Philosophy

title: Bodies, subjects, and reproduction between self-determination, relationships, and norms: the case of surrogacy The control of reproduction and of reproductive bodies is one of the issues that have profoundly marked both the structuring of human associated life and the characterization and fate of human subjectivities, particularly, but not only, female. This is precisely why these issues have been at the center of feminist reflection and practice since its origins. How feminist reflection and practice has been articulated on this question at different times turns out to be an interesting way to reread the feminist practical-reflexive story. The course will traverse some classic positions in this regard: positions that differ in the way in which, once the reduction of feminine experience to the destiny of motherhood has been denied, femininity and the experience of giving birth have been re-signified. In more recent times, however, several factors have arisen to complicate these first patterns of interpretation: on the one hand, the development of medically assisted procreation techniques has made it possible to intervene in different ways on the reproductive process, multiplying the possible forms of human reproduction and family and the figures on the scene, fragmenting their roles, but also making them more and more objects of commodification, contracts and commercial exploitation; on the other hand, the consciousnesses and demands developed and claimed by the LGBTQI+ movement have led to denounce the persistence of still traditional and cis-heterosexist patterns even in feminist analyses, particularly regarding the practice of surrogacy. Finally, interesting considerations have been developed in the light of the claim of reproductive justice, mostly from a de-colonial standpoint.. The course intends to retrace some salient moments of the articulated debate surrounding this specific practice, using it as a way to address more general issues such as the relationship between corporeality and subjectivity, between bodies and law, between body and market, between bodies and human (and non-human) relations, without forgetting contiguous issues such as those related to other forms of access to, and control of, the body, relating for example to prostitution, abortion and new forms of labor and exploitation.

A knowledge corresponding to the level of the Bachelor’s Degree in philosophy is required (basic notions and competencies), and the knowledge of English language are required.

full text: C. Pateman, Il contratto sessuale. I fondamenti nascosti della società moderna, Moretti e Vitali, Bergamo, 2015. C. Shalev, Nascere per contratto, Giuffrè, Milano, 1992. M. Cooper, C. Waldby, Biolavoro globale. Corpi e manodopera Derive Approdi, Roma, 2015 (parti). readings form da: L. Cirillo, a cura di, Utero in affitto o gravidanza per altri, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2017; M. L. Boccia, Le parole e i corpi, Ediesse, Roma, 2018; V. Pazè, Libertà in vendita, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino, 2023; A. Clarke, D. Haraway, Making kin. Fare parentele non popolazioni, Derive Approdi, Roma, 2022; M. F. Gibson, a cura di,.Queering Motherhood: Narrative and Theoretical Perspectives. Demeter Press, 2014; Nicola Carone, Le famiglie omogenitoriali. Teorie, clinica e ricerca, Milano, Raffaello Cortina, 2021, pp. 275, € 25,00. Sophie Lewis, Surrogata universale. Rovesciamo la famiglia, Roma, Fandango, 2025. Other readings will be indicated at the beginning of the course.

Attending the course is highly recommended, bit non mandatory. Only thse attending the 80&% of the lessons will be considere attending students.

The final evaluation will be the result of the evaluation of the level of participation in the seminarial activities, of the oral presentation in class, and of the result of the oral exam. The oral examination (30 minutes) will be devoted to the examination of the competences developed in the study of the texts. Both in the oral and in the written part of the exam students must show: 1. In-depth knowledge of the content of the texts; 2. Skill of communicating it and mastery of the technical terminology of the authors; 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.

C. Botti, Prospettive femministe. Morale bioetica e vita quotidiana, Mimesis, Milano, 2014.

Frontal lessons (for introductory parts) and seminar readings and discussions of the texts, including an active participation of the students, in the form of presentation.

title: Bodies, subjects, and reproduction between self-determination, relationships, and norms: the case of surrogacy The control of reproduction and of reproductive bodies is one of the issues that have profoundly marked both the structuring of human associated life and the characterization and fate of human subjectivities, particularly, but not only, female. This is precisely why these issues have been at the center of feminist reflection and practice since its origins. How feminist reflection and practice has been articulated on this question at different times turns out to be an interesting way to reread the feminist practical-reflexive story. The course will traverse some classic positions in this regard: positions that differ in the way in which, once the reduction of feminine experience to the destiny of motherhood has been denied, femininity and the experience of giving birth have been re-signified. In more recent times, however, several factors have arisen to complicate these first patterns of interpretation: on the one hand, the development of medically assisted procreation techniques has made it possible to intervene in different ways on the reproductive process, multiplying the possible forms of human reproduction and family and the figures on the scene, fragmenting their roles, but also making them more and more objects of commodification, contracts and commercial exploitation; on the other hand, the consciousnesses and demands developed and claimed by the LGBTQI+ movement have led to denounce the persistence of still traditional and cis-heterosexist patterns even in feminist analyses, particularly regarding the practice of surrogacy. Finally, interesting considerations have been developed in the light of the claim of reproductive justice, mostly from a de-colonial standpoint.. The course intends to retrace some salient moments of the articulated debate surrounding this specific practice, using it as a way to address more general issues such as the relationship between corporeality and subjectivity, between bodies and law, between body and market, between bodies and human (and non-human) relations, without forgetting contiguous issues such as those related to other forms of access to, and control of, the body, relating for example to prostitution, abortion and new forms of labor and exploitation.

A knowledge corresponding to the level of the Bachelor’s Degree in philosophy is required (basic notions and competencies), and the knowledge of English language are required.

full text: C. Pateman, Il contratto sessuale. I fondamenti nascosti della società moderna, Moretti e Vitali, Bergamo, 2015. C. Shalev, Nascere per contratto, Giuffrè, Milano, 1992. M. Cooper, C. Waldby, Biolavoro globale. Corpi e manodopera Derive Approdi, Roma, 2015 (parti). readings form da: L. Cirillo, a cura di, Utero in affitto o gravidanza per altri, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2017; M. L. Boccia, Le parole e i corpi, Ediesse, Roma, 2018; V. Pazè, Libertà in vendita, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino, 2023; A. Clarke, D. Haraway, Making kin. Fare parentele non popolazioni, Derive Approdi, Roma, 2022; M. F. Gibson, a cura di,.Queering Motherhood: Narrative and Theoretical Perspectives. Demeter Press, 2014; Nicola Carone, Le famiglie omogenitoriali. Teorie, clinica e ricerca, Milano, Raffaello Cortina, 2021, pp. 275, € 25,00. Sophie Lewis, Surrogata universale. Rovesciamo la famiglia, Roma, Fandango, 2025. Other readings will be indicated at the beginning of the course.

Attending the course is highly recommended, bit non mandatory. Only thse attending the 80&% of the lessons will be considere attending students.

The final evaluation will be the result of the evaluation of the level of participation in the seminarial activities, of the oral presentation in class, and of the result of the oral exam. The oral examination (30 minutes) will be devoted to the examination of the competences developed in the study of the texts. Both in the oral and in the written part of the exam students must show: 1. In-depth knowledge of the content of the texts; 2. Skill of communicating it and mastery of the technical terminology of the authors; 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.

C. Botti, Prospettive femministe. Morale bioetica e vita quotidiana, Mimesis, Milano, 2014.

Frontal lessons (for introductory parts) and seminar readings and discussions of the texts, including an active participation of the students, in the form of presentation.