Course Description
The nature and function of society and the state, human freedom and rights, and the bases of social and political obligations.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be held to higher standards than
undergraduates in their written and oral performances. Additional
requirements might include additional papers, discussion posts or
reading responses, longer papers, papers with more intensive
research requirements, research presentations to the class, and
individual or group consultations with the instructor.
Athena Title
Social Political Philosophy
Prerequisite
PHIL 2030 or PHIL 2030H or PHIL 2030E or any 3000-level PHIL course or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will be expected to be able to write essays and essay-based exams, to present prepared discussion questions for class, and to participate in class discussion of classic works in political philosophy.
Topical Outline
This course considers the history of social contract theory, with special attention to the "reconciliation problem": how can political societies reconcile individual rights and freedom with the state's exercise of sovereign authority?
Syllabus