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Contemporary Political Theory
GOVT339 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 democracy, and critiques of liberalism from communitarian, feminist, 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

Alasdair MacIntyre, AFTER VIRTUE (Notre Dame)
Michael Sandel, ed., LIBERALISM AND ITS CRITICS (New York U)
Michael Walzer, SPHERES OF JUSTICE (Basic)
Jurgen Habaermas, MORAL CONSCIOUSNESS AND COMMUNICATIVE ACTION (MIT)
Friedrich Nietzsche, THE GENEALOGY 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: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

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

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Moon,J. Donald   
Times: .M.W... 02:40PM-04:00PM;     Location: PAC421
Reserved Seats:    (Total Limit: UNL)
SR. major: 9   Jr. major: 9
SR. non-major: 4   Jr. non-major: 4   SO: 3   FR: X

Special Attributes:
Curricular Renewal:    Ethical Reasoning, Writing

Last Updated on MAR-24-2000


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