ID:
511375
Durata (ore):
40
CFU:
6
SSD:
FILOSOFIA POLITICA
Anno:
2026
Dati Generali
Periodo di attività
Primo Semestre (28/09/2026 - 18/12/2026)
Syllabus
Obiettivi Formativi
The course aims to help students to achieve a basic understanding of some important controversies in contemporary normative political theory, an improved ability to analyze and apply abstract principles, and an improved ability to argue effectively in political debates. In addition, students will acquire more general skills in interpreting texts and a specialist understanding of the ideals of freedom and equality, both in democratic theory and in international relations.
Prerequisiti
All students, attending and non-attending (frequentanti e non frequentanti) must be able to read all the texts in English. Attending students (frequentanti) must be fluent in speaking and listening
comprehension (at least B2 level). There are no other formal requirements for taking this course. However, students will find useful a prior acquaintance with some concepts and theories from political philosophy or political science, such as theories of democracy or justice or the comparison of different regime types, and/or from the history of political thought, such as social contract theory and the problem of political obligation.
comprehension (at least B2 level). There are no other formal requirements for taking this course. However, students will find useful a prior acquaintance with some concepts and theories from political philosophy or political science, such as theories of democracy or justice or the comparison of different regime types, and/or from the history of political thought, such as social contract theory and the problem of political obligation.
Metodi didattici
The first two parts of the course will consist mainly in lectures, although they will also include some interactive teaching. The third part of the course, on applications of the ideals of freedom and equality to the international and global arenas, will consist in seminar classes in which the students will engage in discussions and debates on specific topics based on the assigned readings.
Verifica Apprendimento
Assessment will be based on a two-hour written exam. The exam is the same for attending and non-attending students.
For the exam, you are expected to study the whole of Parts 1 and 2. For Part 3, you may specialize, studying either the two seminar texts on Equality or the three seminar texts on Freedom.
In the exam, you will be expected to answer three questions (you will therefore be expected to spend roughly 40 minutes on each). There will be one compulsory question on Part 1; one compulsory question on Part 2; and a choice between two questions on Part 3 (see the exam bibliography). The two questions on Part 3 will be (i) on equality (presupposing a knowledge of Blake and Nath, and (ii) on freedom (presupposing a knowledge of Siame, Abizadeh and Pettit).
The criteria for evaluating the exam scripts will be the following: comprehension of the concepts and arguments presented in the exam texts; application and critical discussion of those concepts and arguments; clarity of exposition.
For the exam, you are expected to study the whole of Parts 1 and 2. For Part 3, you may specialize, studying either the two seminar texts on Equality or the three seminar texts on Freedom.
In the exam, you will be expected to answer three questions (you will therefore be expected to spend roughly 40 minutes on each). There will be one compulsory question on Part 1; one compulsory question on Part 2; and a choice between two questions on Part 3 (see the exam bibliography). The two questions on Part 3 will be (i) on equality (presupposing a knowledge of Blake and Nath, and (ii) on freedom (presupposing a knowledge of Siame, Abizadeh and Pettit).
The criteria for evaluating the exam scripts will be the following: comprehension of the concepts and arguments presented in the exam texts; application and critical discussion of those concepts and arguments; clarity of exposition.
Testi
Note: all of the texts listed below will be available for purchase as a collection of photocopies ("dispensa") at the print shop UNICOPY, Via San Fermo 7, Pavia. 0382/590867, email: unicopypavia@gmail.com.
Ask for: “Freedom and Equality, 2026-27”
The texts contained in the dispensa are articles, chapters and short extracts. Here is the complete list:
Part 1: Analyzing Freedom and Equality
- Ian Carter, “Liberty”, in C. McKinnon, R. Jubb, P. Tomlin (eds) Issues in Political Theory, 4th edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019).
- Isaiah Berlin, John Christman, J.S. Mill, Thomas Hurka: excerpts from their writings on freedom, in I. Carter, M.H. Kramer and H. Steiner (eds), Freedom. A Philosophical Anthology (Oxford: Blackwell, 2007), pp. 39-46, 148-52, 389-91, 420-22.
- Stuart White, Equality (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2007), Ch 4: Luck egalitarianism, pp. 78-97.
- Ian Carter, “Equality” in A. Besussi (ed.), A Companion to Political Philosophy. Methods, Tools, Topics (Farnham: Ashgate, 2012): “preliminary” and “The basis of equality”.
- John Roemer, “Equality of Opportunity”, Boston Review, April/May 1995, https://www.bostonreview.net/forum/equality-and-responsibility/
- Elizabeth Anderson, “What is the Point of Equality?”, Ethics, 109 (1999), sections entitled “The Ills of Luck egalitarianism”, “What is the Point of Equality”, and “Equalities in the Space of Freedom”, pp. 308-21.
