Department of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies

Back to List

PHL200ZA(哲学 / Philosophy 200)
Philosophy and Political Thought

Joel Van Fossen

Class code etc
Faculty/Graduate school Department of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies
Attached documents
Year 2023
Class code A6210
Previous Class code
Previous Class title
Term 春学期授業/Spring
Day/Period 火4/Tue.4
Class Type
Campus 市ヶ谷 / Ichigaya
Classroom name 市外濠‐S301
Grade 2~4
Credit(s) 2
Notes
Open Program
Open Program (Notes)
Global Open Program
Interdepartmental class taking system for Academic Achievers
Interdepartmental class taking system for Academic Achievers (Notes) 制度ウェブサイトの3.科目別の注意事項(1)GIS主催科目の履修上の注意を参照すること。
Class taught by instructors with practical experience
SDGs CP
Urban Design CP
Diversity CP
Learning for the Future CP
Carbon Neutral CP
Chiyoda Campus Consortium
Duplicate Subjects Taken Under Previous Class Title
Category (commenced 2024 onwards)
Category (commenced 2020-2023) 200-level Intermediate Courses(中級)
Category (commenced 2016-2019) 200-level Intermediate Courses
Arts and Literature

Show all

Hide All

Outline and objectives

Humans are deeply social creatures. Unlike other social creatures, humans create and exist within complex and dynamic political arrangements with laws, customs, institutions, and designated sources of authority. This situation presents us with the question of how we should arrange ourselves politically. The rational inquiry into this question is the primary task of political philosophy. In this course, we will explore a variety of topics in political philosophy with an emphasis on the social contract tradition and theories of justice. Philosophers surveyed in this course include Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Stuart Mill, Emma Goldman, and Karl Marx.

Goal

This course has four primary learning goals. First, students will acquire knowledge about the various and diverging views on political philosophy. Second, students will improve critical thinking skills when engaging with abstract reasoning about political philosophy. Third, students will improve their reading skills when confronting nuanced and challenging text. Finally, students will improve their writing skills to communicate complex ideas clearly and confidently

Which item of the diploma policy will be obtained by taking this class?

Will be able to gain “DP 1”, “DP 2”, “DP 3”, and “DP 4”.

Default language used in class

英語 / English

Method(s)(学期の途中で変更になる場合には、別途提示します。 /If the Method(s) is changed, we will announce the details of any changes. )

Classes will begin with a one-hour lecture with interactive slides. In many meetings, an in-class activity will accompany the lecture. These activities are interactive and require active participation. Finally, each class will end either (1) with a discussion or debate about the course content or (2) an open discussion about the in-class activity for that day. There are two in-class exams. These exams will include multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.

Active learning in class (Group discussion, Debate.etc.)

あり / Yes

Fieldwork in class

なし / No

Schedule

授業形態/methods of teaching:対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[オンライン/online]:Introduction

What is political philosophy?

2[対面/face to face]:The Social Contract 1

The need for a state

3[対面/face to face]:The Social Contract 2

The legitimacy of political authority

4[対面/face to face]:The Social Contract 3

The nature of consent

5[対面/face to face]:The Social Contract 4

Religion and the state

6[対面/face to face]:The Social Contract 5

The corrupting influence of the state

7[対面/face to face]:The Social Contract 6

Political pessimism

8[対面/face to face]:Midterm

Review and midterm exam

9[対面/face to face]:The State and Justice 1

The limits of state intervention

10[対面/face to face]:The State and Justice 2

The nature of justice

11[対面/face to face]:The State and Justice 3

Gender, race, and justice

12[対面/face to face]:The State and Justice 4

Anarchism

13[対面/face to face]:The State and Justice 5

Stateless society

14[対面/face to face]:Final Exam

Wrap-up, review, and final exam

Work to be done outside of class (preparation, etc.)

Students should complete weekly readings before coming to class. Students should also review their own notes and course slides after every class. Preparatory study and review time for this class are 2 hours each.

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks for this course. All readings will be provided by the instructor either in print or online.

References

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy is a great resource for delving further into any topics discussed in class: https://plato.stanford.edu

Grading criteria

Participation 15%
In-class activities 15%
Midterm exam 30%
Final exam 40%

Changes following student comments

Not applicable

Equipment student needs to prepare

Please bring a computer for in-class surveys.

Prerequisite

None