PLT1050 - Nature, law and revolution: Political ideas in context

Leader(s): Michael Janover

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

Themes of nature and reason, law and will, revolution and history in selected political and philosophical writings. Central to the unit will be writings by Plato, Niccolo Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Edmund Burke and Karl Marx. We will consider questions of the origins of political society, ways of organising power, connections (or gaps) between morals and politics.

Assessment

Tutorial presentation and participation: 10%
Assignment (500 words): 15%
Essay (2000 words): 35%
Examination (2 hours): 40%

Contact hours

3 hours (2 x 1 hour lectures and 1 x 1 hour tutorial) per week