Part 2: Freedom and Equality as Grounding Values of Democracy
- Isaiah Berlin, ‘Two Concepts of Liberty’, Section VII: Liberty and Sovereignty. In Freedom. a Philosophical Anthology, pp. 100-102.
- Pettit Philip, Republicanism. A Theory of Freedom and Government (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997), pp. 51-66, 183-90.
- Ian Carter, A Critique of Freedom as Non-Domination, The Good Society, 9(3) (2000), pp. 43-46.
- Thomas Christiano, “Democracy as Equality”, in D. Estlund (ed.) Democracy (Blackwell Readings in Philosophy, 2002), pp. 31–50.
- Charles Beitz, Political Equality: An Essay in Democratic Theory (Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1989): “Representation”, pp. 8-11; “Theories of political equality”, pp. 19-24; “Outline of the Theory”, pp. 99-100; “Proportional Representation”, pp. 123–140.
Part 3: Freedom and Equality in an International and Global Context
For the exam, you may study EITHER Blake and Nath, OR Siame, Abizadeh and Pettit.
Equality:
- Seminar 1: Michael Blake, “Distributive Justice, State Coercion, and Autonomy”, Philosophy and Public Affairs, 30(3) (2002), pp. 257-85, 289-96 (i.e. omitting section V).
- Seminar 2: Rekha Nath, “On the Scope and Grounds of Social Equality”, in C. Fourie, F. Schuppert, I. Wallimann-Helmer, Social Equality. On What it Means to be Equals (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015), pp. 186-208.
Freedom:
- Seminar 3: Chisanga N. Siame, “Two Concepts of Liberty Through African Eyes”, Journal of Political Philosophy, 8(1) (2000), pp. 53-67.
- Seminar 4: Arash Abizadeh, “Democratic Theory and Border Coercion: No Right to Unilaterally Control Your Own Borders”, Political Theory, 2008, 36 (1), pp. 37-56 (i.e. omitting the appendix).
- Seminar 5: Philip Pettit, “A Republican Law of Peoples”, European Journal of Political Theory, 9(1) (2010), pp. 70–94.
Ask for: “Freedom and Equality, 2026-27”
The texts contained in the dispensa are articles, chapters and short extracts. Here is the complete list:
Part 1: Analyzing Freedom and Equality
- Ian Carter, “Liberty”, in C. McKinnon, R. Jubb, P. Tomlin (eds) Issues in Political Theory, 4th edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019).
- Isaiah Berlin, John Christman, J.S. Mill, Thomas Hurka: excerpts from their writings on freedom, in I. Carter, M.H. Kramer and H. Steiner (eds), Freedom. A Philosophical Anthology (Oxford: Blackwell, 2007), pp. 39-46, 148-52, 389-91, 420-22.
- Stuart White, Equality (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2007), Ch 4: Luck egalitarianism, pp. 78-97.
- Ian Carter, “Equality” in A. Besussi (ed.), A Companion to Political Philosophy. Methods, Tools, Topics (Farnham: Ashgate, 2012): “preliminary” and “The basis of equality”.
- John Roemer, “Equality of Opportunity”, Boston Review, April/May 1995, https://www.bostonreview.net/forum/equality-and-responsibility/
- Elizabeth Anderson, “What is the Point of Equality?”, Ethics, 109 (1999), sections entitled “The Ills of Luck egalitarianism”, “What is the Point of Equality”, and “Equalities in the Space of Freedom”, pp. 308-21.
Part 2: Freedom and Equality as Grounding Values of Democracy
- Isaiah Berlin, ‘Two Concepts of Liberty’, Section VII: Liberty and Sovereignty. In Freedom. a Philosophical Anthology, pp. 100-102.
- Pettit Philip, Republicanism. A Theory of Freedom and Government (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997), pp. 51-66, 183-90.
- Ian Carter, A Critique of Freedom as Non-Domination, The Good Society, 9(3) (2000), pp. 43-46.
- Thomas Christiano, “Democracy as Equality”, in D. Estlund (ed.) Democracy (Blackwell Readings in Philosophy, 2002), pp. 31–50.
- Charles Beitz, Political Equality: An Essay in Democratic Theory (Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1989): “Representation”, pp. 8-11; “Theories of political equality”, pp. 19-24; “Outline of the Theory”, pp. 99-100; “Proportional Representation”, pp. 123–140.
Part 3: Freedom and Equality in an International and Global Context
For the exam, you may study EITHER Blake and Nath, OR Siame, Abizadeh and Pettit.
Equality:
- Seminar 1: Michael Blake, “Distributive Justice, State Coercion, and Autonomy”, Philosophy and Public Affairs, 30(3) (2002), pp. 257-85, 289-96 (i.e. omitting section V).
