POL440 Concepts in Modern Political Philosophy

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2016
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 7 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Jiří Baroš, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Pavel Dufek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Sylvie Bláhová, Ph.D. (assistant)
Mgr. Patrik Taufar, MA, E.MA, Ph.D. (assistant)
Mgr. et Mgr. Jan Werner (assistant)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Stanislav Balík, Ph.D.
Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Wed 11:30–13:00 exP21
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 the students will be able to identify the main traditions, arguments, and figures in the 20th century political philosophy. Furthermore, the students will be able to analyze, compare, and critically assess the main contributions to the most important debates in the field of political philosophy. Students will also be able to synthesize particular philosophical positions and independently construct arguments regarding current phenomena such as democracy, human rights, globalization, and global poverty.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction
  • I. Continental Political Philosophy
  • 2. Realism
  • 3. Conservatism
  • 4. Republicanism
  • 5. Radicalism
  • 5. Perfectionism
  • II. Contemporary Liberalism
  • 7. Political Liberalism
  • 8. Exam; Libertarianism
  • 9. Democratic Liberalism
  • III. Political Theory of International Relations
  • 10. International Social Justice: Realism, Liberalism and Radicalism
  • 11. Reading Week (State Holiday): International Political Justice: Realism, Liberalism and Radicalism
  • 12. Self-Study Week (State Holiday)
  • 13. Capabilities Approach
Literature
  • BARŠA, Pavel. Anarchie a řád ve světové politice. Edited by Ondřej Císař. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2008, 559 s. ISBN 9788073670948. URL info
  • 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
  • BARŠA, Pavel and Ondřej CÍSAŘ. Levice v postrevoluční době: Občanská společnost a nová sociální hnutí v radikální politické teorii 20. století (The Left in a Post-revolutionary Age: Civil Society and New Social Movements in the Radical Political Theory of the 20th Century). Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2004, 210 pp. Edice politika a společnost; sv. č. 5. ISBN 8073250330. 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
  • TAYLOR, Charles. Multikulturalismus :zkoumání politiky uznání. Edited by Amy Gutmannová, Translated by Alena Bakešová - Marek Hrubec - Josef. Vyd. 1. Praha: Filosofia, 2001, 183 s. ISBN 80-7007-161-3. info
  • The portable Hannah Arendt. Edited by Peter Baehr. New York: Penguin Books, 2000, lxiii, 575. ISBN 0-14-026974-6. info
  • RAWLS, John. Political liberalism. New York: Columbia University Press, 1996, lxii, 464. ISBN 0-231-05249-9. info
  • HAYEK, Friedrich August von. Právo, zákonodárství a svoboda : (nový výklad liberálních principů spravedlnosti a politické ekonomie). Translated by Tomáš Ježek. Praha: Academia, 1991, 131 s. ISBN 8020002782. info
  • OAKESHOTT, Michael. Rationalism in politics and other essays. Indianapolis: Liberty press, 1991. ISBN 0-86597-094-7. info
  • NOZICK, Robert. Anarchy, state, and utopia. New York: Basil Books, 1974, xvi, 367. ISBN 0465097200. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussion.
Assessment methods
(1) Two in-class written exams, consisting of four questions (0–5 points each), based on the required readings and the discussions in class. Students must attend both exams; the maximum points awarded is thus 40 points.
In case not enough points are collected from the two in-class exams, students will be able to sit another written test during the exam period, one that will comprise all topics from the course.

Students need to collect at least 24 points (60 %) in order to pass.

Grading Scheme:
A 40-37 points
B 36-33 points
C 32-30 points
D 29-27 points
E 26-24 points
F 23points and less
(3) In general, students are encouraged to actively participate in the seminars by posing questions of clarification or bringing up problems for discussion.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2002, Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Autumn 2008, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2016, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2016/POL440