Course Title: Political Philosophy (HPOL 121)
Purpose: To introduce students to the study of Political Philosophy
Outcomes: Students will become familiar with the basic texts that inform the study of Political Philosophy. As the course progresses students will be able to distinguish between the period writings of thinkers in the Western tradition such as Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel, Marx, among others.
Students will also be exposed to selected thinkers and texts that influence the African and African diaspora experience throughout the term. These include W.E.B DuBois, Kwame Nkrumah, Frantz Fanon, Steve Biko, Nelson Mandela, and Edward Said.
Delivery Modes: Lectures and Presentations
Assessment Modes: 1 Test - 20%; 2 Assignments - 40%; Final Exam - 40%
Selected Course Material (Reading List Links Provided Below):
(Lecture Topics)
1. Introduction to Political Philosophy (August 6)
2. Socratic Citizenship and Plato's Apology (Read the Apology)
3. Socratic Citizenship and Plato's Crito (Read the Crito)
4. Philosophers and Kings in Plato's Republic (Read I-II of the Republic)
5. Plato's Republic (Read sections III-IV)
6. Plato's Republic (Read sections V-VI)
7. Aristotle's Mixed Regime and Rule of Law (Read I and III of the Politics)
8. Aristotle (Read IV and VII)
9. Nicolo Machiavelli's Re-ordering (Read Chapters 1-12 of The Prince)
10. Nicolo Machaivelli's Re-ordering (Read Chapters 13-26)
11. Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan (Read Chapters 1-16 of Leviathan)
12. Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan (Read Chapters 17-31)
13. Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan (Read A Review and Conclusion)
14. John Locke's (Read Chapters 1-5 of the Second Treatise of Civil Government)
15. John Locke (Read Chapters 6-12)
16. John Locke (Read Chapters 13-19)
17. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Read the Preface, Part 1, and Part 2 of Discourse on the Origin and the Foundations of Inequality Among Men)
18. Jean-Jacques Rousseau Social Contract (Read Books I-II of The Social Contract)
19. Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America (Read the author's Introduction)
20. Alexis de Tocqueville (Read Chapter XV entitled Unlimited Power Of The Majority In The United States, And Its Consequences)
21. Contextualizing Poltical Theory and Finding Place/Space for W.E.B DuBois, Kwame Nkrumah, Frantz Fanon, Steve Biko, Nelson Mandela, and Edward Said
22. Consclusion: Political Theory and The Future of Political Science
Please note that the content and due dates for the two (2) assignments will be announced in class. Late assignments will be penalized by 5 points per day.
Acknowledgements: This syllabus and course content is seriously indebted to Professor Steven B. Smith of Yale University and his work with the Yale Open Courses.
Mention must also be made of the web access provided by ebooks at The University of Adelaide Library in South Australia.
Purpose: To introduce students to the study of Political Philosophy
Outcomes: Students will become familiar with the basic texts that inform the study of Political Philosophy. As the course progresses students will be able to distinguish between the period writings of thinkers in the Western tradition such as Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel, Marx, among others.
Students will also be exposed to selected thinkers and texts that influence the African and African diaspora experience throughout the term. These include W.E.B DuBois, Kwame Nkrumah, Frantz Fanon, Steve Biko, Nelson Mandela, and Edward Said.
Delivery Modes: Lectures and Presentations
Assessment Modes: 1 Test - 20%; 2 Assignments - 40%; Final Exam - 40%
Selected Course Material (Reading List Links Provided Below):
Plato, Trial and Death of Socrates
Plato, Republic
Aristotle, Politics
Machiavelli, The Prince
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan
John Locke, Second Treatise of Government
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Political Writings
Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America
(Lecture Topics)
1. Introduction to Political Philosophy (August 6)
2. Socratic Citizenship and Plato's Apology (Read the Apology)
3. Socratic Citizenship and Plato's Crito (Read the Crito)
4. Philosophers and Kings in Plato's Republic (Read I-II of the Republic)
5. Plato's Republic (Read sections III-IV)
6. Plato's Republic (Read sections V-VI)
7. Aristotle's Mixed Regime and Rule of Law (Read I and III of the Politics)
8. Aristotle (Read IV and VII)
9. Nicolo Machiavelli's Re-ordering (Read Chapters 1-12 of The Prince)
10. Nicolo Machaivelli's Re-ordering (Read Chapters 13-26)
11. Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan (Read Chapters 1-16 of Leviathan)
12. Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan (Read Chapters 17-31)
13. Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan (Read A Review and Conclusion)
14. John Locke's (Read Chapters 1-5 of the Second Treatise of Civil Government)
15. John Locke (Read Chapters 6-12)
16. John Locke (Read Chapters 13-19)
17. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Read the Preface, Part 1, and Part 2 of Discourse on the Origin and the Foundations of Inequality Among Men)
18. Jean-Jacques Rousseau Social Contract (Read Books I-II of The Social Contract)
19. Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America (Read the author's Introduction)
20. Alexis de Tocqueville (Read Chapter XV entitled Unlimited Power Of The Majority In The United States, And Its Consequences)
21. Contextualizing Poltical Theory and Finding Place/Space for W.E.B DuBois, Kwame Nkrumah, Frantz Fanon, Steve Biko, Nelson Mandela, and Edward Said
22. Consclusion: Political Theory and The Future of Political Science
Please note that the content and due dates for the two (2) assignments will be announced in class. Late assignments will be penalized by 5 points per day.
Acknowledgements: This syllabus and course content is seriously indebted to Professor Steven B. Smith of Yale University and his work with the Yale Open Courses.
Mention must also be made of the web access provided by ebooks at The University of Adelaide Library in South Australia.
Please report any faulty or dead links to me at: nwupolitics@gmail.com or in my office G06 in the Department of Peace Studies and International Relations.
Dr. Laher
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