Classical Political Philosophy

Paper Code: 
24CPOL511
Credits: 
06
Contact Hours: 
90.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This course goes back to Greek antiquity and familiarizes students with the way the political questions were first posed. Machiavelli comes as an interlude inaugurating modern politics followed by Hobbes and Locke. This is a basic foundation course for students to acquaint the students with the philosophy and theory making in Western political philosophy.This course apply strategies to develop understanding about the development of concepts of state, citizenship, government etc. 

Course Outcomes: 

Course

Learning outcomes

(at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Course Code

Course Title

24CPOL 511

Classical Political Philosophy

(Theory)

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

CO49:  classified the rudimentary context and central arguments and aims of the concerned thinker.

CO50: evaluate   Political Thought processes and theory making along with-it drawbacks and contribution in the West.

CO51: Acquire knowledge about western political thinkers and theirs view on state craft and their relevance in contemporary times

CO52: analyse different perspectives and approaches to state, politics, government, sovereignty, citizenship and so on

CO53: Critically assess the strengths, weakness and implications of different political

ideologies and theories in western tradition

CO54: contribute effectively in Course specific interaction

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments, Power Point Presentation

 

Learning activities for the students:

Self-learning assignments, Effective questions, Seminar presentation, Giving tasks.

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation, Individual and group projects

 

18.00
Unit I: 
Plato

Philosophy and Politics, Theory of Forms, Justice, Philosopher King/Queen, Communism, Critique of Democracy, Women and Guardianship, Censorship

 

18.00
Unit II: 
Aristotle

Forms, Virtue, Citizenship, Justice, State and Household, Classification of governments, man as zoon politikon 

18.00
Unit III: 
Machiavelli

Virtue, Religion, Republicanism, morality and statecraft, vice and virtue 

18.00
Unit IV: 
Hobbes

Human nature, State of Nature, Social Contract, State , State of nature; social contract; Leviathan, atomistic individuals. 

18.00
Unit V: 
Locke

Laws of Nature, Natural Rights, Property, Natural rights; right to dissent; justification of property

Essential Readings: 

Ø  Gauba, O.P., (2021), Western Political Thought, New Delhi, Mayur Paperbacks

Ø  Sharma, U., & Sharma, S.K.,(2021), Western Political Thought: From Plato to Burke, New Delhi , Atlantic Publishers

Ø  Wayper, C.L.,(2021), Political Thought, India, Aitbs Publishers

Ø  Suda, J.P.,( 2020), History of Political Thought: (Vol. I&II), Merrut, K. Nath & Co

Ø  Mukherjee S. (2015), History of Political Thought: Plato to Marx, New Delhi,Prentice Hall of India

Ø  Boucher, D.,&  Kelly, P.,(2017)Political Thinkers, London,Oxford University Press

References: 

Ø  Adam, I., & Dyson, R.W.,(2004),Fifty Great Political Thinkers, London, Routledge

Ø  Nelson B.R.,(2006),Western Political Thought, Second Edition, New Delhi, Pearson Education

Ø  Sabine,G.H.,(2019), History of Political Theory,New Delhi, Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.

Ø  Skoble,A. & Machan,T., (2007), Political Philosophy: Essential Selections, New Delhi, Pearson Education

Academic Year: 
2024-25
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