Philosophy of social rights

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 main concepts of political philosophy relating to rights, norms, power, authority, sovereignty and freedom, and be able to use them to frame academic freedom as a political and institutional issue in national, international and transnational contexts.

• Understand the theoretical, political and normative foundations of academic freedom, as well as its limits and the principal forms of protection and restriction, with particular reference to freedom of research and teaching, the autonomy of higher education institutions, and the relationship between universities and public authorities.

• Understand the international dimension of academic freedom, with particular reference to the relationship between state sovereignty, rights, international scientific cooperation, academic mobility and transnational political pressures.

Applying knowledge and understanding

• Apply the concepts and analytical tools of political philosophy to the study of the relationships between norms, power, authority and sovereignty in national, international and transnational contexts.

• Critically analyse cases and controversies concerning academic freedom as a sphere in which power is exercised, regulated and contested, taking into account the relationship between university autonomy, the responsibilities of scholars, and institutional, political, economic and social pressures.

• Examine academic freedom from the perspective of international relations, assessing the role of states, international organisations, university and research networks, and geopolitical dynamics in the protection or restriction of research and teaching.

Making judgements

• Formulate independent and well-reasoned judgements on issues relating to rights, power, sovereignty and academic freedom, by comparing different theoretical approaches, normative frameworks and concrete cases.

• Critically assess tensions between freedom of research and teaching, public responsibility, pluralism, security, state interests, and political and economic pressures.

• Critically interpret controversies surrounding academic freedom in the light of tensions between the autonomy of knowledge, political authority, and international and transnational dynamics.

Communication skills

• Present and discuss the main issues addressed in the course in a clear, rigorous and well-argued manner, using the specialist terminology of political philosophy and international relations accurately and appropriately.

• Develop oral and written arguments on controversies concerning freedom of teaching, research and expressionwithin higher education institutions, situating them within the broader relationship between knowledge, power, rights and sovereignty.

Learning skills

• Organise study and research independently, identifying, selecting and critically assessing primary and secondary sources, scholarly literature, and relevant national and international legal and institutional documentation.

• Independently explore the theoretical, normative and institutional development of academic freedom, relating its evolution to changing forms of sovereignty, political institutions and international relations.

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).

Course Programme

The course is structured into three parts, addressing the philosophical foundations, institutional dimensions and contemporary challenges of social rights.

Part I – Foundations

This part examines the philosophical and political foundations of social rights, focusing on their emergence from human needs, their relationship with freedom and power, and the structure and justification of rights claims and corresponding obligations. Particular attention is devoted to the question of entitlement and universality, including the criteria governing access to social rights. The part concludes with an examination of social rights in Europe, with reference to constitutional principles, legislation and judicial protection.

Part II – Social Provision

This part explores the principal areas in which social rights are realised through public and institutional provision. It considers the relationship between health, care, vulnerability and individual autonomy; the right to housing and the criteria governing access and priority; education, equality, pluralism and individual freedom; and the right to work, with particular attention to access to employment, working conditions and continuity of employment.

Part III – Contemporary Issues

The final part addresses emerging and contested questions in the field of social rights. It examines access to energy and digital resources, mental health, care, housing and climate justice, as well as the moral and political status of non-human animals and the implications for social responsibility. Particular attention is given to the basic income debate, including questions of need, entitlement and redistribution. The course also considers security as a field of positive obligations and social provision, and concludes with an analysis of children's rights, focusing on protection, autonomy and the exercise of power in digital environments.