POLn4004 Concepts in Modern Political Philosophy

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2022
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 7 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Jiří Baroš, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Sylvie Bláhová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Bc. Jana Kokešová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Ján Tomaštík (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jan Holzer, Ph.D.
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 12:00–13:40 P24a
Prerequisites
Ability to read scholarly text in Czech and English; willingness to participate in in-class discussions
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 course deals with major problems and political phenomena, as reflected in 20th and 21st century political philosophy. The course is divided into three main parts, structured around basic political concepts which lie at their core. The first part will be devoted to issues related to sovereignty, authority, legitimacy, nationalism or political representation. In the second part will focus on questions of political, social, distributive etc. justice, assessing both liberal positions and those critical of liberalism. The last part will open some issues of international/global political theory. Lectures and in-class discussions are supplemented by two full-fledged debate seminars.
Learning outcomes
Upon completing the course, students will be able to:
identify the main traditions, arguments, and figures in the 20th and 21st century political philosophy
analyze, compare, and critically assess the main contributions to the most important debates in the field of political philosophy
synthesise particular philosophical positions and independently construct arguments regarding current phenomena such as democracy, human rights, globalization, and global poverty

understand particular philosophical/theoretical positions (or such background of "ordinary politics") and construct arguments applying to contemporary political problems and developments
Syllabus
  • 1. Moral pluralism and deep disagreement in constitutional democracies
  • 2. Basic Issues in Democratic Theory: Democracy, Constitutionalism, and Human Rights
  • I. Democracy as an open challenge
  • 3. State and Sovereignty
  • 4. Power, Authority, and Legitimacy
  • 5. Nations, Nationalism, and Multiculturalism
  • 6. Pluralism, Tolerance, and Diversity
  • 7. Political Representation in Democracy
  • II. Justice: from material redistribution to structural disadvantage
  • 8. Fairnes, equality, and redistribution: health and inequality, social determinants of health
  • 9. Discussion seminar I
  • 10. Liberty and individual rights: capitalism, pollution, public justification
  • 11. (Mis)recognition social/political exclusion
  • III. Beyond the state
  • 12. Globalisation and international theory: human rights of the global poor
  • 13. Discussion Seminar II
Literature
    required literature
  • Talisse, Robert B. Democracy and Moral Conflict. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2009, s. 11–41
  • Rawls, John. Oblast politična a překrývající konsensus. Reflexe, 24, 2003, s. 41-67
  • Uhde, Zuzana. „Proč jsou kvóty strašákem?“ Gender, rovné příležitosti, výzkum 7(1), 2006, s. 6–10
  • LÁNSKÝ, Ondřej. Je třeba zavrhnout liberalismus? : k jednomu problému modernity. Vydání první. Praha: Filosofia, 2015, 217 stran. ISBN 9788070074398. info
  • HOLZER, Jan, Pavel MOLEK, Jiří BAROŠ, Pavel DUFEK, Michal MOCHŤAK, Ivo POSPÍŠIL, Petr PRECLÍK and Hubert SMEKAL. Demokratizace a lidská práva. Středoevropské pohledy (Democratization and Human Rights. Central European Perspectives). 1st ed. Brno - Praha: MUNI Press - SLON, 2013, 266 pp. Studie 105. svazek. ISBN 978-80-7419-159-6. info
  • LUPTÁK, Ľubomír, Petra L BURZOVÁ, Ondřej HEJNAL, Petr KRČÁL, Petr KUPKA, Jiří MERTL, Vladimír NAXERA, Michal RŮŽIČKA, Ondřej STULÍK, Petr VAŠÁT, Loïc J D WACQUANT and Václav WALACH. Neoliberalismus a marginalita. Studie z českého reálkapitalismu (Neoliberalism and marginality: Studies from Czech real capitalism). První vydání. Brno: Doplněk, 2013, 248 pp. ISBN 978-80-7239-314-5. info
  • SKINNER, Quentin. O státě. Translated by Jakub Jinek. Vyd. 1. Praha: Oikoymenh, 2012, 119 s. ISBN 9788072984466. info
