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

This year's monographic course is dedicated to Niccolò Machiavelli: Philosophy, History, and Politics. We will cover some of the main aspects of this author's thought, with particular attention to the political context, his historical and theoretical sources, and his influence in subsequent centuries.

The course is conducted entirely in Italian.

NB: For non-attending students of FILO or other departments who have already chosen a dissertation topic (in any discipline), it will be possible to agree on a partially or completely alternative exam program by contacting the instructor well in advance.

Readings/Bibliography

The preparation for this course requires the reading of 7 texts:

For the institutional Part (the History of Political Philosophy):

1. Galli, C. (ed.) (2011). Manuale di Storia del pensiero politico. Bologna: Il Mulino [three consecutive sections of your choice from the five that comprise the handbook].
For further insights on individual themes and authors, the following classic works may also be consulted:
· Geymonat, L. (ed.) (1970). Storia del pensiero filosofico e scientifico. Milano: Garzanti.
· Firpo, L. (ed.) (1972). Storia delle idee politiche, economiche e sociali. Torino: UTET.

For the monographic Part (Machiavelli's Thought and Influence):

Primary Sources:

2. Niccolò Machiavelli, Il Principe.
3. Niccolò Machiavelli, Discorsi sulla prima deca di Tito Livio.

4. One text of your choice among:
o Niccolò Machiavelli, L'arte della guerra.
o Niccolò Machiavelli, Le istorie fiorentine.
o Polybius, Histories (selected passages indicated in class).
o Tacitus, Annals.
o Lucretius, On the Nature of Things.
o Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities (selected passages indicated in class).
o Plutarch, Parallel Lives: Lycurgus and Numa or Agis and Cleomenes and Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, or Theseus and Romulus.
o Sallust, The Conspiracy of Catiline and The Jugurthine War.
o Livy, History of Rome (selected passages indicated in class).
o Aristotle, Politics (selected passages indicated in class).
o Cicero, The Laws.

o Vegezio, L'arte della guerra romana.

NB: Any recent and complete edition on the market is acceptable. For the classics, when possible, an edition with the facing text is necessary.

Secondary Sources:

On the historical context and life of Machiavelli:

5. One text of your choice among:
o Albertini, R. von (1970). Firenze dalla Repubblica al Principato. Storia e coscienza politica. Torino: Einaudi.
o Baron, H. (1970). La crisi del primo Rinascimento italiano: umanesimo civile e libertà repubblicana in un’età di classicismo e di tirannide. Firenze: Sansoni.
o Burckhardt, J. (1968). La civiltà del Rinascimento in Italia. Firenze: Sansoni.
o Macek, J. (1992). Il Rinascimento italiano. Roma: Editori riuniti.
o Najemy, J. N. (2006). A History of Florence (1200-1575). Oxford: Blackwell.
o Pieri, P. (1970). Il Rinascimento e la crisi militare italiana. Torino: Einaudi.
o Ridolfi, R. (1978). Vita di Niccolò Machiavelli. Firenze: Sansoni.

On political thought:

6. One text of your choice among (NB: non-attending students must read 2 texts):

· Barthas, J. (2011). L’argent n’est pas le nerf de la guerre. Essai sur une prétendue erreur de Machiavel. Roma: Ècole française de Rome.
· Del Lucchese, F. (2022). Tumulti e indignatio. Conflitto, diritto e moltitudine in Machiavelli e Spinoza. Milano: Mimesis.
· Falco, M. J. (ed.) (2004). Feminist Interpretations of Niccolò Machiavelli. University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University Press.
· Guidi, A. (2009). Un segretario militante. Politica, diplomazia e armi nel Cancelliere Machiavelli. Bologna: Il Mulino.
· Lefort, C. (1972). Le travail de l'oeuvre: Machiavel. Paris: Gallimard, chapters IV-VI, pp. 311-776.
· McCormick, J. P. (2020). Democrazia machiavelliana. Machiavelli, il potere del popolo e il controllo delle élites. Roma: Viella.
· Pedullà, G. (2011). Machiavelli in tumulto. Conquista, cittadinanza e conflitto nei «Discorsi sulla prima deca di Tito Livio». Roma: Bulzoni.
· Pitkin, H. F. (1984). Fortune is a Woman: Gender and Politics in the Thought of Niccolò Machiavelli. Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press.
· Sasso, G. (1980). Niccolò Machiavelli. Il pensiero politico. Bologna: Il Mulino.
· Sasso, G. (1993). Niccolò Machiavelli. La storiografia. Bologna: Il Mulino.
· Winter, Y. (2018). Machiavelli and the Orders of Violence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

On the influence and legacy of Machiavellian thought:

7: One text of your choice among:

o Del Lucchese, F. (2015). The Political Philosophy of Niccolò Machiavelli. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
o Lefort, C. (1972). Le travail de l’oeuvre: Machiavel. Paris: Gallimard, chapter III: «Interprétations exemplaires», pp. 153-309.
o Macek, J. (1980). Machiavelli e il machiavellismo. Firenze: La Nuova Italia.
o Procacci, G. (1995). Machiavelli nella cultura europea dell’età moderna. Bari-Roma: Laterza.

Working tools (suggested for regular use):

· Online Machiavellian Encyclopedia: https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/elenco-opere/Enciclopedia_machiavelliana/

NB: Non-attending students must read two of the texts indicated in point (6).

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

The assessment is conducted through an oral exam. The oral exam consists of an interview aimed at assessing the skills, critical thinking, and methodological abilities acquired by the student based on the texts included in the syllabus. Students who demonstrate a broad and systematic understanding of the topics covered in class and the readings indicated in the bibliography, combined with their critical elaboration and mastery of expression and specific terminology, will receive excellent grades (28–30). A predominantly mnemonic knowledge of the subject, limited synthesis and analysis skills, and correct but not always precise language will result in fair evaluations (23–27). Approximate knowledge, superficial comprehension, limited analytical skills, and inconsistent expression will lead to passing or slightly above passing grades (18–22). Gaps, inappropriate language, and an inability to navigate the indicated bibliographical materials will necessarily result in a negative evaluation.

Attendance in the course is never mandatory and is never recorded. Students can choose to take the exam as 'attending' or 'non-attending' students. Only for the former is the knowledge of what was discussed in class during the lessons assumed.

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders are entitled to special adjustments according to their condition, subject to assessment by the University Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact teachers or Department staff, but make an appointment with the Service. The Service will then determine what adjustments are specifically appropriate, and get in touch with the teacher. For more information, please visit the page:
https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students

Teaching tools

PC-connected projector and text visualiser.

Office hours

See the website of Filippo Del Lucchese