Learning outcomes

The course aims at providing examples of the contribution that History of political doctrines can give to the critical comprehension of political problems of current affairs.
At the end of the course, students will have to prove that they:
- accurately know the subjects of the program,
- are able to expose them in a consequential and concise way,
- have acquired independent judgement.

Program

Beginning with the analysis of Machiavelli's political thought, with the help of a body of texts of the Early Modern Florentine political lab, the course will discuss: politics as the main activity of the human condition; the prejudices on Machiavelli's ideas; prejudices against politics; how can be defined the political judgment. The first part of the course will be devoted to the reading and the analysis of classical and modern political texts (Aristotle, Machiavelli, Guicciardini, Hobbes...) along with contemporary sources (Arendt, Beitz, Wolin, Pogge, Tetlock ...). During the second part, students will lead seminars, discussions and make oral presentations on a specific topic.
Readings:

Jean-Claude Zancarini, Una scommessa di Machiavelli. Per una riforma repubblicana di Firenze (1520-1522), Vicenza, 2017

A complete list of readings will be circulated at the beginning of the course.

Those students who are unable to attend the entire course will prepare the exam on the following books:

Jean-Claude Zancarini, Una scommessa di Machiavelli. Per una riforma repubblicana di Firenze (1520-1522), Vicenza, 2017;

E. Cutinelli Rendina-R. Ruggiero, Machiavelli, Roma, Carocci, 2018

Niccolò Machiavelli, Il principe, a c. di G. Inglese, Torino, Einaudi, 2013 e successive edizioni

Examination Methods

The Final Exam will be an oral exam about the topics discussed during the course. The final result will be composed of oral exam (60%) and paper and presentation (40%)