Political Thought

Teacher(s)

Van Parijs Philippe; Vanderborght Yannick;

Language

English

Main themes

In relationship with recent developments in political philosophy, the course may focus on some of the following themes:
-In depth reading of one or two classics, from two different periods in history (e.g. Locke's Two Treatises or Hobbes's Leviathan and Manin's Principles of Representative Government or Kymlicka's Multicultural Citizenship)
-The very idea of contractualism and contractarianism
-The notion of liberalism
-The notion of multiculturalism
-Some contemporary questions in the theory of democracy (e.g. the boundary problem or the value of transparency)
-'

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	At the end of the course, students will: -know the work of some of the main authors in the history of political thought (Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, Mill, Hume, Condorcet, Marx,') and trace their legacy into current debates -have developed the skills of reading the work of an author while being both able to locate it in a school of thought and to interpret it in view of the whole work in which it is located -develop the analytical skill of being able to understand the various ways of understanding concepts such as representation, citizenship, deliberation,' and the way in which they combine into a theory of democracy -have a sense of the main contemporaries in the theory of democracy and the way in which normative theories of democracy combine with theories of justice

Content

The course offers an introduction to contemporary political thought in relation to its historical roots. It consists this year of the following components:

• An overview of four important currents of thought: liberalism, socialism, ecologism and nationalism
• A short flashback to the origins of Western political thought: Aristotle’s Politics
• The reading of excerpts from John Stuart Mill’s Considerations on Representative Government and On Liberty, in connection with contemporary debates on the right to vote and freedom of expression
• A debate prepared by students on a controversial political question   

Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

Mostly presentations by the teachers. The active participation of students in class is important. Consequently, regular attendance is essential. A set of required and recommended readings will be provided at the beginning of the course, and handouts will be distributed.

Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

The assessment will be based on a written examination that aims to assess the knowledge and understanding of the currents of thought presented in class and of the required readings, and the students' capacity to engage in personal reflection on the issues discussed in class. However, it cannot be ruled out that public health measures will require the adoption of a different formula (probably oral exams using Teams).

Online resources

Brief summaries of the classes will be provided to the students, as well as required and recommended readings.

Bibliography

For each current of thought and for Aristotle, relevant excerpts will be provided on Moodle.
For Mill:
MILL, John Stuart (1861), Considerations on Representative Government, London: Parker, Son, and Bourn, West Strand.
MILL, John Stuart (1859), On Liberty, London: John W. Parker and Son, West Strand.
Students are also advised to use the following edition of the works of John Stuart Mill:
MILL, John Stuart (2015), On Liberty, Utilitarianism and other essays, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Teaching materials

• Outline and brief summaries provided to the students + excerpts from JS Mill.

Faculty or entity

ESPO