Syllabus
EN
IT
Learning Objectives
The Course is divided in two modules: European Thought (second module) and Global Justice (first module).
The first module tries to answer to the following question: what do we owe to each other? In looking for plausible answers, we will first study the main contemporary theories of justice, namely, utilitarianism, libertarianism, contractualism and communitarianism which find their roots in the political philosophies of Aristotle, Locke, Hobbes, Hume, Kant, Bentham and Mill. The current political debate in the Western democracies largely reflects these theories and views although the main actors involved do not always have full awareness of it. An inquire into our duties is interested mainly in identifying and justifying those principles of justice that guide our actions and shape and design our institutions. Since the focus of this course is on global justice our concern is to understand how individuals and states ought to conduct themselves in relation to others on the world stage. In particular, we will test the theories of justice in relation to issues such as world poverty, global inequalities, immigration and climate change.
The second module aims at providing students with a common background about the origin and development of the most important features peculiar to European thought, and at giving them the intellectual instruments to understand the issues which make Europe different from, or similar to, other cultures. Comparative issues with Chinese thought will also be touched upon. Students will gain knowledge of the foundations and conceptual base of western political systems (democracy), science, law, philosophy, ethics, and other issues, in their mutual relation.
The first module tries to answer to the following question: what do we owe to each other? In looking for plausible answers, we will first study the main contemporary theories of justice, namely, utilitarianism, libertarianism, contractualism and communitarianism which find their roots in the political philosophies of Aristotle, Locke, Hobbes, Hume, Kant, Bentham and Mill. The current political debate in the Western democracies largely reflects these theories and views although the main actors involved do not always have full awareness of it. An inquire into our duties is interested mainly in identifying and justifying those principles of justice that guide our actions and shape and design our institutions. Since the focus of this course is on global justice our concern is to understand how individuals and states ought to conduct themselves in relation to others on the world stage. In particular, we will test the theories of justice in relation to issues such as world poverty, global inequalities, immigration and climate change.
The second module aims at providing students with a common background about the origin and development of the most important features peculiar to European thought, and at giving them the intellectual instruments to understand the issues which make Europe different from, or similar to, other cultures. Comparative issues with Chinese thought will also be touched upon. Students will gain knowledge of the foundations and conceptual base of western political systems (democracy), science, law, philosophy, ethics, and other issues, in their mutual relation.
LORENZO PECCHI
Program
1st module: GLOBAL JUSTICE
Topic 1 Introduction to moral theories
Topic 2 Utilitarianism
Topic 3 Libertarianism
Topic 4 Contractualism (Rawls)
Topic 5 Equalization of endowments and capabilities
Topic 6 Communitarianism and Republicanism
Topic 7 Cosmopolitanism vs. Social Liberalism
Topic 8 World poverty and global inequality
Topic 9 Borders: immigration and territory
Topic 10 Climate change justice
2nd module: EUROPEAN THOUGHT
Topic 1 The birth and first development of democracy as a political system. Thucydides’
Athens.
Topic 2 Inference, induction, deduction. The method of scientific research and the notion of science. China and the West, compared.
Topic 3 The role of religion in society and its competitiveness towards rational thought –
Ancients and moderns (Greece and Iran, Plato and Khomeini).
Topic 4 Individual, collectivity, community: rights, duties, obligations and the history of
Europe.
Topic 5 God, Freedom, Power: Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s The Grand Inquisitor
Topic 6 The non-things and the digital order of the world.
Topic 1 Introduction to moral theories
Topic 2 Utilitarianism
Topic 3 Libertarianism
Topic 4 Contractualism (Rawls)
Topic 5 Equalization of endowments and capabilities
Topic 6 Communitarianism and Republicanism
Topic 7 Cosmopolitanism vs. Social Liberalism
Topic 8 World poverty and global inequality
Topic 9 Borders: immigration and territory
Topic 10 Climate change justice
2nd module: EUROPEAN THOUGHT
Topic 1 The birth and first development of democracy as a political system. Thucydides’
Athens.
Topic 2 Inference, induction, deduction. The method of scientific research and the notion of science. China and the West, compared.
Topic 3 The role of religion in society and its competitiveness towards rational thought –
Ancients and moderns (Greece and Iran, Plato and Khomeini).
