POLb1137 The Foundations of Political Modernity

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2020
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 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. Bc. Jana Kokešová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Ján Tomaštík (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Pavel Dufek, 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
Tue 10:00–11:40 PC25
Prerequisites
! POL297 The Foundations of Modernity && !NOW( POL297 The Foundations of Modernity ) && POL103 History of Political Ideas || POLb1008 Traditions Political Thought || SOUHLAS
Ability to read scholarly text in 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.

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
there are 26 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives (in Czech)
Nabízený kurz má za cíl provést studenty/tky několika vybranými problémy politického myšlení, které spoluformují rámec současných teoretických i praktických diskusí o politice. Jednou z ústředních tematických linií kurzu je výklad způsobu, jakým se utvářelo a v současných interpretacích dále dotváří moderní politické (případně politicko-filosofické) pojmosloví, skrze něž popisujeme, chápeme a hodnotíme politickou realitu kolem nás. Kurz mimo jiné rozvíjí témata, problémy a za nimi stojící autory a autorky, na něž se v povinných kurzech (POLb1008, POLb1011) nedostalo tolik prostoru, případně žádný.
Learning outcomes
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
  • Preliminary course contents:
  • 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. Positivism and Sociology
  • 8. Reading Week
  • 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. Shared Agency and Joint Commitment
  • 13. TBA
Literature
  • Idea univerzity. Ed. Jakub Jirsa. Praha: Academia
  • Idea university. Edited by Jakub Jirsa, Translated by Alena Tesková. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2015, 186 s. ISBN 9788020023759. info
  • 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. 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2002, 262 s. ISBN 8085959925. info
  • Etika autenticity. Edited by Charles Taylor. 1. vyd. Praha: FILOSOFIA, 2001, 134 s. ISBN 80-7007-150-8. info
  • TAYLOR, Charles. Multikulturalismus : zkoumání politiky uznání. Edited by Jürgen Habermas - Amy Gutmann. Praha: Filosofia, 2001, 183 s. ISBN 8070071613. info
  • TOCQUEVILLE, Alexis de. Demokracie v Americe. Translated by Vladimír Jochmann. Vyd. 2., v nakladatelství A. Praha: Academia, 2000, 624 s. ISBN 8020008292. info
  • WALZER, Michael. Interpretace a sociální kritika. Translated by Josef Velek. Vyd. 1. Praha: Filosofia, 2000, 151 s. ISBN 80-7007-126-5. 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 A. von. Kontrarevoluce vědy : studie o zneužívání rozumu. Translated by Ján Pavlík - Danica Slouková. 1. vyd. Praha: Liberální institut, 1995, 212 s. ISBN 8085787873. 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 (60-55p 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.
Teacher's information
For additional information see the course syllabus, which will be available in the Study Materials to the course before the start of the term
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