Examines social and political thought that may include texts from ancient through contemporary times, addressing topics such as natural rights, revolution, law, freedom, justice, power. Questions may include: What is a community, and how are individuals related to communities? Can any particular form of government be morally justified, and if so, what kind of government? Can anarchism work? Is there something wrong with a society in which there is private ownership of property? What is oppressive? What is freedom, and are we free? What roles should different forms of power play in a society? Could and should there be a genderless society? Is ethnic diversity valuable?
Equivalent(s): PHIL 436H, PHIL 436W, PHIL 437
Attributes: Inquiry (Discovery), Humanities(Disc)
Additional Course Details:
This course will study the basic models of democracy, its essential concepts, criticisms of democracy and its future possibilities. This will include debates over the tension between individuality and community, the importance of citizenship, the abuse of power by majorities, the quality of democratic discourse, whether democracy can be seeded in other countries and whether democracy is itself a naïve or dangerous form of government.
But we will not only study democracy – we will try to practice it as well. As the semester proceeds, the class will begin to embody democratic principles and practices. Therefore, this course is designed not just to provide knowledge of certain basic political concepts, or to provide general critical thinking skills, but also to help you become better democratic citizens.