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Regular version of the site
Bachelor 2023/2024

Political Philosophy

Type: Compulsory course (Philosophy)
Area of studies: Philosophy
When: 4 year, 1, 2 module
Mode of studies: offline
Open to: students of one campus
Instructors: Alexei Gloukhov
Language: English
ECTS credits: 5
Contact hours: 52

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Given the partisanship of the contemporary schools of political theory, the course focuses on fundamental philosophical problems rather than specific theories and names. Political philosophy is understood as the only fundamentally meaningful way to change human reality. The two following ways of change are contrasted throughout the course: the radical way of change with purpose of creating a new form of life, which is typical for the “continental” political philosophy, and the incremental way of change with purpose of consistent and sustainable improvement of an existing political community, which is typical for “analytic” or “normative” political philosophy. Neither way has priority by default, the choice of change being dependent on the purpose of change. Therefore, the first task of political philosophy is a meaningful basic orientation within the political reality. Starting from the basics, such as meaningful usage of human speech and agency, the course proceeds through analysis of such concepts as the good, justice, freedom, law, community, friendship, citizenship, democracy, power, to discussions of actual real-life issues of the contemporary political landscapes.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • Students will learn the contemporary political philosophy, with purpose of getting meaningful philosophical orientation within the political reality.
  • Development of the independent moral and political judgement, as well as engagement with visual and textual sources will be emphasized.
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • To use the introduced concepts and methods to present a solution in a written essay.
  • To develop logical skills allowing to discuss and to solve moral dilemmas and political problems.
  • To master the key ideas, concepts and methods of the contemporary political philosophy.
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Introduction. What is political philosophy?
  • Two competing tendencies in the Modern political philosophy
  • Basics of the Normative Political Philosophy
  • Basics of the Continental political philosophy
  • Advanced topics in the Normative Political Philosophy
  • Advanced topics in the Continental Political Philosophy
  • Comparison 1: Freedom (liberty)
  • Comparison 2: Justice
  • Comparison 3: What is democracy?
  • Comparison 4: Power
  • Criticism and Challenges of the Normative Political Philosophy
  • Criticism and Challenges of the Continental Political Philosophy
  • The current State of philosophical Desorientation in the political Reality
  • Course Conclusion: The Meaning of and Orientation in Political Life
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Seminar
    Lecture / Seminar Presense and Activity
  • non-blocking Essay
    Final Essay
  • non-blocking Test Key Concepts
    Successful passing of the test is a condition for the final exam waiver.
  • non-blocking Final Exam
    Final exam
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2023/2024 2nd module
    0.25 * Essay + 0.5 * Final Exam + 0.25 * Seminar + 0 * Test Key Concepts + 0 * Test Key Concepts
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • A Theory of Justice, Rawls, J., 1999
  • Arendt, H. (1970). On Violence. New York: Mariner Books. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1871789
  • Arendt, H. (1973). The Origins of Totalitarianism. [Place of publication not identified]: Mariner Books. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1871784
  • Arendt, H. (2006). Eichmann in Jerusalem : A Report on the Banality of Evil. New York, N.Y.: Penguin Classics. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1129497
  • Aristotle, & Ellis, W. (2009). The Politics of Aristotle : A Treatise on Government. [Waiheke Island]: The Floating Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=313807
  • Aristotle, & Jonathan Barnes. (2016). Aristotle’s Politics : Writings From the Complete Works: Politics, Economics, Constitution of Athens. Princeton University Press.
  • Aristotle, Jonathan Barnes, & Anthony Kenny. (2014). Aristotle’s Ethics : Writings From the Complete Works - Revised Edition. Princeton University Press.
  • Carl Schmitt. (2011). Der Nomos der Erde : im Völkerrecht des Jus Publicum Europaeum: Vol. 5. Aufl. Duncker & Humblot.
  • Estlund, D. (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Political Philosophy. : Oxford University Press. Retrieved 17 Feb. 2020, from https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195376692.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780195376692
  • John Rawls: critical assessments of leading political philosophers. Vol.1: Foundations and method, Rawls, J., 2006
  • John Rawls: critical assessments of leading political philosophers. Vol.2: Principles of justice I, Rawls, J., 2006
  • John Rawls: critical assessments of leading political philosophers. Vol.3: Principles of justice II, Rawls, J., 2006
  • John Rawls: critical assessments of leading political philosophers. Vol.4: Political liberalism and The law of peoples, Rawls, J., 2006
  • Justice as fairness : a restatement, Rawls, J., 2004
  • Karl Marx, & Friedrich Engels. (2020). The Communist Manifesto. Open Road Media.
  • Karl Marx. (2014). Economic & Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844. Digireads.com Publishing.
  • Karl Marx. (2014). Thesen über Feuerbach (con trad.it.). https://doi.org/10.13130/2239-5474/3721
  • Lectures on the history of political philosophy, Rawls, J., 2007
  • Liberty, Berlin, I., 2005
  • Marx, K., Arthur, C. J., & Engels, F. (2001). The German Ideology. London: Electric Book Co. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=476798
  • On the people's terms : a republican theory and model of democracy, Pettit, P., 2012
  • Plato, & Translator Benjamin Jowett. (2020). The Complete Plato. İstanbul.
  • Plato, Reeve, C. D. C., & Grube, G. M. A. (1992). Republic. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=408154
  • Plato. (2016). Republic (Vol. Enriched Classic). [N.p.]: Simon & Schuster. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1992908
  • Political liberalism, Rawls, J., 2005
  • Schmitt, C. (2005). Political Theology : Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty (Vol. University of Chicago Press ed). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=335369
  • Schmitt, C. (2007). The Concept of the Political : Expanded Edition (Vol. Expanded ed). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=332203
  • The crooked timber of humanity : chapters in the history of ideas, Berlin, I., 2003
  • The Oxford handbook of the history of political philosophy, , 2011

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Bell, D. (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Political Philosophy The Oxford Handbook of the History of Political Philosophy. Political Studies Review, 12(1), 94–95. https://doi.org/10.1111/1478-9302.12041_11
  • Duncan Bell. (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Political Philosophy by David Estlund (ed.). Oxford : Oxford University Press , 2012 . 446pp., £95.00, ISBN 9780195376692 The Oxford Handbook of the History of Political Philosophy by George Klosko (ed.). Oxford : Oxford University Press , 2012 . 840pp., £85.00, ISBN 9780199238804. Political Studies Review, (1), 94. https://doi.org/10.1111/1478-9302.12041_11
  • M. F. (2011). The Oxford Handbook of the History of Political Philosophy. Contemporary Review, 293(1703), 537. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=f5h&AN=70640484
  • Soifer, E. (1992). Will Kymlicka, Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Introduction. Reviewed by. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.2A4B4AD9
  • The Oxford Handbook of the History of Political Philosophy / Klosko, G — Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011. — 856 с. — ISBN 9780199238804. — URL: https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199238804.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780199238804 (дата обращения: 30.08.2019). — Текст : электронный.
  • White, M. J. (2012). Political Philosophy : An Historical Introduction (Vol. 2nd ed). New York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=469383

Authors

  • GLUKHOV ALEKSEY ANATOLEVICH