Topic 4 Individual, collectivity, community: rights, duties, obligations and the history of
Europe.
Topic 5 God, Freedom, Power: Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s The Grand Inquisitor
Topic 6 The non-things and the digital order of the world.
Books
Michael J. Sandel, Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?, Penguin Group, 2009 and Kok-Chor Tan, What is This Thing Called Global Justice?, Routledge 2017
Bibliography
1st module: GLOBAL JUSTICE
Beitz , Political Theories and International Relations Dworkin, Sovereign Virtue
Dworkin (2), Is Democracy Possible Here? Friedman, Free to Choose
Hayek, The Constitution of Liberty
Kant, (1) Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals Kant (2) Perpetual Peace: a Philosophical Sketch MacIntyre, After Virtue
Mill, Utilitarianism
Miller, Citizenship and National Identity Mollendorf, Cosmopolitan Justice Moss, Climate Change and Social Justice Nozick, Anarchy, State and Utopia Nussbaum, Creating capabilities
Pettit, Just Freedom
Pogge, World Poverty and Human Rights Rawls (1), A Theory of Justice
Rawls (2), Political Liberalism Rawls (3), The Law of Peoples Rawls (4), Justice as Fairness
Rothbard, For a New Liberty - The Libertarian Manifesto Sandel (1), Justice
Sandel (2), Liberalism and the Limits of Justice Sen, Inequality Reexamined
Singer (1), Famine, Affluent, and Morality
Singer (2), Utilitarianism: A Very Short Introduction Singer (3), Practical Ethics
Singer (4), One World One
Singer (5), The Life You Can Save Taylor, Philosophical Papers 2 Walzer, Spheres of Justice
2nd module: EUROPEAN THOUGHT
Topic 1 The birth and first development of democracy as a political system. Thucydides’
Athens.
Topic 2 Inference, induction, deduction. The method of scientific research and the notion of science. China and the West, compared.
Topic 3 The role of religion in society and its competitiveness towards rational thought –
Ancients and moderns (Greece and Iran, Plato and Khomeini).
Topic 4 Individual, collectivity, community: rights, duties, obligations and the history of
Europe.
Topic 5 God, Freedom, Power: Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s The Grand Inquisitor
Topic 6 The non-things and the digital order of the world.
Beitz , Political Theories and International Relations Dworkin, Sovereign Virtue
Dworkin (2), Is Democracy Possible Here? Friedman, Free to Choose
Hayek, The Constitution of Liberty
Kant, (1) Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals Kant (2) Perpetual Peace: a Philosophical Sketch MacIntyre, After Virtue
Mill, Utilitarianism
Miller, Citizenship and National Identity Mollendorf, Cosmopolitan Justice Moss, Climate Change and Social Justice Nozick, Anarchy, State and Utopia Nussbaum, Creating capabilities
Pettit, Just Freedom
Pogge, World Poverty and Human Rights Rawls (1), A Theory of Justice
Rawls (2), Political Liberalism Rawls (3), The Law of Peoples Rawls (4), Justice as Fairness
Rothbard, For a New Liberty - The Libertarian Manifesto Sandel (1), Justice
Sandel (2), Liberalism and the Limits of Justice Sen, Inequality Reexamined
Singer (1), Famine, Affluent, and Morality
Singer (2), Utilitarianism: A Very Short Introduction Singer (3), Practical Ethics
Singer (4), One World One
Singer (5), The Life You Can Save Taylor, Philosophical Papers 2 Walzer, Spheres of Justice
2nd module: EUROPEAN THOUGHT
Topic 1 The birth and first development of democracy as a political system. Thucydides’
Athens.
Topic 2 Inference, induction, deduction. The method of scientific research and the notion of science. China and the West, compared.
Topic 3 The role of religion in society and its competitiveness towards rational thought –
Ancients and moderns (Greece and Iran, Plato and Khomeini).
Topic 4 Individual, collectivity, community: rights, duties, obligations and the history of
Europe.
Topic 5 God, Freedom, Power: Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s The Grand Inquisitor
Topic 6 The non-things and the digital order of the world.
Teaching methods
1st module: GLOBAL JUSTICE
Students are expected to read the material for every class and participate in every lecture.