  • SCHMITT, Carl. Politická theologie : čtyři kapitoly k učení o suverenitě. Translated by Jan Kranát - Otakar Vochoč. Vydání první. Praha: Oikoymenh, 2012, 52 stran. ISBN 9788072984015. info
  • ROSANVALLON, Pierre. Democratic legitimacy : impartiality, reflexivity, proximity. Translated by Arthur Goldhammer. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2011, 235 p. ISBN 9780691149486. info
  • WILLIAMS, Bernard Arthur Owen. Na počátku byl čin : realismus a moralismus v politické diskusi. Edited by Geoffrey Hawthorn, Translated by Tomáš Hejduk. Červený Kostelec: Pavel Mervart, 2011, 278 s. ISBN 9788087378854. info
  • LEGUTKO, Ryszard. Ošklivost demokracie a jiné eseje. Edited by Maciej Ruczaj, Translated by Josef Mlejnek. 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury (CDK), 2009, 322 s. ISBN 9788073251840. info
  • The Oxford handbook of political theory. Edited by John S. Dryzek - Bonnie Honig - Anne Phillips - Robert E. Goodin. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006, xiii, 883. ISBN 9780199548439. info
  • LUKES, Steven. Power : a radical view. 2nd ed. London: Palgrave, 2005, viii, 192. ISBN 0333420926. info
  • BARŠOVÁ, Andrea and Pavel BARŠA. Přistěhovalectví a liberální stát : imigrační a integrační politiky v USA, západní Evropě a Česku. 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita v Brně, Mezinárodní politologický ústav, 2005, 308 s. ISBN 8021038756. info
  • BARRY, Brian. Why social justice matters. Malden, MA: Polity, 2005, xii, 323. ISBN 0745629938. info
  • HROCH, Miroslav. Pohledy na národ a nacionalismus : čítanka textů. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2003, 451 s. ISBN 8086429202. 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
  • RAWLS, John. Justice as fairness : a restatement. Edited by Erin Kelly. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2001, xviii, 214. ISBN 0674005112. info
  • BARŠA, Pavel and Maxmilián STRMISKA. Národní stát a etnický konflikt (National State and Ethnic Conflict). 1. vydání. Brno: CDK, 1999, 330 pp. ISBN 80-85959-52-6. info
  • FOUCAULT, Michel. Myšlení vnějšku. Praha: Herrmann & synové, 1996, 303 s. info
    not specified
  • Gaus, Gerald. 2010. The Idea and Ideal of Capitalism. In: George G. Brenkert a Tom L. Beauchamp (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Business Ethics. Oxfrod: Oxford UP, 73–99
  • Dufek, Pavel. 2022. “Reconciling Cosmopolitan Theory and Policy Practice? Responsible Cosmopolitan State as a Transition Category.”
  • COWEN, Nick. Neoliberal social justice : Rawls unveiled. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar publishing, 2021, xi, 231. ISBN 9781800374539. info
  • DUFEK, Pavel, Jiří BAROŠ, Sylvie BLÁHOVÁ, Tereza KŘEPELOVÁ and Patrik TAUFAR. Liberální demokracie v době krize : perspektiva politické filosofie. Vydání první. Brno: Sociologické nakladatelství (SLON) v koedici s Masarykovou univerzitou, 2019, 308 stran. ISBN 9788021091665. URL info
  • MAIR, Peter. Ruling the void : the hollowing of western democracy. 1st pub. New York: Verso, 2013, xviii, 174. ISBN 9781781680995. info
  • Sociální kritika v éře globalizace : odstraňování sociálně-ekonomických nerovností a konfliktů. Edited by Marek Hrubec, Translated by Martin Brabec. Vyd. 1. Praha: Filosofia, 2008, 479 s. ISBN 9788070072868. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, position papers, debate seminar, in-class discussions
Assessment methods
(1) At least three position papers (0–3 points each, maximum 9 points). Position papers (300–600 words each) should consist of three parts: (A) summary of the main arguments of the assigned reading(s); (B) critical assessment of the most interesting, most problematic, most unacceptable etc. argument(s); and (C) sugestions for clarification or further seminar discussion.

(2) In-class activity (0–1 points; maximum 8 points, of which 4 count towards the grade and 4 are a possible bonus)
(3) Debate seminars (3 bonus points for winners and competent refereeing; 2 points for a valiant defence of the losing position)

(4) Final oral exam (0–24 points) based on the content of lectures and assigned readings
OR
Final Essay (ca. 5,500–6,000 words, 0–24 points)
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 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2022, recent)
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