B1857 - POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

Learning outcomes

Political Philosophy is conceived as the application of philosophical investigation to politics and thus as a study of the contribution that philosophy may give to political practice. This implies both a clarification of the terms used in our everyday political vocabulary and an attempt at designing models of a just society. The course intends to provide the students with the following abilities: a) notions on methodology in historical investigation; b) ability to analytically read a text while at the same time situating it into the historical and linguistic context of the age; c) knowledge of the perennial tasks of political philosophy; d) an examination of a specific topic .

Course contents

The course will critically address some key political concepts, doctrines and focus on their genesis and evolution across the centuries. At the end of the course, students are expected to (a) acquire knowledge of the milestone concepts and doctrines worked out in the field of political philosophy; (b) develop abilities to analytically read a text, by situating political concepts in the historical and linguistic context of different ages; (c) develop capacities to identify aspects of continuity and discontinuity between different political dotrines across the centuries.

A special focus will be devoted to the following conceptual tools, which will be framed in different historic contexts: republicanism, liberalism, theories of respect, toleration and solidarity. These notions will be analysed in the light of an investigation of the substantive and procedural underpinnings of democracy, which will be explored in the light of some of its possible theoretical and normative articulations. 

The course is organized in lectures and seminars, as detailed in the following program. Lectures (15 lectures/30 hours) aim to introduce students to the core tenets of the discipline. Seminars (7 seminars/14 hours) aim to provide occasions for in-depth discussions of class materials and exercises. For the seminar section of the course, students will be divided in 4 groups. Students attend a total of 44 hours of classes.

The first part of the course (the one made of lectures) aims to introduce students to the acquisition of key basic conceptual and theoretical tools in political philosophy.

The second part of the module, which will be organized in the form of seminars, will critically address the following thematic areas:

1) Democracy and Populism

2) Feminism and gender issues

3) Virtuous attitudes in Multicultural Societies (Toleration, Respect, Solidarity).

4) Liberalism and democracy in modern and contemporary political thought (Seminar Module held by Prof. Francesco Raschi)

Readings/Bibliography

The reading material will be supplied by the teacher and uploaded online:

Selected chapters from: A Companion to Contemporary Political Philosophy (Vol. I), edited by Robert E. Goodin, Philip Pettit and Thomas Pogge, Oxford, Blackwell.

A. Ryan, On Politics: a History of Political Thought from Herodotus to the Present, Penguin, 2013.

The Oxford Handbook of Political Philosophy, edited by David Estlund: chapter 7 (Social Contract Approaches) on Rawls and Nozick,

Dudley Knowles, Political Philosophy, London, Routledge.

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminar activities, which will be conducted with the help of powerpoint presentations.


Student participation in class discussions is actively encouraged, especially during seminar activities.

Assessment methods

1) One mid-term written exam (five questions)


2) A 4000-word paper on one of the topics addressed during the seminars.


Possibility of taking a final oral exam at the student's request.



Non attending students:


1) A written test (6 questions)


2) A 2000-word paper on a topic to be agreed with the teacher.


3) Oral exam: discussion of two texts, which the student will choose out of a book list (which will be presented at the beginning of the course).

Teaching tools

Powerpoint presentations.

Samples of written exams will be uploaded online. 

Office hours

See the website of Elena Irrera

See the website of Francesco Raschi

See the website of