2nd module: EUROPEAN THOUGHT
Taught class, lectures delivered by the Professor will be the main feature. Active discussion with students will also be part of the teaching activity. Students might be asked to write unannounced short essays in class on topics dealt with in the previous lessons. They will also be asked to read some materials beforehand. The second part of the module will be devoted to a discussion of two topics: 1) Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s chapter called “The Grand Inquisitor” in The Brothers Karamazov. Students are required to read the chapter thoroughly in advance (see bibliography below), in order to be able to follow the arguments presented during the class and actively participate in the discussion. 2) The notion of digital objects as non-things and our relation as knowing subjects to reality, the workings of the human mind in perception and memory, with contributions in class by psychiatrist Prof. Alfonso Troisi.
Students are expected to read the material for every class and participate in every lecture.
2nd module: EUROPEAN THOUGHT
Taught class, lectures delivered by the Professor will be the main feature. Active discussion with students will also be part of the teaching activity. Students might be asked to write unannounced short essays in class on topics dealt with in the previous lessons. They will also be asked to read some materials beforehand. The second part of the module will be devoted to a discussion of two topics: 1) Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s chapter called “The Grand Inquisitor” in The Brothers Karamazov. Students are required to read the chapter thoroughly in advance (see bibliography below), in order to be able to follow the arguments presented during the class and actively participate in the discussion. 2) The notion of digital objects as non-things and our relation as knowing subjects to reality, the workings of the human mind in perception and memory, with contributions in class by psychiatrist Prof. Alfonso Troisi.
Exam Rules
First Module (6 CFU, one half of the final grade)
Group work (requirement A) counts for 35% per cent of the module grade, while the final exam (requirement B) must be done individually and counts for 65% of the module grade. Attendance to the class and together with the fulfillment of A and B requirements are compulsory. Students who do not attend and do not participate in the activity of the class will be evaluated only on the basis of the final written exam.
Non-attending students (students with less than 80% of presence in class) will be assessed 100% on the written final exam.
Second Module (6 CFU, one half of the final grade)
Exam modalities will be explained and discussed with students during the course in due time. Students who fail the final examination will need to give a new complete examination in different exam dates of the year.
Attendance is compulsory. In case of unforeseen hindrances causing actual impossibility to attend (less than 80% presence), students will be given extra reading matter and shall have to write a paper, in addition to the final exam.
Please be aware: students will be able to be considered for the first round (“appello”) grade of the exam only by sustaining BOTH modules’ exams, the exam of module 1 during the MIDTERM week and the exam of module 2 at the end of lectures. Students who do not attend/pass/accept the grade of module 1 in the MIDTERM week cannot sustain the first exam of module 2 but will be able only to sustain both exams in the second round of the Summer session or of the Fall session. The student can reject ONLY the final grade of the average of the 2 exams. If they do that, they will have to retake the exam in the following rounds (appelli) by doing again the exams of BOTH modules.
Group work (requirement A) counts for 35% per cent of the module grade, while the final exam (requirement B) must be done individually and counts for 65% of the module grade. Attendance to the class and together with the fulfillment of A and B requirements are compulsory. Students who do not attend and do not participate in the activity of the class will be evaluated only on the basis of the final written exam.
Non-attending students (students with less than 80% of presence in class) will be assessed 100% on the written final exam.
Second Module (6 CFU, one half of the final grade)
Exam modalities will be explained and discussed with students during the course in due time. Students who fail the final examination will need to give a new complete examination in different exam dates of the year.
Attendance is compulsory. In case of unforeseen hindrances causing actual impossibility to attend (less than 80% presence), students will be given extra reading matter and shall have to write a paper, in addition to the final exam.
Please be aware: students will be able to be considered for the first round (“appello”) grade of the exam only by sustaining BOTH modules’ exams, the exam of module 1 during the MIDTERM week and the exam of module 2 at the end of lectures. Students who do not attend/pass/accept the grade of module 1 in the MIDTERM week cannot sustain the first exam of module 2 but will be able only to sustain both exams in the second round of the Summer session or of the Fall session. The student can reject ONLY the final grade of the average of the 2 exams. If they do that, they will have to retake the exam in the following rounds (appelli) by doing again the exams of BOTH modules.