The texts have been selected to present a variety of “approaches” to political or social problems, the style and manner of the works are quite distinct. Tackling this variety will aid you a great deal when approaching other works in the humanities, and generally as you read, more on this below.  Though the following “different” themes will certainly be focused on in this class – the role of political legitimation and normativity in guiding political thought, the political procedures or powers that are entailed by conceptions of equality and liberty, the justifications and place of individualism, the limits of liberalism, the efficacy of a class and crisis perspective, and the problems of authoritarian rule. Basic themes, concepts, and problems will be developed and “carried over” through our readings of the texts. The goal of this course is to impart a historically informed perspective which can: 1) serve as a first foundation to continued study in political theory; 2) further develop the capacity for reading comprehension and critique; 3) give confidence in (and perhaps a desire for) approaching texts from different time periods and cultures; 4) help develop a perspective from which the current culture or society can be analyzed and critiqued; and 5) give one the opportunity to consider the efficacy and place for differing forms of political action. 

Books:

John Locke, Second Treatise on Government

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, On the Social Contract

J.S. Mill, On Liberty

Karl Marx, Selected Writings

Frankfurt School (selected works)