: History of political Theory- From Plato to Marx

Paper Code: 
POL 124
Credits: 
04
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

Thinkers belonging to diverse intellectual persuasions opened up refreshingly new ways of envisaging the self, public life and possibilities of crafting a new world and these endeavors offer a window to understand the complex tapestry of political life.

12.00
Unit I: 
UNIT 1

Greek Political Philosophy. The fundamentals of Greek Political Philosophy, Philosophical ideas of Socrates, Plato-Justice, Education, Communism of Wives and Property, Philosopher King, Theory of Best state, Second Ideal State

12.00
Unit II: 
UNIT 2

Aristotle- State, Slavery, Citizenship, Resolution, concept of Best State, Trends in Political Philosophy after Aristotle- Influence of Christianity on Theory of State

12.00
Unit III: 
UNIT 3

St. Thomas Aquinas- Political Theory, Views about Laws and Justice, Nature of State, The Church and the State; Machiavelli- Views about human nature, Child of Renaissance, Nation State and power Politics, Religion Morality and Politics

12.00
Unit IV: 
UNIT 4

Jean Bodin- Political Ideas and Concept of Sovereignty, Thomas Hobbes- Development of Social Contract Theory, Human Nature, State of Nature, Social Contract, Sovereignty, Resistance of Individual against State

12.00
Unit V: 
UNIT 5

John Locke- Human nature, State of Nature, Theory of Social Contract, Private Property, Theory of Revolution, Natural rights and Natural Law, Rousseau and his views about Social Contract, Doctrine of General Will

Essential Readings: 
  • CL Wayper, Political Thought, Mac Milan, 1995
  • JP Suda, History of Political Thought: (Vol. I&II), Meerut, K. Nath & Co.
  • GH Sabine, History of Political Theory, Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., 1997
  • JC Johri, Political Thought: Ancient and Medieval, New Delhi, Metropolitan

 

References: 
  • Dunning, History of Political Thought
  • Plato’s Republic, Penguin Classics
  • Mulgan, Aristotle’s Political Theory
  • Paul Baucher and David Kalley, Political Thinkers from Socrates to the present
  • Subrata Mukherjee, History of Political Thought: Plato to Marx, Delhi, Prentice Hall of India, 2003
  • EM Froster, Masters of Political Thoughts
  • Subrata Mukherjee and Shushila Ramaswamy, GWF Hegel, New Delhi, Deep and Deep Publications
  • Subrata Mukherjee and Shushila Ramaswamy, Thomas Hill Green, New Delhi, Deep and Deep Publications
Academic Year: 
2017-18
  • Printer-friendly version
  • PDF version