- Seminar 2: Rekha Nath, “On the Scope and Grounds of Social Equality”, in C. Fourie, F. Schuppert, I. Wallimann-Helmer, Social Equality. On What it Means to be Equals (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015), pp. 186-208.
Freedom:
- Seminar 3: Chisanga N. Siame, “Two Concepts of Liberty Through African Eyes”, Journal of Political Philosophy, 8(1) (2000), pp. 53-67.
- Seminar 4: Arash Abizadeh, “Democratic Theory and Border Coercion: No Right to Unilaterally Control Your Own Borders”, Political Theory, 2008, 36 (1), pp. 37-56 (i.e. omitting the appendix).
- Seminar 5: Philip Pettit, “A Republican Law of Peoples”, European Journal of Political Theory, 9(1) (2010), pp. 70–94.
Contenuti
The course introduces students to some fundamental debates in contemporary political philosophy surrounding the concepts of freedom and equality, two foundational values in liberal democratic theory. The course is taught exclusively in English, and is open both to Pavia-based students and to international exchange students.
The course is divided into three parts, treating (i) the analysis of the concepts of freedom and equality, (ii) the place of freedom and equality in the justification of democracy, and (iii) the ways in which an understanding of the values of freedom and equality can help in understanding global justice and the justice of relations between states.
In the first part of the course, we will focus on different rival conceptions of freedom and equality, understood as general political ideals. This will involve, among other things, distinguishing between negative freedom, positive freedom, and republican freedom, assessing the relative merits of equality of outcomes and equality of opportunity, and understanding the role of freedom and responsibility in certain egalitarian ideals. Can people suffer unfreedom only externally, through the imposition of obstacles and costs by governments and other individuals, or also internally, through ignorance, indoctrination or manipulation? What is it for one individual or group to 'dominate' another, and is this different from constraining their freedom? Are we free and equal ‘by nature’? Which goods ought to be equalized (welfare, resources, opportunities, political power ...)? Are there ‘relational’ senses of equality that are different from equal distributions of goods?
In the second part of the course, we will make use of various answers to the above questions in an attempt to better understand the ethical foundations of democracy. Which kinds of freedom does democracy promote? Is the relation between freedom and democracy merely instrumental (so that democracy is merely a means to protecting and promoting certain basic liberties), or are certain freedoms constitutive of the very ideal of democracy? Does democracy involve distributing political power equally? If not, in what sense is it egalitarian? Which electoral systems best realize democratic equality?
In the third and final part of the course we will consider some of the theoretical challenges involved in pursuing the ideals of freedom and equality in global and international settings. Among the questions to be discussed: Can the ideal of distributive equality be applied globally?; Is the ideal of relational equality necessarily limited to relations between the citizens of a state?; Is collective self-determination sufficient for freedom in a post-colonial setting?; Do states have a right to limit freedom of movement across their borders? How might states relate to each other in non-dominating ways in the international arena?
The course is divided into three parts, treating (i) the analysis of the concepts of freedom and equality, (ii) the place of freedom and equality in the justification of democracy, and (iii) the ways in which an understanding of the values of freedom and equality can help in understanding global justice and the justice of relations between states.
In the first part of the course, we will focus on different rival conceptions of freedom and equality, understood as general political ideals. This will involve, among other things, distinguishing between negative freedom, positive freedom, and republican freedom, assessing the relative merits of equality of outcomes and equality of opportunity, and understanding the role of freedom and responsibility in certain egalitarian ideals. Can people suffer unfreedom only externally, through the imposition of obstacles and costs by governments and other individuals, or also internally, through ignorance, indoctrination or manipulation? What is it for one individual or group to 'dominate' another, and is this different from constraining their freedom? Are we free and equal ‘by nature’? Which goods ought to be equalized (welfare, resources, opportunities, political power ...)? Are there ‘relational’ senses of equality that are different from equal distributions of goods?
In the second part of the course, we will make use of various answers to the above questions in an attempt to better understand the ethical foundations of democracy. Which kinds of freedom does democracy promote? Is the relation between freedom and democracy merely instrumental (so that democracy is merely a means to protecting and promoting certain basic liberties), or are certain freedoms constitutive of the very ideal of democracy? Does democracy involve distributing political power equally? If not, in what sense is it egalitarian? Which electoral systems best realize democratic equality?
In the third and final part of the course we will consider some of the theoretical challenges involved in pursuing the ideals of freedom and equality in global and international settings. Among the questions to be discussed: Can the ideal of distributive equality be applied globally?; Is the ideal of relational equality necessarily limited to relations between the citizens of a state?; Is collective self-determination sufficient for freedom in a post-colonial setting?; Do states have a right to limit freedom of movement across their borders? How might states relate to each other in non-dominating ways in the international arena?
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