FSS:POL287 Concepts in Pol. Philosophy - Course Information

POL287 Concepts in Political Philosophy

Extent and Intensity

1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

doc. Mgr. Pavel Dufek, Ph.D. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

prof. PhDr. Ing. Ondřej Císař, Ph.D.
Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová

Timetable

Wed 18:00–19:30 U41

Prerequisites (in Czech)

Schopnost číst odborné teoretické texty v českém :o) i anglickém jazyce (tzn. alespoň pasivní znalost), ochota aktivně participovat v diskusích. Tento kurz bude sestávat z krátkých přednášek, po kterých následuje seminární diskuse k tématu vycházející z kratších esejů na zadané téma. Předpokládá se, že studenti/tky budou mít prostudovanou povinnou literaturu a budou se zapojovat do seminárních diskusí.

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 9 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

The course intends to introduce students to the fundamental concepts, which can be understood as the main building blocs of normative political theory/political philosophy. Students should be able to grasp the meaning of concepts such as liberty, equality, political authority etc., and analyse the key "cleavages" within their interpretation. This will enable them to undestand systematically the major debates and issues of Western political thinking since its inception. The course represents a more analytic complement (or extension) of the mandatory course Political Philosophy.

Syllabus

• 1. Introduction. Course Mission and Organization
• 2. Political Concepts in Political Philosophy
• 3. The State, Power and Sovereignty
• 4. Political Authority and Legitimacy
• 5. Rights and Human Rights
• 6. Liberty and Autonomy
• 7. Self-study week
• 8. Equality and Difference
• 9. Justice
• 10. Community
• 11. Democracy
• 12. Civil Disobedience
• 13. Course Conclusion. Evaluation and discussion

Literature

• SWIFT, Adam. Politická filozofie : základní otázky moderní politologie. Translated by Denisa Šmejkalová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2005, 190 s. ISBN 8071788597. info
• Handbook of political theory. Edited by Gerald F. Gaus - Chandran Kukathas. London: Sage Publications, 2004, xvi, 448. ISBN 0761967877. info
• TUGENDHAT, Ernst. Přednášky o etice. Translated by Josef Moural. Vyd. 1. Praha: Oikoymenh, 2004, 311 s. ISBN 8072980866. info
• STANKIEWICZ, W. J. Politická teorie a současný svět :klasické koncepty ve věku relativismu. Translated by Tomáš Suchomel. 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2003, 211 s. ISBN 80-7325-014-4. info
• A companion to contemporary political philosophy. Edited by Robert E. Goodin - Philip Pettit. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1995, xiii, 679. ISBN 0631199519. info

Assessment methods

The course consists of shorter lectures and in-class seminars; these two parts of each class are not strictly separated. Course evaluation has three parts:
(1) Position papers. Students are expected to submit at least five shorter essays or position papers, dealing with a topic (or topics) discussed in the assigned readings. These papers should then serve as a basis for in-class discussions.
(2) Final test. At the end of the term, students are expected to take a final writen exam. Three or four questions will induce them to utilise the acquired knowledge and compose several paragraphs on each of the topics
(3) In-class activity
The total point score will then determine the overall marks (A through F)

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

The course is taught annually.

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2008, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2008/POL287