Representative Western Political Thinkers

Paper Code: 
POL 501
Credits: 
03
Contact Hours: 
45.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This paper studies the classical tradition in Political Theory from Plato to Hegel with the view to understand how the Great Masters explained and analyzed political events and problems of their times and prescribed solutions. The course intends to generate a critical awareness about the traditions of political thought in the West.

9.00
Unit I: 
UNIT 1

Plato (Concept of Justice & Ideal State, Views on Education, Communism of Wives and Property, Plato’s second best state)

9.00
Unit II: 
UNIT 2

Aristotle (Criticism of Plato, Citizenship, Views on Slavery, Concept of BestState, Theory of Revolution)

9.00
Unit III: 
UNIT 3

St. Thomas Aquinas (Relationship between state and church, Theory of Law and Justice)

Jean Bodin (Theory of Sovereignty & State)

9.00
Unit IV: 
UNIT 4

Niccolo Machiavelli (Human nature, Political ideas: Church vs State, Monarchy;  National sovereignty; Statecraft, as a modern thinker)

Thomas Hobbes (State of Nature,Natural Laws, Sovereignty, Social Contract and State)

 

 

9.00
Unit V: 
UNIT 5

John Locke (Ideas on natural rights with reference to property, Social Contract, Limited State,Theory of Consent)

Jean Jacques Rousseau (State of nature, Social Contract and General Will)

 

 

Essential Readings: 
  • Gauba, O.P., (2017), Western Political Thought, New Delhi, Mayur Paperbacks
  • Mukherjee S. (2003), History of Political Thought: Plato to Marx, New Delhi,Prentice Hall of India
  • Parekh ,B., & Pantham, T., (1987), Political Discourse: Explorations in Indian and Western Political Thought, New Delhi, Sage Publications
  • Sharma, U., & Sharma, S.K.,(2016), Western Political Thought: From Plato to Burke, New Delhi , Atlantic Publishers
  •  Suda, J.P., ( 2016), History of Political Thought: (Vol. I&II), Merrut, K. Nath & Co
  • Wayper, C.L.,(2018), Political Thought, India, Aitbs Publishers
References: 
  • Adam, I., & Dyson, R.W.,(2004),Fifty Great Political Thinkers, London, Routledge
  •  Boucher, D.,&  Kelly, P., Political Thinkers, London,Oxford University Press
  • Jones, W.T.,( 1959), Masters of Political Thought, (Vols.2 & 3), London, George Harrap & Co
  • Nelson B.R.,(2006),Western Political Thought, Second Edition, New Delhi, Pearson Education
  • Sabine,G.H.,(1997), History of Political Theory,New Delhi, Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.
  • Skoble,A. & Machan,T., (2007), Political Philosophy: Essential Selections, New Delhi, Pearson Education
Academic Year: 
2019-20
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