Lecture Description
In this lecture, two important issues are addressed in the context of Locke's Second Treatise. First, there is discussion on the role of the executive vis-a-vis the legislative branch of government in Locke's theory of the constitutional state. Second, Locke's political theories are related to the American regime and contemporary American political philosophy. The lecture concludes with John Rawls' book, A Theory of Justice, and how his general theory relates to Locke's political ideas.
Course Index
- Introduction: What is Political Philosophy?
- Socratic Citizenship: Plato, Apology
- Socratic Citizenship: Plato, Crito
- Philosophers and Kings: Plato, Republic, I-II
- Philosophers and Kings: Plato, Republic, III-IV
- Philosophers and Kings: Plato, Republic, V
- The Mixed Regime and the Rule of Law: Aristotle, Politics, I, III
- The Mixed Regime and the Rule of Law: Aristotle, Politics, IV
- The Mixed Regime and the Rule of Law: Aristotle, Politics, VII
- New Modes and Orders: Machiavelli, The Prince (chaps. 1-12)
- New Modes and Orders: Machiavelli, The Prince (chaps. 13-26)
- The Sovereign State: Hobbes, Leviathan
- The Sovereign State: Hobbes, Leviathan
- The Sovereign State: Hobbes, Leviathan
- Constitutional Government: Locke, Second Treatise (1-5)
- Constitutional Government: Locke, Second Treatise (7-12)
- Constitutional Government: Locke, Second Treatise (13-19)
- Democracy and Participation: Rousseau, Discourse on Inequality (author's preface, part I)
- Democracy and Participation: Rousseau, Discourse on Inequality (part II)
- Democracy and Participation: Rousseau, Social Contract, I-II
- Democratic Statecraft: Tocqueville, Democracy in America
- Democratic Statecraft: Tocqueville, Democracy in America
- Democratic Statecraft: Tocqueville, Democracy in America
- In Defense of Politics
Course Description
This course is intended as an introduction to political philosophy as seen through an examination of some of the major texts and thinkers of the Western political tradition. Three broad themes that are central to understanding political life are focused upon: the polis experience (Plato, Aristotle), the sovereign state (Machiavelli, Hobbes), constitutional government (Locke), and democracy (Rousseau, Tocqueville). The way in which different political philosophies have given expression to various forms of political institutions and our ways of life are examined throughout the course.