28066 - History of Political Philosophy (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The course will be based on the analysis of history of modern and contemporary political thought from the perspective of the State.
Through the analysis of the State constitution, we will investigate some of the milestone concepts of modern and contemporary political thought - natural right, political power, political subject, pact, sovereignty, representation, citizenship, rights, civil society, constitution, democracy.

Course contents

On power and right. Weber, Kelsen, Schmitt

 

The course focuses on the concepts of power and right in in 20th century German political philosophy, analysing, in particular, some works by Max Weber, Carl Schmitt and Hans Kelsen.

Particular attention will be paid to Weber's concepts of Herrschaft and Macht, Kelsen's idea of right and Schmitt's concept of the political.

The different theoretical perspectives of the authors will be analyzed with reference to the historical and cultural context.

 

Starting date: 6th april 2020

 

Monday, 11 – 13, calssroom VII (via Zamboni 38)

Tuesday, 13 – 15, classroom D (via Centotrecento)

Wensday, 11 – 13 classroom D (vai Centotrecento)

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

1. Primary Reading:

 

1.1 Max Weber, La politica come professione, in Id., La scienza come professione; La politica come professione (1919), Einaudi, Torino, 2001, pp. 45-121 (or Mondadori, Milano 2006, pp. 49-145)

1.2 Hans Kelsen, Il problema della sovranità e la teoria del diritto internazionale. Contributo per una dottrina pura del diritto (1920), Giuffré, 1989, pp. 5-147

1.3 Carl Schmitt, Il concetto di politico: testo del 1932 con una premessa e tre corollari, in Id., Le categorie del politico, il Mulino, Bologna 1972, pp. 89-208

See "Materiali Didattici"

 

2. Basic skills

 

The knowledge of fundamental authors and themes regarding the history of political philosophy between the 19th and 20th centuries is required for the oral exam.

Students can see one of these handbooks: 

Carlo Galli (a cura di), Manuale di storia del pensiero politico, il Mulino, Bologna 2001

George Klosko (a cura di), Oxford Handbook of the History of Political Philosophy, Oxford University Press, Oxford – New York 2011

 

List of themes and authors:

Kant, Fichte, Hegel (teorie del diritto e della politica)

Burke, Maistre, Bonald, Cortés

Liberalism and utilitarianism (Constant, Bentham, Tocqueville, Mill)

Socialism and anarchism (Proudhon, Saint-Simon, Sismondi, Fourier, Owen, Bakunin)

Marx

Socialism and democracy (Lassalle, Kautsky, Bernstein)

Spencer

Tönnies

Weber

Elitismo (Mosca, Pareto, Michels)

Marxism (Sorel, Luxemburg, Lenin, Gramsci)

Croce e Gentile (teoria politica)

Benjamin

Schmitt and Kelsen

Lukács, Marcuse, Frankfurt School

 

The programme is the same both for attending and not attending students.

 

 

Teaching methods

Frontal Lessons

 

 

Assessment methods

The final oral exam focuses on the programme’s material and will be held in the Professor’s office, Via Zamboni, 38.

The critical evaluation considers the fundamental notions, the level of the analysis and the critical skills. On the basis of these three principal parameters an overall evaluation in thirtieths is expressed.

 

Evaluation:

18-21 Low/Sufficient level

22-25 Medium level

26-28 Good/very good level

29-30 High level

30 L Excellent level

 

 

Teaching tools

During the lessons will be used power point program

 

 

Office hours

See the website of Gennaro Imbriano