POLb1102 Concepts in Political Philosophy

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2019
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Pavel Dufek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Pavel Dufek, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 10:00–11:40 M117
Prerequisites
! POL287 Concepts in Pol. Philosophy && ! NOW ( POL287 Concepts in Pol. Philosophy ) && ( POL142 20th Century Pol. Philosophy || POLb1011 20th Century Pol. Philosophy || SOUHLAS )
Ability to read scholarly text in Czech and English; willingness to participate in in-class discussions
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 29 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The cxourse is intended as an advanced introduction to fundamental concepts in normative political theory/political philosophy, which can be considered its fundamental building blocs. Understanding such concepts and the corresponding intellectual conflicts allows students to systematically udnerstand the most important problems and topic of Western political philosophy. Based on acquired knowledge, students will be able to identify shifting meanings of concepts such as liberty, equality, political authority etc. Through analyzing the key "cleavages" within the concepts, course participants will be able to critically evaluate their competing interpretations. This will enable them to systematize the major debates and issues of Western political thinking since its inception. The course therefore represents a more analytic complement to the mandatory courses Traditions of Political Thought and Big Issues in Contemporary Political Philosophy.
Learning outcomes
Upon completing the course, students will be able to:
understand fundamental concepts of normative political theory, which can be considered its fundamental building blocs
identify shifting meanings of concepts such as liberty, equality, political authority, legitimacy, sovereignty, justice, or democracy
explore systematic mutual interrelations among these concepts
critically evaluate competing conceptual interpretations
systematize the major debates and issues of Western political thought
determine both explicit and latent links between political philosophy/theory and practice
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction. Course Mission and Organization, Political Thoight and Basic Political Concepts
  • 2. Conceptual Disputes. Political Theories as Systems of Concepts
  • 3. State. State?
  • 4. Sovereignty
  • 5. Political Legitimacy, Political Authority and Political Obligation
  • 6. Power
  • 7. Law, Rights and Human Rights
  • 8. Liberty and Autonomy
  • 9. Self-study Week
  • 10. Equality
  • 11. Justice
  • 12. Community, Nation, and Preconditions of Democracy
  • 13. Democracy
Literature
    required literature
  • Holländer, Pavel. „Suverenita státu (paradoxy a otazníky)“. In: Aleš Gerloch, Jan Wintr (eds.), Lisabonská smlouva a ústavní pořádek ČR. Plzeň: Vydavatelství a nakladatelství Aleš Čeněk, 2009, 87–114
  • Dufek, Pavel. 2018. „Lidská práva, ideologie a veřejné ospravedlnění: Co obnáší brát pluralismus vážně.“ Právník 157(1): 50–70
  • Hawkesworth, Mary. „Feminist Theories of Power,“ in: Dowding, Keith (ed.). Encyclopedia of Power. London: Sage, 2011, s. 251–257
  • Krejčí, Oskar. „Socialismus a lidská práva“. Přednáška, dostupné na http://www.halonoviny.cz/articles/view/228865
  • Hrubec, Marek. „Postkapitalistické alternativy: ekonomická demokracie“, in: Od krize k alternativám 1. Praha: Ekumenická akademie, 2011, s. 9–12
  • Mertl, Jiří. „Analýzy weberovského a postweberovského pojetí moci: stav výzkumu v české politologii.“ ACTA Fakulty filosofické ZČU 3/2012, s. 15–37
  • Simmons, A. John. Political Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2008
  • Kekes, John. „Dangerous Egalitarian Dreams“. City Journal, podzim 2001, dostupné na http://www.city- journal.org/html/11_4_urbanities-dangerous.html
  • TALISSE, Robert B. Engaging political philosophy : an introduction. First published. New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2016. xvii, 176. ISBN 9780415808323. info
  • BELLING, Vojtěch. Zrození suveréna : pojem suverenity a jeho kritika v moderní politické a právní filosofii : suverenita a normativní konstrukce reality I. 1. vydání. Brno: CDK, Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2014. 507 stran. ISBN 9788074149061. info
  • HOLZER, Jan, Pavel MOLEK, Jiří BAROŠ, Pavel DUFEK, Michal MOCHŤAK, Ivo POSPÍŠIL, Petr PRECLÍK and Hubert SMEKAL. Demokratizace a lidská práva. Středoevropské pohledy (Democratization and Human Rights. Central European Perspectives). 1st ed. Brno - Praha: MUNI Press - SLON, 2013. 266 pp. Studie 105. svazek. ISBN 978-80-7419-159-6. info
  • BEETHAM, David. The legitimation of power. 2nd edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013. xvii, 312. ISBN 9780230279735. info
  • HUEMER, Michael. The problem of political authority : an examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey. 1st pub. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013. xxviii, 36. ISBN 9781137281647. info
  • A companion to contemporary political philosophy. Edited by Robert E. Goodin - Philip Pettit - Thomas Winfried Menko Pogge. 2nd ed. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012. xx, 891. ISBN 9781444350876. info
  • DRULÁK, Petr. Politika nezájmu : Česko a Západ v krizi. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství (SLON), 2012. 323 s. ISBN 9788074191152. info
  • SCRUTON, Roger. O potřebnosti národů. Translated by Eduard Bakalář - Pavel Pšeja. 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2011. 87 s. ISBN 9788073252458. info
  • LEGUTKO, Ryszard. Ošklivost demokracie a jiné eseje. Edited by Maciej Ruczaj, Translated by Josef Mlejnek. 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury (CDK), 2009. 322 s. ISBN 9788073251840. info
  • COHEN, G. A. Iluze liberální spravedlnosti. Edited by Marek Hrubec. vyd. 1. Praha: Filosofia, 2006. 180 s. ISBN 8070072342. info
  • SWIFT, Adam. Politická filozofie : základní otázky moderní politologie. Translated by Denisa Šmejkalová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2005. 190 s. ISBN 8071788597. info
  • HEYWOOD, Andrew. Politická teorie. Translated by Zdeněk Masopust. 1. vyd. Praha: Eurolex Bohemia, 2005. 335 s. ISBN 8086861414. info
  • GAUS, Gerald F. Political concepts and political theories. Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 2000. xiv, 288. ISBN 081333330X. info
Teaching methods
The course consists of shorter lectures and in-class seminars; these two parts of each class are not strictly separated. Students' position papers based on asigned readings are discussed in the seminars.
Assessment methods
Course evaluation has three parts:

(1) Position papers. Students are expected to submit at least five shorter essays or position papers, dealing with a topic (or topics) discussed in the assigned readings. These papers should then serve as a basis for in-class discussions. Each essay will receive 0-5 points, depending on its quality
Position papers should consist of three parts: (A) summary of the main arguments of the assigned reading(s); (B) justification of one'sanswer to the stated question, employing a.o. arguments found in the literature; and (C) sugestions for clarification or fuerther seminar discussion.

(2) Final paper. At the end of the exam period, students are expected to submit a longer essay (ca. 2,500 to 3,000 words)) dealing with a topic of individual choice (related to the course contents). Each paper will receive 0-10 points, depending on its quality

(3) In-class activity (up to 1,5 points each time). Maximum 16,5 points + 1,5 bonus

The total point score will then determine the overall grading (60–55p A; 54–50p B; 49–45p C; 44–40p D; 39–36p E; 35p and less F)
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.

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