam.

 

People with disabilities and DSA


Persons with disabilities or specific learning disorders are entitled to special adaptations in relation to their condition, subject to assessment by the University Service for Students with Disabilities and DSA. Please do not contact the teacher, but contact the Service for an appointment. The Service will determine what adjustments are appropriate. Further information can be found at site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabililita-e-dsa/it/per-studenti.

Teaching tools

PC-connected projector and text visualiser.

Office hours

See the website of Filippo Del Lucchese