The course provides a critical analysis of the topics and issues in contemporary political philosophy and aims to develop critical thinking and the analytical skills of the students. The course entails 3 parts aiming at confronting students with different levels of analytical depth: 1. the first part will provide a broad introduction to the main theories and approaches which emerge in the contemporary political philosophy debate. 2. the second section will consider key issues in contemporary liberal democratic theory (in particular, Rawls’ s Political Liberalism) and especially the ideas of legitimacy of political authority, public justification and consensus. 3. The third section will focus on the timely phenomenon of populism, which will be considered and problematized in light of the issue of pluralism.

Knowledge and understanding: By the end of the course, students will acquire: •Better knowledge of the main texts and dilemmas emerged in the scholarly debate on Political Philosophy •Improved understanding of different approaches and competing theories (e.g.: utilitarianism, contractarianism, libertarianism, etc.) •Increased capacity to engage critically with the readings and the literature in the field and to connect a normative thinking about these problems to other, either empirical or juridical, perspectives. Applying knowledge and understanding: Students will be able to apply their acquired knowledge in their future academic path. In particular, students will be trained in: • presenting critical arguments (both pro and contra) in relation to the theories object of the course • Giving public talks, formulating objections, etc. • Writing short academic essays Making judgements: Due to critical approach employed in the course and the emphasis placed on autonomous re-elaboration and critical discussion of the readings, students will be able to: • Provide informed ethical assessments of the evolving political scenarios; • Develop an autonomous and critical judgement view about political issues and problems •write a short essay in which they will show to be able to engage with readings autonomously and present an independent point of view Communication Skills: During the course students will be asked to contribute to the discussion in several ways, via group discussions of pro and contra and case studies. Students are therefore expected to improve their communication skills and the overall degree and quality of participation in class discussions. Learning skills: By the end of the course students are expected to acquire the following skills: • Improved ability to make intelligent use of informed ethical assessment to apply to the evolving political scenario • Increased competence in providing well-organized and clear arguments in support of their views • Increased expertise in debating about important facts that characterize political scenarios.

This course offers an introduction to the main issues in contemporary political philosophy. It provides students the opportunity to develop the abilities of theoretical and methodological analysis characteristic of the contemporary analytical approach in political philosophy. The course entails 3 parts aiming at confronting students with different levels of analytical depth. Part I: Theories in Contemporary Political Philosophy. Part II: Liberal democracy, consensus and pluralism (reading Political Liberalism) Part III: Populism Pluralism and Liberal democracy

Required readings: Part I: • Will Kymlicka, Introduzione alla Filosofia Politica, Feltrinelli 1996 – chapters 1,2,3 and 5 • Michael Sandel, Giustizia, Il Nostro Bene Comune, Feltrinelli 2009 –chapters 2, 3,6, 7 and 9. Part II: • Maffettone, S. Politica. LeMonnier, 2020 – Introduction and chapters 1 and 6 • J. Rawls, Liberalismo Politico, Einaudi 2012 – Introduction and chapters 4, 5, 6 Part III: • Albert Weale, Il mito della volontà del popolo, LUP 2020 • Chantal Mouffe, Per un populsimo di sinistra, Roma/Bari, Laterza 2018 - Further readings: - Griffin, L., “Fundamentalism form the perspective of liberal tolerance,” Cardozo Law Review - Gentile, V., “The scope of religious freedom in EU: tolerance, democratic equality and religious freedom”, in Spaces of Tolerance. Changing geographies and philosophy of religious freedom in EU, a cura di Bialasiewicz L. e Gentile V (Routledge 2019). - Macedo, S., In defence of Liberal Public Reason: Are SLavery and Abortion hard cases? American Journal of Jurisprudence.

Teaching methods will include: lectures, presentations, pros and cons, discussions, guest lectures, seminars.

Midterm: 30% Class participation, discussion and presentation: 20% Final written exam: 50%

Final Grade (above 28/30)