Module #1 Introduction to Political Philosophy An overview of the field of political philosophy, its importance, and key concepts
Module #2 Ancient Greek Roots:Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle Exploration of the foundational ideas of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle and their influence on Western political thought
Module #3 The Social Contract Tradition Examination of the social contract theories of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau and their implications for politics and morality
Module #4 Liberalism and the Enlightenment Discussion of the key concepts of liberalism, including liberty, equality, and the role of reason in politics
Module #5 Conservatism and the Counter-Enlightenment Analysis of conservative thought, including the ideas of Burke and others on tradition, authority, and the limits of human knowledge
Module #6 Utilitarianism and the Philosophy of Jeremy Bentham Examination of Benthams ideas on utility, pleasure, and pain, and their application to politics and ethics
Module #7 The Philosophy of John Stuart Mill In-depth exploration of Mills ideas on liberty, individuality, and the role of government in promoting human flourishing
Module #8 Marxism and the Critique of Capitalism Analysis of Marxs ideas on alienation, exploitation, and the role of class in shaping society
Module #9 Anarchism and the Rejection of the State Examination of anarchism as a political philosophy, including its roots in individualism and its critique of authority
Module #10 Nationalism and the Politics of Identity Discussion of the rise of nationalism, its relationship to identity, and its implications for politics and morality
Module #11 Feminist Political Philosophy Analysis of feminist thought on gender, power, and justice, including the ideas of Wollstonecraft, de Beauvoir, and others
Module #12 Race, Racism, and Political Philosophy Examination of the role of race in shaping political thought and institutions, including the ideas of Du Bois and others
Module #13 Global Justice and Human Rights Discussion of the concept of global justice, including the ideas of Rawls, Sen, and others on international ethics and human rights
Module #14 Democracy and Its Critics Analysis of the concept of democracy, including its advantages and disadvantages, and critiques from thinkers such as Plato and Nietzsche
Module #15 The Role of the State:Minimalism vs. Activism Examination of the proper role of the state in society, including debates over minimalism and activism
Module #16 Economic Systems:Capitalism, Socialism, and Alternatives Comparison and critique of different economic systems, including capitalism, socialism, and anarchist economics
Module #17 Justice and Equality In-depth exploration of the concepts of justice and equality, including theories of distributive justice and fairness
Module #18 Punishment and the Role of the State Analysis of the morality and efficacy of punishment, including debates over retribution, rehabilitation, and restorative justice
Module #19 War, Peace, and International Relations Examination of the ethics of war, peace, and international relations, including debates over realpolitik and idealism
Module #20 Environmental Political Philosophy Discussion of the relationship between politics and the environment, including debates over sustainability and ecological justice
Module #21 The Politics of Identity and Recognition Analysis of the role of recognition and identity in shaping politics, including debates over multiculturalism and liberalism
Module #22 The Impact of Technology on Politics Examination of the ways in which technology is changing politics, including debates over surveillance, privacy, and digital democracy
Module #23 Contemporary Political Philosophy:Case Studies In-depth analysis of contemporary issues and debates in political philosophy, including topics such as immigration, healthcare, and economic inequality
Module #24 The Future of Political Philosophy Discussion of the future directions of political philosophy, including debates over methodology, ideology, and the role of philosophy in politics
Module #25 Course Wrap-Up & Conclusion Planning next steps in Political Philosophy career
