This course aims at making students able to grasp the main concepts and theories of public and applied ethics, and of using them in their further studies. In particular, we want to promote argumentative skills, precise language and grasping of conceptual distinctions. A focus will be given to skills in discussion and project works. The topic of corruption will be a specific focus of some classes, where testimonials will be hosted.

Knowledge and understanding This class aims to present to students philosophical principles and dilemmas relevant for public decisions or decisions of public importance, with particular attention to the notion of 'public interest', especially in connection with corruption issues. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding Knowledge and understanding of the principles of public ethics is fundamental for anyone who intends to work in political institutions or in public administration. These skills are achieved through the teaching, and also through the teaching methods, which include frontal lessons, seminar lessons, project work, case analysis. Competence checks are carried out through final and intermediate exams. The teaching activity takes place in a dynamic context, based on the partnership between teachers and learners. The active role of the students is guaranteed not only in the learning process, but also in the evaluation process: self-assessment peer-assessment assessment. Autonomy of judgment At the end of this course, the student is autonomously able to integrate knowledge and analyze the complexity of political phenomena from an ethical point of view, to identify the problems and indicate solutions, including shared solutions; all through the integration of data and empirical research, but also of specific conceptual apparatus. The student will have the critical tools to understand the dynamics and ethical aspects of social and political change, and to elaborate policy responses or strategies. This ability is achieved not only through traditional teaching, but also through participation in seminars, guest lectures and guided discussion of case studies and the implementation of project works. Autonomy will be assessed through written tests and drafts of original comments on topics to be studied in depth. In addition, the assignment of projects such as analysis and resolution of real-life cases requires capacity building to collect and processing up-to-date data and information. The student will therefore acquire a set of tools but also of an aptitude to apply them in an independent and and original way of analysing the problems in the workplace. Learning skills The student is able to deepen autonomously his or her knowledge. In particular he is able to: - a) elaborate her knowledge also in the form of debate on opposing theses prepared with specialized readings; - b) conduct research through the consultation of texts and specialist journals, or through the collection and analysis of data; - d) organise and manage work (initiative, teamwork, coordination of resources, supervision of work and time management, recruitment of responsibility, innovation in problem solving, flexibility of reasoning, ability to adapt to change and negotiating attitude). The strengthening of cultural skills (multidisciplinarity and deepening of linguistic knowledge) corresponds to the strengthening of personal skills, such as the ability to write and speak correctly in Italian, the ability to speak and write in Italian, the ability to speak in public (through the presentation of insights by students during the lessons); the ability to deepen research; the ability to be constantly updated by reading political and philosophical newspapers and magazines and other scientific publications.

The course will cover public ethics between political theory and public law. It will be diveded into the following main modules : i. the general conception of public ethics, at the intersection between ethics, philosophy, law and political theory; ii. the historical formation and conceptual assumptions of the various models of public ethics; iii. applied issues: a. corruption, b. conflicts of interest, c. codes of conduct, d. ethics of public officials, e. transparency of public institutions. A main theme of the whole course will be the notion of 'public interest' and its declinations in various theoretical models and various articulations of administrative law.

A. G. Pellegrino, Public Ethics. A Short Introduction, Luiss University Press, Rome, 2015 C.A. Viano, Public Ethics, Laterza, Rome-Bari, 2002 (additional reading for exempted students) B B.G. Mattarella, The Rules of Honesty. Ethics, Politics, Administration, il Mulino, Bologna, 2007 Id., “The Prevention of Corruption in Italy (Commentary on Law No. 190 of November 6, 2012)”, in Giornale di diritto amministrativo, 2013 (additional reading for exempted students) E. D’Alterio, “Administrative Transparency”, in The Reform of Public Administration. Commentary on Law 124/2015 (Madia) and Implementing Decrees, edited by B.G. Mattarella and E. D’Alterio, Il Sole 24 Ore, Milan, 2017 (additional reading for exempted students)

In the course there are both ex cathedra and face-to-face lessons.

Learning assessment and evaluation will take place in two stages: Midterm Evaluation (worth one third of the final grade), consisting of an exam on the material covered up to the time of Professor Mattarella’s test. The exam will be a written test, composed of: a multiple-choice quiz with 15 questions (each correct answer is worth 1/30 of a point; incorrect answers are worth 0/30), and one open-ended question (worth 15/30). The test will last 45 minutes (30 minutes for the multiple-choice quiz and 15 minutes for the open-ended question). The open-ended question will be graded on a scale from 0 to 15, based on the level of knowledge demonstrated in the response, according to the following criteria: Insufficient: 0 Sufficient: 7 Good: 9 Very good: 12 Excellent: 15 For rounding purposes toward the final grade: values up to 0.5 will be rounded down, while values above 0.5 will be rounded up. Final Oral Examination (worth two thirds of the final grade), covering the entire syllabus. Exempted students exempt must take the final oral exam and include the additional readings indicated in the list of exam texts.

Personal interest.