Module Details
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
Code PHIL102
Coordinator Dr SA Hailwood
Philosophy
Hailwood@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2013-14 Level One Second Semester 15

Aims

Students will be introduced to some of the most important philosophers and themes of the western tradition of political thought.  The first questions raised onthe course will be:  What gives somepeople the right to rule over others? Why should citizens obey the law? These are questions about the concepts of political authority and obligation.  After a brief consideration of anarchist and democratic responses, the course will proceed in a more or less historical order to introduce the views of Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke(and Nozick, a contemporary thinker in the Lockean tradition), Mill and Rawls.  Other key concepts raised and discussed along the way will include justice, community, rights, liberty, equality, property, autonomy and consent.


Learning Outcomes

Political philosophers have examined such issuesas authority, democracy, justice, liberty and equality since ancienttimes.  They have thought of them invery different ways and offered conflicting answers.  The main point of studying such thinkers is the degree of insightand thoroughness they bring to the exploration of issues lying behind questionsthat most thoughtful people ask about politics. Acquaintance with some majorthinkers and texts will enable students to gain a more thorough understandingof many of the principles and ideas of the western tradition of politicalthought.  Through an introduction to theconceptual approach of political philosophy, students will be able to subjectpolitical thinking to critical analysis.  Students completing the course should be able to distinguish, anddiscuss the relative merits of, different senses of such terms as 'freedom','rights' and 'equality'.


Syllabus
1 

Introduction:  the problem of political obligation;  Anarchism

2 

Democracy

3 

Plato:  against democracy and forthe rule of guardians

4 

Aristotle and political community

5 

Aristotle and human nature

6 

INDEPENDENT STUDY WEEK:  No Lectures or Seminars

7 

Hobbes, the prisoners' dilemma and the war of all against all

8 

Hobbes, contract and sovereign

9 

Locke;  Nozick, Libertarianism and the Minimal State;   Locke and Property

10 

Mill, utilitarianism, liberty and democracy

11 

Mill and free speech;  Rawls and equality

12 

Rawls and justice as fairness


Teaching and Learning Strategies

The course is taught by two lectures and one seminar per week. Seminars start in Week 2.


Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 22

 10
Seminars start in Week 2
      2
Revision sessions
34
Timetable (if known) Daytime
  		           
Private Study 116
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
One exam  2 hours  2  100  As standard     
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
             

Recommended Texts

Essential

Wolff, J An Introduction to Political Philosophy

Primary

Plato, Republic

Aristotle, Politics, Books I-III

Hobbes, Leviathan, Parts I and II

Locke, Second Treatise of Civil Government

Mill, On Liberty

Rawls, A Theory of Justice

Nozick, Anarchy, State and Utopia

Secondary

Brown, A. Modern Political Philosophy

Raphael, D.D. The Problems of Political Philosophy

Kymlicka, W. Contemporary Political Philosophy

Swift, A. Political Philosophy, A Beginners’ Guide for Students and Politicians