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Academic Year 2005/2006

Contemporary Political Theory
GOVT 339 SP

This course examines a number of important 20th-century theories of politics. Major issues include the role of reason in grounding the basic values and principles of our moral and political lives, the moral and conceptual foundations of liberal and civic republican democracy, and critiques of liberalism from communitarian, critical theory, and postmodern perspectives. This course, together with GOVT337 and GOVT338, provides a survey of major Western political theories; at least two of these courses are recommended for students concentrating in political theory.

MAJOR READINGS

Nietzsche, GENEALOGY OF MORALS
Freud, CIVILIZATION AND ITS DISCONTENTS
Marcuse, ONE-DIMENSIONAL MAN
Arendt, HUMAN CONDITION
Pitkin, CONCEPT OF REPRESENTATION
Rawls, THEORY OF JUSTICE (parts), POLITICAL LIBERALISM
MacIntyre, AFTER VIRTUE
Avineri & de-Shalit, eds., COMMUNITARIANISM & INDIVIDUALISM
Rabinow, ed. FOUCAULT READER
Rosen, HERMENEUTICS AS POLITICS
Nussbaum, "Human Functioning & Social Justice"

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

One class presentation and short paper; midterm paper; final exam

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS GOVT    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006

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