POL180 Political Philosophy

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2011
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Ing. Ondřej Císař, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Pavel Dufek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Milan Hrubeš, DiS., Ph.D. (assistant)
Mgr. Josef Koudelka (assistant)
Mgr. Ondrej Schütz (assistant)
Mgr. Václav Walach (assistant)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Ing. Ondřej Císař, Ph.D.
Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Iva Petříková
Timetable
Wed 12:00–13:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka
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
Course objectives
At the end of the course students will have acquired knowledge of the most important political philosophers and traditions of political thinking in the history of Western philosophy. Course participants will understand the most significant issues and debates pertaining to normative theoretical reflection of society. Also, they will be able to explain mutual interaction between political theory and political practice. Through reading of selected primary and secondary texts, students will learn the ability to critically evaluate main problems and concepts of political philosophy and history of political ideas. Based on acquired knowledge, course participants will be able to orientate themselves in the philosophical underpinnings of modern politics and society.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction. Course mission and organization. The nature and role of political theory and philosophy
  • 2. State Holiday - No Class
  • 3. Pre-platonic political philosophy. Socrates and Plato
  • 4. Aristotle and political philosophy after Aristotle. Political thought of the Roman republic.
  • 5. Christian political thought. Augustine of Hippo, Aquinas
  • 6. Liberalism
  • 7. Communitarianism, Republicanism, Deliberative Democracy
  • 8. Mid-term Test
  • 9. Conservatism
  • 10. Marxism, Socialism
  • 11. Anarchism, Libertarianism
  • 12. Nationalism, Fascism
  • 13. Feminism, Environmentalism
Literature
  • SWIFT, Adam. Politická filozofie : základní otázky moderní politologie. Translated by Denisa Šmejkalová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2005, 190 s. ISBN 8071788597. info
  • HEYWOOD, Andrew. Politické ideologie. Vyd. 1. Praha: Eurolex Bohemia, 2005, 339 s. ISBN 8086861716. info
  • PLATÓN. Ústava. Translated by František Novotný. 4., opr. vyd. Praha: OIKOYMENH, 2005, 427 s. ISBN 8072981420. info
  • Teorie demokracie dnes. Edited by Ian Shapiro - Jürgen Habermas - Milan Znoj. 1. vyd. Praha: FILOSOFIA, 2002, 95 s. ISBN 80-7007-156-7. info
  • GIDDENS, Anthony. Třetí cesta : obnova sociální demokracie. Translated by Kateřina Gregorová. 1. vyd. Praha: Mladá fronta, 2001, 149 s. ISBN 8020409068. info
  • ARISTOTELÉS. Politika. Translated by Antonín Kříž. 2. vyd. Praha: Rezek, 1998, 499 s. ISBN 80-86027-10-4. info
  • Současná politická filosofie :sborník textů anglosaských autorů 20. století. Edited by János Kis, Translated by Pavel Barša. Vyd. 1. Praha: Oikoymenh, 1997, 501 s. ISBN 80-86005-60-7. info
  • VINCENT, Andrew. Modern political ideologies. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell, 1995, x, 361 s. ISBN 0-631-19507-6. info
  • Politická filosofie 20. století. Edited by Karl Ballestrem - Hennig Ottmann, Translated by Alena Bakešová. 1. vyd. Praha: ISE, 1993, 302 s. ISBN 80-85241-52-8. info
  • AUGUSTIN. O Boží obci knih XXII. Translated by Julie Nováková. 1. vyd. Praha: Vyšehrad, 1950, 736 s. info
Teaching methods
The basic pedagogical method of the course are lectures on each topic, which put the required readings into intellectual-historical context, and also focus on several selected problems and issues. Students are required to read the assigned readings before each lecture, so that they are ready to answer the teacher's in-class questions adequately.
Assessment methods
The course is evaluated throughout the term; students are expected to read approximately 700 pages of scholarly literature. There are several requirements to fulfil, in order to finish the course:
(1) A shorter written test midway through the term, 0-10 points are awarded (two questions for 3 points each, one question for 4 points)
(2) Seminar essay (for detailed instructions see the course syllabus in Study Materials), 0-15 points awarded. The essay invites students to show their ability to work with scholarly literature
(3) Final written test in the exam period, 0-20 points awarded (five questions for 4 points each)
The overall assessment (A through F) represents the total point score from these three parts. Questions in both of the written tests are based both on the assigned readings and on the content of the lectures.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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