The teaching is organized as follows:

Learning outcomes

Politics and Theories of the Human The course aims at an in-depth analysis - through an analytical readings of texts – of relevant themes in modern and contemporary political philosophy. Main focus of the analysis will be the relationship between modes of configuring subjectivity (of thinking the subject) and modes of political organization (of thinking the political). This investigation, which is at once political, epistemological and ontological, will put its focus on the relationship modern and contemporary philosophy establishes between concepts and experiences. Expected results will be: - capacity to carry out an analytical and critical reading of complex philosophical texts; - ability to individually elaborate an oral critical-argumentative parcours on the specific issues discussed; - ability to individually elaborate a written critical-argumentative text based on the mandatory readings, discussion in class, personal original elaboration; - conceptual ability to autonomously face philosophico-political problems and dilemmas of our present (i.e.: equality/difference, subjects/power, individual freedom/political order).

Program

By drawing from Aristotle and Hannah Arendt the course aims at understanding which symbolic and conceptual resources are available to political theory today to think public happiness and the good life. The wager is that at the origins of politics there is not a utilitarian drive to the protection of life but an exhibitive urge to reciprocal self-display, being one in front of the other and decide the way in which to organize human coexistence. Today we tend to interpret protest movements and political phenomena within a frame of negative feelings (rage, fear, resentment, hate): in the seminar part of the course we will try to constitute together with the students a possible archive of experiences of public happiness, through some suggested readings and some proposed by the students.The aim is to realize a co-construction of knowledge around democracy as erotic dimension, generative of political bonds.

Examination Methods

Final examination will consist in an oral discussion on the themes of the course. Students will be asked to start with a presentation of a topic individually chosen from those discussed in class (or present in the texts). After this individual presentation the student will be asked about the major theoretical problems dealt with during the course (class discussion and texts). Final evaluation will consider historical-philosophical and historical-political knowledge of the context treated in the course as well as ability to autonomously face philosophical-political dilemmas related to the reality of public life (public debates, public emergencies, public opinion).
The seminar part, which should be attended regularly and actively, will determine 40% of final evaluation. This part will involve students directly, who will be asked to present and discuss in class texts suggested by the Professor and texts or case-studies proposed by them.