POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
Academic Year 2026/2027 - Teacher: FABRIZIO SCIACCAExpected Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students are expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding- Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the principal concepts of political philosophy relating to rights, freedom, norms, power, authority and sovereignty, with particular attention to questions concerning their foundations, justification and institutional configuration.
- Understand the principal conceptions of individual rights and human rights, the relationship between norms and political power, and the foundations of academic freedom, in its dimensions of research, teaching and university autonomy.
Applying knowledge and understanding- Apply the concepts and analytical tools of political philosophy to the examination of issues concerning rights, freedom, authority, normative orders and sovereignty in national and international contexts.
- Analyse cases and controversies concerning the exercise of individual and academic freedoms, taking into account the role of institutions, the responsibilities of scholars, and legal, political and economic constraints.
Making judgements- Formulate independent and well-reasoned judgements on tensions between rights and authority, freedom and responsibility, universal principles and political orders, by comparing different theoretical and normative perspectives.
- Critically assess questions concerning the autonomy of research and teaching, distinguishing between the individual, institutional and public dimensions involved.
Communication skills- Present and discuss the principal issues addressed in the course in a clear, rigorous and well-argued manner, using appropriately the specialist terminology of political philosophy and, where relevant, international relations.
- Reconstruct and compare theoretical positions and develop oral and written arguments on issues relating to rights, freedom, political power and the autonomy of academic institutions.
Learning skills- Organise study and research independently, selecting and critically assessing philosophical sources, scholarly literature, and relevant legal and institutional documentation.
- Develop independently a deeper understanding of changing conceptions of rights, freedom, authority and autonomy, relating theoretical arguments to institutional transformations and international contexts.
Course Structure
Required Prerequisites
No prior specialist knowledge of philosophy or law is required. However, it is strongly recommended that students:
possess a basic familiarity with key concepts in political philosophy, such as power, justice, liberty, law, and authority, whether acquired through formal study or independent reading;
are willing to engage with theoretical texts, some of which may be conceptually demanding, and to develop an appropriate philosophical vocabulary over the course of the module;
demonstrate the ability to read carefully and think critically, especially when analysing abstract arguments and participating in seminar discussions;
show a genuine interest in developing independent, well-reasoned thought, including the capacity to draw interdisciplinary connections (e.g. with politics, law, history).
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
1 A Look at History. The Philosophical Roots of Individual Rights. Rights and Values. Philosophies of Rights. Liberty and Property. Target Groups and Target Rights. Rights and Political Mythology.
2 Imperatives and Norms. Reasons, Validity, and Consensus. Legality: Concept and Conceptions. Objectivity and Normativity. Law and Rights. Unnatural Rights. Can Values Be Translated into Rights? Altruism and Self-Care. Political Satire. Between Freedom and Power. Distance, Control, Surveillance. Thinking Power. The Power of Secrecy and the Secret of Power.
3 The Issue of Academic Freedom.
Textbook Information
1 Fabrizio Sciacca, Il mito dei diritti, Liberilibri, Macerata 2025.
2 Fabrizio Sciacca, Norme, diritti e poteri, Mimesis, Milano-Udine 2024.
3 Fabrizio Sciacca, L’eclissi della libertà accademica, Mimesis, Milano-Udine 2026.
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The examination consists of an oral test designed to assess the student’s understanding of the course content, the ability to critically analyse the texts, and the appropriate use of philosophical and political vocabulary.