02494 - Political Philosophy

Learning outcomes

This course focuses on the major topics, ideas, problems and authors of Western Political Philosophy and its history. Through a direct reading of primary sources, as well as secondary sources, and the use of commentaries, dictionaries, lexica and other working tools, the student will be introduced to the history and theory of concepts such as Democracy, Power, Representation, Social and Political conflict, Violence and Negotiation, Authority and Sovereignity. Upon successful completion of this course, the students will have acquired critical skills such as to appreciate primary sources in their own historical and cultural context, to identify basic conceptual elements of the texts, to formulate meaningful questions about them and to discuss ideas and thesis about them, to ground one’s argument in the direct reading of sources, to compare and contrast texts as well as to shuttle between different periods and historical contexts.

Course contents

Spinoza and Marx: The Assault on Heaven

This year’s course addresses the joint reading of two of the greatest revolutionary philosophers of modernity. Particular attention will be devoted to the themes and problems where the resonances between their works are strongest, without evading the problematic character of Spinoza’s direct influence on Marx. We will seek to grasp the limits and potentialities of this double reading, from a perspective that is simultaneously theoretical-political and historical-philosophical.

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

Readings/Bibliography

Primary sources:

1-2. Two texts chosen from the following:

B. Spinoza (1988). Etica, a cura di E. Giancotti, Roma: Editori Riuniti.

B. Spinoza (1972). Trattato Teologico-politico, introduzione di E. Giancotti Boscherini, traduzione e commento di A. Droetto e E. Giancotti Boscherini, Torino: Einaudi.

B. Spinoza (1958). Trattato politico, a cura di E. Droetto, Torino: Ramella.

3-4. Two texts chosen from the following:

K. Marx (1968). Manoscritti economico-filosofici del 1844, a cura di N. Bobbio, Torino: Einaudi.

K. Marx (1972). La sacra famiglia, in Opere di Marx e Engels, Roma: Editori Riuniti, vol. IV.

K. Marx (1972). L’ideologia tedesca, in Opere di Marx e Engels, Roma: Editori Riuniti, vol. V.

K. Marx (1973). Miseria della filosofia, in Opere di Marx e Engels, Roma: Editori Riuniti, vol. VI.

F. Engels (1974). Anti-Dühring, in Opere di Marx e Engels, Roma: Editori Riuniti, vol. XXV.

K. Marx (1976). Lineamenti fondamentali di critica dell’economia politica («Grundrisse»), Torino: Einaudi (2 voll.).

K. Marx (2009). Il Capitale. Critica dell’economia politica, Libro I, in Opere di Marx e Engels, vol. 31, Napoli: La Città del Sole.

K. Marx (2022). Critica del diritto statuale hegeliano, prefazione di R. Finelli, postfazione di F. S. Trincia, Milano: Pgreco edizioni.

NB: As an alternative to those indicated, any recent and complete edition commercially available is acceptable, and it is always better to have the original text available.

Secondary sources:

5. One text chosen from the following:

Fischbach, F. (2005). La production des hommes. Marx avec Spinoza, Paris: Presses Universitaires de France [an English translation, published by Edinburgh University Press, is also available]. 

Morfino, V. (2016). Il marxismo e Spinoza, in id. Genealogia di un pregiudizio. L’immagine di Spinoza in Germania da Leibniz a Marx, Hildesheim-Zürich-New York: Georg Olms Verlag, pp. 231-317.

Read, J. (2024). The Double Shift: Spinoza and Marx on the Politics of Work, London: Verso.

6. One text chosen from the following:

Mehring, F. (1972). Vita di Marx, prefazione di E. Ragionieri, Roma: Editori Riuniti.

Rovère, M (2020). Tutte le vite di Spinoza: Amsterdam 1677: L’invenzione della libertà, Milano: Feltrinelli.

NB: Non-attending students must also read the second of the biographies listed in point 6.

For further study on individual themes and authors, the following classic works can be consulted:

Geymonat, L. a cura di (1970). Storia del pensiero filosofico e scientifico. Milano: Garzanti.

Firpo, L. a cura di (1972). Storia delle idee politiche, economiche e sociali. Torino: UTET.

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 conducted entirely in Italian.

Assessment methods

Assessment is through an oral examination.

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 lectures 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.

Check the exam calendar regularly for additional sessions.

 

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

 

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.

Teaching tools

PC-connected projector and text visualiser.

Office hours

See the website of Filippo Del Lucchese