POL297 The Foundations of Political Modernity

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2015
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 4 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. Petr Kupka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Patrik Taufar, MA, E.MA, Ph.D. (lecturer)
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 15:15–16:45 P22
Prerequisites (in Czech)
POL103 History of Political Ideas || POL180 Political Philosophy || SOUHLAS
Schopnost číst odborné texty v českém i anglickém jazyce (tzn. alespoň pasivní znalost), ochota aktivně participovat v diskusích. Tento kurz bude sestávat z kratších přednášek, po kterých následuje seminární diskuse k tématu vycházející z písemných příprav na zadané téma. Předpokládá se, že studenti/tky budou mít prostudovanou povinnou literaturu a budou se zapojovat do debaty.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/25, only registered: 0/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
At the end of the course students should be able to orientate themselves in a number of crucial issues of political thought, which co-form the background of contemporary philosophical and practical debates about politics. Students will be able to analyze the way in which modern political and political-philosphical conceptual structures have been formed. Based on the acquired knowledge, they will be able to explain the roots of today's most important political-philosophical perspectives on society.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction. Course Mission and Objectives
  • 2. The Old versus the Modern
  • 3. Foundations of Liberal Theory and Politics
  • 4. The Economic Conception of Politics
  • 5. Republicanism
  • 6. Critical Analysis of Democracy (Tocqueville)
  • 7. Reading Week
  • 8. Positivism and Sociology
  • 9. Charles Taylor and the Ethics of Authenticity
  • 10. Alasdair MacIntyre and the Story of the Loss of Virtue
  • 11. Michael Walzer: The Prophet and the Practice of Social Criticism
  • 12. Jürgen Habermas and Constitutional Patriotism
  • 13. Pierre Bourdieu: Power and State
Literature
  • FOUCAULT, Michel. Zrození biopolitiky : kurz na Collège de France (1978-1979). Edited by Michel Senellart - François Ewald - Alessandro Fontana, Translated by. 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2009, 351 s. ISBN 9788073251819. info
  • MACINTYRE, Alasdair C. After virtue : a study in moral theory. 2nd Ed. London: Duckworth, 2006, xi, 286. ISBN 0715616633. info
  • BOUDON, Raymond. Tocqueville for today. Translated by Peter Hamilton. Oxford: Bardwell press, 2006, xii, 146. ISBN 0954868358. info
  • ARENDT, Hannah. Mezi minulostí a budoucností : osm cvičení v politickém myšlení. Translated by Tomáš Suchomel - Martin Palouš. 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2002, 262 s. info
  • Etika autenticity. Edited by Charles Taylor. 1. vyd. Praha: FILOSOFIA, 2001, 134 s. ISBN 80-7007-150-8. info
  • STRAUSS, Leo. Eseje o politické filosofii. Edited by Aleš Havlíček, Translated by Michal Mocek. 1. vyd. Praha: Oikoymenh, 1995, 111 s. info
  • HAYEK, Friedrich August von. Kontrarevoluce vědy :studie o zneužívání rozumu. Translated by Ján Pavlík - Danica Slouková. Vyd. 1. Praha: Liberální institut, 1995, 212 s. ISBN 80-85787-87-3. info
  • MANENT, Pierre. An intellectual history of liberalism. Edited by Jerrold Seigel, Translated by Rebecca Balinski. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1994, xviii, 128. ISBN 0-691-03437-0. info
Teaching methods
The course consists of shorter lectures and in-class seminars; these two parts of each class are not strictly separated. Students' position papers based on asigned readings are discussed in the seminars.
Assessment methods
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. Each position paper will receive 0-6 points, based on its quality
(2) Presentation. During the term, each student (or a group of students) will have an opportunity to outline the content of both the compulsory and recommended readings publicly for the rest of the class. Students will receive 0-15 points for their presentation, based on its quality and information value.
(3) In-class activity (up to 1,5 points each time)
The total point score will then determine the overall marks (60-55b A; 54-50p B; 49-45p C; 44-40p D; 39-36p E; 35p and less F)
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 Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2018.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2015, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2015/POL297