CULTURE AND POLITICAL LANGUAGES IN THE MIDDLE AGES
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
None in particular, although those with a high school knowledge of political-philosophical problems will be advantaged in understanding.
Learning will be tested by an oral test on the topics covered in the course, which will be designed to assess the candidates' ability 1) to express themselves lexically correctly, 2) to expound complex concepts correctly, and 3) to develop an appropriate critique of the topics under consideration.
The course aims to develop some knowledge related to medieval political culture. In particular, the characteristics and foundations of political power in the major authors of ancient and medieval times will be discussed. Students and students will thus acquire skills in interpreting critically and from a historical perspective 1) the philosophical foundations of political power, 2) the way political systems function, and 3) ethical issues related to political power.
Students will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of both the fundamental concepts of ancient and medieval philosophical-political discourse and the authors, facts and circumstances that shaped that discourse.
The course is developed along three didactic and educational lines:
1) A general analysis of the ancient and medieval debate on the criteria of legitimacy of power, the "excellent republic," and the relationship between ethics/religion and politics.
2) The reading and interpretation of a classic and deeply influential text in ancient/medieval political thought such as Augustine's The City of God.
3) Discussion of the issues raised in the lectures and their relevance to contemporary philosophical/political debate.
C. Galli (a cura di), Manuale di storia del pensiero politico, Bologna, Il Mulino, parte prima (L'ordine tradizionale), che comprende i capitoli 1 (l'antichità greca e romana), e 2 (Cristianesimo e politica).
Agostino, La città di Dio (ci sono numerose edizioni, il docente utilizzerà quella curata da L. Alici per Bombiani)
In the first part of the course, the lecturer will explain the basic themes of ancient and medieval political thought. In the second part, several chapters of Augustine's The City of God will be read, commenting on them and relating them both to the discourse of other classical authors and to contemporary philosophical-political problems.
C. Galli (a cura di), Manuale di storia del pensiero politico, Bologna, Il Mulino, parte prima (L'ordine tradizionale), che comprende i capitoli 1 (l'antichità greca e romana), e 2 (Cristianesimo e politica).
Agostino, La città di Dio (ci sono numerose edizioni, il docente utilizzerà quella curata da L. Alici per Bombiani)