POLI 279 - Utopian Political Thought

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

A study of major Western utopias from Thomas More’s to the present, including proposed “good societies,” dystopias such as Brave New World, and existing communities that are utopian or can be analyzed through utopian principles. Central themes the role and value of utopias in understanding and criticizing the present and in imagining possibilities for the future; the use of utopias to explore important political concepts and different ways of living; and the relations among utopias, dystopias, and existing utopian experiments. Mr. Stillman.

Prerequisite(s): Freshmen may take a 200-level course only with the permission of the instructor, which usually requires satisfactory completion of an introductory course. For sophomores, juniors, and seniors, an introductory course is recommended but not required.