PHIL 102 - History of Western Philosophy: Modern

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

This is an introductory-level philosophy course focusing on the social and political philosophies in the modern period (roughly between 1648 and 1810). This class responds to the vibrant time and volatile political landscape of that era. Topics studied include: the political category and philosophical concept of sovereignty; the ‘birth’ of political science; liberalism; social contract theory; the general will; absolutism; systems of checks and balances; the end of the nation-state; enlightenment as a political category; and a cosmopolitanism no longer rooted in ancient Greek and Roman philosophy. Political documents and constitutions are consulted. Authors read include: Thomas Hobbes, Thomas Jefferson, John Locke, Toussaint Louverture, Maximilien Robespierre, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Immanuel Kant. Osman Nemli.

PHIL 101 is not a prerequisite for the course.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS