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GOVT339

Contemporary Political Theory
GOVT339 FA

Next Offered in 9899 FA

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 foundation of liberal democracy, and critiques of liberalism from communitarian, feminist, critical theory, and post-modern perspectives. This course, together with Govt337 and 338, provides a survey of major Western political theories; at least two of these courses are recommended for students concentrating in political theory.

MAJOR READINGS

Alasdair MacIntyre, AFTER VIRTUE (Notre
Dame)
Michael Sandel, ed., LIMTERALISM AND ITS CRITICS (New York
U)
Michael Walzer, SPHERES OF JUSTICE (Basic)
Jurgen Habaermas, MORAL CONSCIOUSNESS AND COMMUNICATIVE
ACTION (MIT)
Friedrich Nietzsche, THE TENEALOGY OF MORALS (Vintage)
Michel Foucault, THE FOUCAULT READER (Pantheon)
Iris Young, JUSTICE AND THE POLITICS OF DIFFERENCE
(Princeton)

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Three short (5-7) page papers; final.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

The readings listed above are examples of the kinds of texts that will be used. Final selection of texts has not yet been made. Please check with instructor for more up-to-date information. Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Discussion Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UG Credit: 1.00 Gen Ed Area & Dept: SBS GOVT

Prerequisites: None

Last Updated on MAR-03-1998




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