GV302
Key Themes in the History of Political Thought
This information is for the 2016/17 session.
Teacher responsible
Lucia Rubinelli
Availability
This course is available on the BSc in Government, BSc in Government and Economics, BSc in Government and History, BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, BSc in Politics and International Relations, BSc in Politics and Philosophy and BSc in Social Policy with Government. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course is not available to General Course students.
This course is capped at two groups. The deadline for enrolments is 12 noon on Friday 30th September 2016.
Pre-requisites
Students will normally be expected to have taken Introduction to Political Theory or equivalent, in a previous year.
Course content
A thematic study of political thought in Ancient, Medieval/Renaissance and Modern periods. This advanced course treats some of the major themes in the history of western European political thought as drawn from the writings of selected political philosophers of the ancient Greek, Roman, Medieval, renaissance, early modern and modern periods. The aim is to demonstrate, and explain, some of the continuities and discontinuities in ethical and political problems and their solutions over time and changing context.
Examples of such themes: different views on the nature of "man" and the consequences for political agency of different perspectives on human reason, will, desire; debates on the origins of law and the purpose of legislation; changing conceptions of justice; different views on government and the state's relation to the individual; on the sources of public authority and the nature of legitimate sovereignty; on the relation of property ownership to personal identity and to participation in collective governance; the historical and socio-political presuppositions behind the different constitutional regimes: democracy, monarchy, republic etc; on the role of religion in politics; the changing perspectives on the relationship between life in the family and a life of active citizenship; theories of natural law and natural rights; social contract theories; idealist political theory; utilitarianism; nationalism; liberal, conservative and socialist traditions of thought; anarchism and feminism.
The themes, thinkers and primary texts will be selected each year to reflect the current debates in contemporary scholarly literature on them and the research interests of the lecturer.
Teaching
20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the MT. 20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the LT. 2 hours of lectures in the ST.
There will be a reading week in week 6 of the MT and week 6 of the LT for private study and formative/summative assessment preparation.
Formative coursework
Two formative essays per term, one of which is a timed-essay set in exam-like conditions.
Indicative reading
Primary Sources: A selection of the following (this list should not be taken as exhaustive): Plato, Republic; Aristotle, Politics, Machiavelli, Discourses, Hobbes, Leviathan, Locke, Second Treatise on Civil Government, Rousseau, On The Social Contract, Hume, Political Writings, Kant, Political Writings, Hegel, The Philosophy of Right, Marx, The German Ideology.
Assessment
Exam (100%, duration: 3 hours) in the main exam period.
Four questions will be answered.
Student performance results
(2013/14 - 2015/16 combined)
Classification | % of students |
---|---|
First | 31.8 |
2:1 | 51.5 |
2:2 | 13.6 |
Third | 1.5 |
Fail | 1.5 |
Key facts
Department: Government
Total students 2015/16: 20
Average class size 2015/16: 10
Capped 2015/16: Yes (30)
Value: One Unit
PDAM skills
- Problem solving
- Communication
Course survey results
(2013/14 - 2015/16 combined)
1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" scoreThe scores below are average responses.
Response rate: 76%
Question |
Average | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reading list (Q2.1) |
2.1 | ||||||
Materials (Q2.3) |
2.5 | ||||||
Course satisfied (Q2.4) |
1.7 | ||||||
Lectures (Q2.5) |
1.6 | ||||||
Integration (Q2.6) |
1.6 | ||||||
Contact (Q2.7) |
1.7 | ||||||
Feedback (Q2.8) |
1.7 | ||||||
Recommend (Q2.9) |
|