ID:
510390
Durata (ore):
40
CFU:
6
SSD:
FILOSOFIA POLITICA
STORIA DELLE DOTTRINE POLITICHE
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 of the most important controversies in contemporary political philosophy, an improved ability to apply abstract principles to specific public issues, and developing the skill to argue effectively in public debates.
In addition, students will acquire more general skills in interpreting texts and analyzing abstract concepts and in understanding the normative dimension of pressing political and social matters, such as the justice-related concerns arising from the contemporary challenge of climate change and the relationship between generations.
In addition, students will acquire more general skills in interpreting texts and analyzing abstract concepts and in understanding the normative dimension of pressing political and social matters, such as the justice-related concerns arising from the contemporary challenge of climate change and the relationship between generations.
Prerequisiti
There are no other formal requirements for taking this course. However, students will find useful a prior acquaintance with some themes from the history of political thought, such as the idea of the social contract and the problem of political obligation. Further, an interest in the ongoing climate crisis will be valuable for engaging with the themes of the course.
Metodi didattici
The first two parts of the course will include introductory lectures (14) that provide introductory groundwork and basic conceptual tools. Most of the lectures will involve interaction between teacher and class. The third part will consist in seminar classes (6) in which the students will engage in discussions and debates, applying abstract concepts to the specific issues and case studies listed in the course program.
Students must be able to read all the texts in English. Students who attend the course (frequentanti) must be fluent in speaking and listening comprehension (at least B2 level).
Students must be able to read all the texts in English. Students who attend the course (frequentanti) must be fluent in speaking and listening comprehension (at least B2 level).
Verifica Apprendimento
Assessment will be based on a two-hours written exam in class.
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.
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
Introductory readings:
Introduction: Environment and Normative Ethics Reading:
D. Jamieson, Ethics and the Environment. An Introduction, Cambridge University Press, 2008. Ch.1 “The environment as an ethical question” (pp. 1-25) and Ch. 4 “Normative ethics” (pp. 76-101).
Climate Change Readings:
S. Gardiner, “A Perfect Moral Storm: Climate Change, Intergenerational Ethics and the Problem of Moral Corruption”, Environmental Values, Vol. 15, No. 3, 2006, pp. 397-413.
S. Caney, “Climate Change, Human Rights, and Moral Thresholds”, in Climate Ethics, Gardiner, Caney, Jamieson, Shue (eds.), Oxford University Press, 2010, pp. 163-177.
W. Sinnott-Armstrong, “It’s Not My Global Warming and Individual Moral Obligation”, in Perspectives on Climate Change: Science, Economics, Politics, Ethics, 2015, pp. 285-307.
A. Dobson, “Representative Democracy and the Environment”, in Lafferty W. and Meadowcroft J. (eds.), Democracy and the Environment (Edward Elgar Publishing, 1998), pp. 124–139.
Intergenerational Justice Readings:
T. Meijers, “Justice Between Generations”, Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics, 2018, pp. 1-37.
J. Rawls, A Theory of Justice, Harvard University Press, 1971, Chapter 44 “The Problem of Justice between Generations”, pp. 251-258.
J. English, “Justice Between Generations”, Philosophical Studies, 31 (2), 1977, pp. 91-104.
I. Gonzales-Ricoy, F. Rey, “Enfranchising the future: Climate justice and the representation of future generations”, Wires Climate Change, 2019, pp. 1-12.
Readings for Seminars (For the seminar classes, students are expected to read all the texts before each of the relevant seminars):
R. Garner, “Animals and democratic theory: Beyond an anthropocentric account”, Contemporary Political Theory, 16, 2017, pp. 459–477.
Van Parijs Philippe, “The Disfranchisement of the Elderly, and Other Attempts to Secure Intergenerational Justice”, Philosophy and Public Affairs, 1998, 27 (4), pp. 292-333.
Robeyns, “What, if Anything, is Wrong with Extreme Wealth?”, Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 20: 3, 2019, pp. 251-266.
T. Meyers, “Limitarianism and Future Generations”, in I. Robeyns (ed.), Having Too Much: Philosophical Essays on Limitarianism, Open Book Publisher, 2023, pp. 361-390.
T. Young, “Overconsumption and Procreation: Are They Morally Equivalent?”, Journal of Applied Philosophy, 18: 2, 2001, pp. 183–192.
J. Lenman, “On Becoming Extinct, in Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, 83, 2001, pp. 253-269.
Introduction: Environment and Normative Ethics Reading:
D. Jamieson, Ethics and the Environment. An Introduction, Cambridge University Press, 2008. Ch.1 “The environment as an ethical question” (pp. 1-25) and Ch. 4 “Normative ethics” (pp. 76-101).
Climate Change Readings:
S. Gardiner, “A Perfect Moral Storm: Climate Change, Intergenerational Ethics and the Problem of Moral Corruption”, Environmental Values, Vol. 15, No. 3, 2006, pp. 397-413.
