POLb1102 Concepts in Political Philosophy

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2023

The course is not taught in Spring 2023

Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Bc. Jana Kokešová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Lubomír Kopeček, 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
Prerequisites
! POL287 Concepts in Pol. Philosophy && ! NOW ( POL287 Concepts in Pol. Philosophy ) && ( POL142 20th Century Pol. Philosophy || POLb1011 Issues of Political Philosophy || SOUHLAS )
Ability to read scholarly text in Czech and English; willingness to participate in in-class discussions
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
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 the shifting meanings of concepts such as liberty, equality, political authority etc. By analysing the key cleavages within the concepts, course participants will be able to critically evaluate their competing interpretations. This will enable them to systematise the major debates and issues of Western political thinking since its inception. The course therefore represents an analytically-minded 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 thought and basic political concepts
  • 2. Conceptual disputes. Political theories as systems of concepts
  • 3. State and sovereignty I.
  • 4. State and sovereignty II.
  • 5. Political authority, legitimacy, and obligation I.
  • 6. Political authority, legitimacy, and obligation II.
  • 7. Political authority, legitimacy, and obligation III.
  • 8. Law and rights
  • 9. Self-study Week
  • 10. Liberty and autonomy
  • 11. Equality
  • 12. Justice
  • 13. Authority and democracy
Literature
    required literature
  • Kekes, John. „Dangerous Egalitarian Dreams“. City Journal, podzim 2001, dostupné na http://www.city- journal.org/html/11_4_urbanities-dangerous.html
  • Dufek, Pavel. 2018. „Lidská práva, ideologie a veřejné ospravedlnění: Co obnáší brát pluralismus vážně.“ Právník 157(1): 50–70
  • Simmons, A. John. Political Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2008
  • 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
  • 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
  • COHEN, G. A. Iluze liberální spravedlnosti. Edited by Marek Hrubec. vyd. 1. Praha: Filosofia, 2006, 180 s. ISBN 8070072342. 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
    not specified
  • Belling, Vojtěch. Smrt suveréna? Eroze státnosti a krize suverenity v éře postnacionálního vládnutí. Brno: CDK, 2019
  • Simmons, A. John. Political Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2008
  • Šejvl, Michal. 2017. Lidská práva jako subjektivní práva. Praha: Ústav státu a práva AV
  • Sobek, Tomáš. „Problém legitimní autority I.“ Právník 152(6), 2013, s. 537–561
  • Copp, David. 1999. The Idea of a Legitimate State. Philosophy&Public Affairs 28(1): 3–45
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) In-class presentation (ca 15–20 minutes) on a selected topic (0-12 points)

(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)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Teacher's information
For additional information see the course syllabus, which is available in the Study Materials section within the Information System
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2023/POLb1102