POL704 Twentieth Century Political Philosophy

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2010
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Pavel Dufek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Pavel Dufek, Ph.D.
Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
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
The objective of the course is to introduce students to the most important political philosophers of the 20th century and their work. Students will become familiar with essential concepts and issues that shaped political philosophy during the last century. Course participants should be able to grasp and orientate themselves in the most significant issues and debates characterising this latest period of political thinking. It is necessary that the students follow the program of readings specified in the course syllabus.
Syllabus
  • 1. Modernity and Republicanism: Hannah Arendt
  • 2. Critique of Liberalism and the Concept of the Political: Carl Schmitt
  • 3. Critique of modern Rationalism: Michael Oakeshott, Jean-Francois Lyotard
  • 4. Critique of the Enlightenment an the project of emancipation in the 20th century: the Frankfurt School and Jürgen Habermas
  • 5. Defense of Liberalism: Friedrich August Hayek, Isaiah Berlin
  • 6. Theory of Justice: John Rawls
  • 7. Egalitariansm: Ronald Dworkin
  • 8. Libertarianism: Robert Nozick
  • 9. Communitarian critique of Liberalism: Michael Sandel, Charles Taylor, Michael Walzer, Alasdair MacIntyre
  • 10. Radical Democracy and the critique of thze distributive paradigm
  • 11. Multiculturalism
  • 12. Democracy and Democratization on the transnational level?
Literature
  • SCHMITT, Carl. Pojem politična : text z r. 1932 s předmluvou a se třemi korolárii. Translated by Otakar Vochoč. Vyd. 1. Praha: OIKOYMENH, 2007, 124 s. ISBN 9788072981274. info
  • FRASER, Nancy and Axel HONNETH. Přerozdělování nebo uznání? Translated by Alena Bakešová - Marek Hrubec. V českém jazyce vyd. 1. Praha: Filosofia, 2004, 333 s. ISBN 8070072008. info
  • BARŠA, Pavel. Politická teorie multikulturalismu. 2. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury (CDK), 2003, 347 s. ISBN 80-7325-020-9. 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
  • 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
  • ARENDT, Hannah. Původ totalitarismu. 1. vyd. Praha: Oikoymenh, 1996, 679 s. ISBN 80-86005-13-5. info
  • Velké postavy politické filosofie. Edited by Jaromír Žegklitz, Translated by Roman Civín. Praha: Občanský institut, 1996, 223 s. ISBN 80-901659-5-8. 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
Assessment methods
With regard to the character of combined form of study, the course focuses on self-study. Therefore, students are required to follow the timetable of topics and assigned readings, as stated in the course syllabus. There will be two consultation meetings during the term, where difficult or problematic issues will be discussed and cleared up. The following are course requirements: (1) Seminar essay (length: 8-10 pages; for additional instructions see the course syllabus available in Study Materials) (2) Final written test The overall assesment (A though F) reflects the total point score achieved in these two activities. For the final test, students are expected to know both the assigned readings and the topics discussed at the consultation meetings.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: in blocks.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2000, Spring 2001, Spring 2002, Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2010, recent)
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