Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Synopsis Nature and reason, law and will, revolution and history are longstanding themes of contention in Western civilisation and thought. This subject explores the way in which these themes frame, and are framed within, selected political and philosophical writings. Key questions in these writings concern the origins of political society, the ways of organising order and power, the connections (or gaps) between morality and politics. In this subject such questions are viewed through the central themes of its title-nature, law, and revolution. Drawing on texts by Plato, John of Salisbury, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Burke and Marx, the subject emphasises both the cultural contexts which shape political ideas and the ways ideas can carry significance, or take on new meaning, beyond the limits of their original contexts and expressions.
Assessment Tutorial presentation and participation: 10% + Written work (2500 words): 50% + Examination (2 hours): 40%