Classics of Political Thought - JPB578

• Anglický název: Classics of Political Thought
• Zajišťuje: Katedra politologie (23-KP)
• Fakulta: Fakulta sociálních věd
• Platnost: od 2016 do 2018
• Semestr: zimní
• E-Kredity: 6
• Způsob provedení zkoušky: zimní s.:
• Rozsah, examinace: zimní s.:2/0, Zk [HT]
• Počet míst: 25 / neurčen (30)
• Minimální obsazenost: neomezen
• 4EU+: ne
• Virtuální mobilita / počet míst pro virtuální mobilitu: ne
• Stav předmětu: vyučován
• Jazyk výuky: angličtina
• Způsob výuky: prezenční
• Způsob výuky: prezenční
• Poznámka: předmět je možno zapsat mimo plán; povolen pro zápis po webu; při zápisu přednost, je-li ve stud. plánu
• Garant: Janusz Salamon, Ph.D.
• Vyučující: Janusz Salamon, Ph.D.
• Třída: Courses for incoming students

Sylabus

Poslední úprava: Janusz Salamon, Ph.D. (15.02.2021)

SYLLABUS

 

CLASSICS OF POLITICAL THOUGHT – JPB578

Institute of Political Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University in Prague

 

Instructor: Dr. Janusz Salamon

 

ETCS: 6 credits
Prerequisites: None

 

TIME: Wednesday, 8:00-9.20

PLACE: https://nyu.zoom.us/j/94414726982

 

CONTACTS:

Email: janusz.salamon at univ-oxford.com

Office hours: Wednesday, 9:30-11:00:  https://nyu.zoom.us/j/94414726982

 

 

1. Course objectives

The aim of this course is to enable students to explore the key ideas of some of the greatest minds in the history of political philosophy by studying representative fragments of their works. In the course of the semester we will explore some of the most important philosophical questions that shape the way we understand and act in the world of politics. We will read selections from the seminal works of ancient as well as modern political thinkers and tackle such questions as the nature of the state and political power, the justification of political obligation, or the relation between political and economic freedom.

 

2. Student learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should:

·        Comprehend the ideas of the seminal thinkers of Western philosophic tradition studies in the course; 

·        Understand and analyse the basic concepts, ideas and problems relevant to the study of politics;

·        Have improved their analytical, argumentative, and writing skills.

 

3. Teaching methodology

This course is a combination of a lecture and a seminar. Students will be expected to actively participate in the class discussion. It is therefore of paramount importance that they study the assigned texts before class.

 

4. Course Schedule

 

Class 1     SOCRATES and the birth of political philosophy

 

Class 2     PLATO's progressive politics based on reason and his defence of the enlightened rule of the meritocratic elite

 

Class 3     ARISTOTLE's conservative politics based on human nature and his influence on POLYBIUS' and CICERO's defence of republicanism

 

Class 4     MACHIAVELLI's rediscovery of the Roman republicanism and the problem of 'dirty hands" in politics

 

Class 5    Political philosophy in the Middle Ages and its impact on the political tradition of the modern West

 

Class 6     HOBBES on misery of the "state of nature" and the establishment of the state through social contract

LOCKE and the birth of modern liberalism

 

Class 7     MID-TERM

 

Class 8:   LOCKE an the birth of modern individualistic liberalism

 

Class 9    BURKE and the roots of modern conservative and anti-individualistic politics

 

Class 10  ROUSSEAU on equality and reconciliation of individual freedom and state authority

ANT on human autonomy as the goal of politics

 

Class 11 KANT on human autonomy as the goal of politics

 

Class 12 HEGEL - the modern roots of conservatism and anti-individualism in politics

 

Class 12 MARX's critique of capitalism and liberal democracy

 

      FINAL EXAM

 

5. Reading material

All assigned readings are available online at the course's SIS website. The readings will be taken mainly from the following works:

Plato: The Republic; Crito; Apology

Aristotle: Politics; Nicomachean Ethics

Machiavelli: Prince

Hobbes: Leviathan

Locke: Second Treatise of Government

Rousseau: Discourse on the Origins of Inequality; On Social Contract

Marx: On the Jewish Question; Communist Manifesto

J. S. Mill: On Liberty

M. Wollstonecraft, The Vindication of the Rights of Women

Classics of Philosophy, L.P. Pojman (ed.), Oxford University Press, 2003

Modern Political Thought: A Reader, J. Gingell, A. Little, Winch (eds), Routledge, 2000

Political Thinkers from Socrates to the Present, D. Boucher & P. Kelly (eds), Oxford, 2003

A History of Western Political Thought, J.S. McClelland, Routledge, 2005

Political Philosophy from Plato to Mao, M. Cohen, Pluto Press, 2001

 

COURSE GRADING:

Final Essay:                     40%

Final Exam                             60%

Total                                      100%

 

GRADING SCALE:

• A = 91-100 % – excellent
• B = 81-90 % – very good
• C = 71-80 % – good
• D = 61-70 % – satisfactory
• E = 51-60 % – minimal pass
• F = 0-50 % – fail

 

 

Final Essay

The instructions regarding the topic, form and length of the essay have been provided via email. The final essay must be submitted at least 48 hours before the final exam!

 

Final Exam

Taking into account that the majority of the students attending this course have left the Czech Republic due to the COVID pandemics, to ensure the equality of chances, all students will be examined in the same manner, namely in a form of ORAL ONLINE exam. Since we were advised - for legal reasons - against recording electronically oral exams conducted online and against individual online exams, we will be holding the exams in pairs. Each student will choose the exam date and will inform the lecturer via email (preferably at least 10 days in advance to allow for planning of the exams in pairs). The day and hour of the exam will be confirmed by the lecturer.