Time Schedule:
Laurence A Bonjour
PHIL 332
Seattle Campus
Examination of major political philosophies from the sixteenth century to the nineteenth century, with attention to the underlying philosophical methods and foundations.
Class description
This course will examine the works of the most important political philosophers from the 16th through the 19th centuries: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu, Adam Smith, Burke, Bentham, Mill, Hegel, and Marx & Engels. We will also examine the American Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and some selections from the Federalist Papers. The central issue in this period is the justification of governmental authority and its tension with individual liberty, but we will also consider a variety of other topics including natural rights, justice, issues pertaining to the structure of government, and the relation between the individual and society. Three short paper assignments based on the reading and class discussion, plus a final examination.
Meets I&S requirement. No Freshmen. PHIL majors only (Period 1)
Texts: Classics of Modern Political Theory, Steven Cahn
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
