Università Roma Tre

The aims of the course are the following:

1. Knowledge and understanding:
The belief that the work of the historian is to fulfill an ethical and civic function is certainly
not rare within the Academy.
The thread that runs through the course refers to a different conception of the historical work, instead: though probably in the minority among the experts,
we believe this conception, rejecting the idea that research must serve extra-scientific goals,
to be equally legitimate.
Accordingly, the historian, in the exercise of his profession, must repudiate any ethical-pedagogical suggestion; he should reject any blandishment and flattery from those who would
want to commission him therapeutic tasks, aimed at regenerating and legitimizing political
and institutional systems.

2. Applying knowledge and understanding:
the course, for the intrinsic nature of historical discipline, is not intended for any application purpose.

3. Making judgements:
To explain to the student what must be the intellectual autonomy of the historian, who, if truly such, should not take part, in our opinion, in
any process of nation building. Neither a creator of identity nor a promoter of civic virtues, he must indeed take the risk that his work may reveal an irreconcilable contradiction between his
professional duties and the civic obligations deriving from belonging to a common citizenship.

4. Communication skills:
The Professor is satisfied that the student can answer the questions with the proper language during the exam.

5. Learning skills:
Let the student understand that Block's Defending the Undefendable is the best access key to understanding everything else.