PLT4399

Grand theories of politics

(ART)

Michael Janover

12 points + 2 hours per week + Second semester + Clayton + Prohibition: COS4399,EUR4399

Synopsis: Selected topics in the history of political thought, including the nature of epic or grand theories of politics and the role of various forms of moral, religious, scientific, and metaphysical thinking in such theories. Texts and arguments considered are of two kinds: (1) models of construction and deconstruction of the history of Western political and philosophical thought in writings of Heidegger, Feyerabend, Strauss, Derrida; (2) conceptions of knowledge, power and morality, culture and civilisation in the thinking of Socrates, Plato, Machiavelli, Rousseau and Nietzsche.

Assessment: Seminar paper (1000 words) and participation: 10% + Essay (5000 words): 50% + Examination (3 hours): 40%