Philosophy

The aim of the course is to offer an introduction to the most significant aspects of the philosophy of work in the contemporary age. For years marginalised in philosophical and political debate, the issue of work has recently returned to the centre of public and cultural attention. There is currently much discussion about the metamorphosis of work brought about by the third and fourth industrial revolutions (information technology, artificial intelligence, algorithms and the financialisation of the economy), on a presumed but never really experienced “end of work”, on the pathologies of contemporary work (exploitation, alienation, voluntary servitude), on the personal meaning or meaninglessness of work and the search for a new balance between working time and leisure time, on the relationship between freedom at work and democracy, and on the ecological sustainability of productive and reproductive activities. Starting from these questions, the course will first reconstruct how a humanistic and emancipatory conception of work took shape in modern philosophy, marking a break with the traditional devaluation of work in ancient philosophy.Particular attention will be paid to the philosophies of Hegel and Marx, reconstructing how their different conceptions served to fuel a critique of capitalist labour relations. It will then touch on how this normative conception of work, still linked to the ideal of autonomy and cooperation among workers in the artisan world, entered into crisis during the 20th century. Finally, the question will be raised as to whether today the metamorphoses of labour produced by the third and fourth industrial revolutions are giving new relevance to a renewed free and emancipatory conception of labour, which goes hand in hand with a new conception of leisure time as creative idleness.

It is needed: a) a mastery of the basic philosophical terminology; b) an understanding (at least basic) of the modern and contemporary philosophy.

Attending the course is highly recommended.

The exam will consist of a written (30% of the final grade) and an oral part (70% of the final grade). Students must write a short paper on a critical essay (which has to be agreed with the professor and related to one of the issues treated during the course). The paper has to be delivered at least two weeks before the exam. The oral examination will focus on text to be studied. Students must show: 1. In-depth knowledge of the content of the texts; 2. Skill of communicating it and mastery (written and oral) of the technical terminology of the author; 3. Ability to grasp the main issues and to discuss them critically; 4. Ability to find his/her way in the bibliography and to discuss it. 1. and 2. are necessary conditions in order to pass the exam. A final grade superior to 27 will be given to students who reach all the goals.

Frontal lessons and seminar discussions of the texts and the issues treated in the course.