S. Caney, “Climate Change, Human Rights, and Moral Thresholds”, in Climate Ethics, Gardiner, Caney, Jamieson, Shue (eds.), Oxford University Press, 2010, pp. 163-177.
W. Sinnott-Armstrong, “It’s Not My Global Warming and Individual Moral Obligation”, in Perspectives on Climate Change: Science, Economics, Politics, Ethics, 2015, pp. 285-307.
A. Dobson, “Representative Democracy and the Environment”, in Lafferty W. and Meadowcroft J. (eds.), Democracy and the Environment (Edward Elgar Publishing, 1998), pp. 124–139.
Intergenerational Justice Readings:
T. Meijers, “Justice Between Generations”, Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics, 2018, pp. 1-37.
J. Rawls, A Theory of Justice, Harvard University Press, 1971, Chapter 44 “The Problem of Justice between Generations”, pp. 251-258.
J. English, “Justice Between Generations”, Philosophical Studies, 31 (2), 1977, pp. 91-104.
I. Gonzales-Ricoy, F. Rey, “Enfranchising the future: Climate justice and the representation of future generations”, Wires Climate Change, 2019, pp. 1-12.
Readings for Seminars (For the seminar classes, students are expected to read all the texts before each of the relevant seminars):
R. Garner, “Animals and democratic theory: Beyond an anthropocentric account”, Contemporary Political Theory, 16, 2017, pp. 459–477.
Van Parijs Philippe, “The Disfranchisement of the Elderly, and Other Attempts to Secure Intergenerational Justice”, Philosophy and Public Affairs, 1998, 27 (4), pp. 292-333.
Robeyns, “What, if Anything, is Wrong with Extreme Wealth?”, Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 20: 3, 2019, pp. 251-266.
T. Meyers, “Limitarianism and Future Generations”, in I. Robeyns (ed.), Having Too Much: Philosophical Essays on Limitarianism, Open Book Publisher, 2023, pp. 361-390.
T. Young, “Overconsumption and Procreation: Are They Morally Equivalent?”, Journal of Applied Philosophy, 18: 2, 2001, pp. 183–192.
J. Lenman, “On Becoming Extinct, in Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, 83, 2001, pp. 253-269.
Contenuti
Increasingly, communities, cities and economies face the need to not only mitigate, but also adapt to climate change. Mitigation and adaptation to climate change are complex and multifarious efforts, involving profound transformations in critical infrastructure systems, social behaviors and values and governance systems, constituting one of the most pressing global challenges to humankind. The goal of this course is to analyse these challenges with the tools of normative political theory, that is, investigating how to understand and include social values and justice concerns in these transformative processes.
The first part of the course will focus on theories of environment ethics discussing which theories of justice are more suitable for guiding modelling, plans and policy-making in climate adaptation processes. The second part of the course will debate matters of fairness between different generations. Solving the challenges raised by aging, stable pension funding programs, and increasing healthcare costs, for example, requires a view on what justice between age groups demands. Also, climate change, resource depletion, environmental degradation, population growth, and the like, raise serious concerns about the conditions under which future people will have to live.
The second part of the course will be more applied, and will discuss some of the specific challenges faced by environmental ethics. It is likely to cover at least the following issues: How much CO2 may we emit – and who is allowed to emit what?; What – if anything – do we owe to future generations? How should we divide resources between the old and the young?; Do we have a right to create future generations, or even an obligation? Can there be ‘too many’ people? These are hard questions on the intersection of political philosophy and ethics. They are not questions that can be answered by merely applying our existing theories: thinking about how to react to the environmental crisis and about what we owe to future generations puts pressure on existing normative theories and the course intends to shed lights on these pressing dilemmas.
The first part of the course will focus on theories of environment ethics discussing which theories of justice are more suitable for guiding modelling, plans and policy-making in climate adaptation processes. The second part of the course will debate matters of fairness between different generations. Solving the challenges raised by aging, stable pension funding programs, and increasing healthcare costs, for example, requires a view on what justice between age groups demands. Also, climate change, resource depletion, environmental degradation, population growth, and the like, raise serious concerns about the conditions under which future people will have to live.
The second part of the course will be more applied, and will discuss some of the specific challenges faced by environmental ethics. It is likely to cover at least the following issues: How much CO2 may we emit – and who is allowed to emit what?; What – if anything – do we owe to future generations? How should we divide resources between the old and the young?; Do we have a right to create future generations, or even an obligation? Can there be ‘too many’ people? These are hard questions on the intersection of political philosophy and ethics. They are not questions that can be answered by merely applying our existing theories: thinking about how to react to the environmental crisis and about what we owe to future generations puts pressure on existing normative theories and the course intends to shed lights on these pressing dilemmas.
Lingua Insegnamento
INGLESE
Altre informazioni
Teacher responsible: Prof.ssa Federica Liveriero
Email: federica.liveriero@unipv.it
Email: federica.liveriero@unipv.it
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