Entry requirements

60 points/90 ECTS credits in political science or corresponding knowledge. "Corresponding" includes studies in social sciences with extensive and distinct elements of politics and government.

Learning outcomes

This course presents different perspectives on political theory and introduces some fundamental problems which have been reflected upon by classical as well as modern political thinkers. It will thereby give the students an opportunity to take their own stand on these issues.

Content

The purpose of the first part of the course is to explore the foundations of political theory and political thought. What does one do when studying political ideas? What does it mean to interpret something, e.g. interpreting a text or an image with a political meaning? And what does one interpret more specifically? In this part of the course, the students will investigate the tension existing between the interpretation of political thought out of its historical, linguistic, cultural, political and theoretical context on the one hand, and searching for a valid or fruitful argument on the other. Some texts by Hans-Georg Gadamer and Quentin Skinner will serve as a basis for looking at this problem. Moreover, at seminars we will explore the foundation of normative political theory, i.e. theorising regarding questions of right and wrong. What rational reasons are there for not disregarding such normative theorising as the mere expression of opinions? Departing from Richard Rorty's Contingency, Irony, Solidarity and Plato's Gorgias, the seminars will investigate the nihilist position, according to which there is no right or wrong in moral and political issues, and the opposite position, stating that we can be sure nihilism is wrong, since it is selfcontra-dictory. Plato here points to one of the main directions for normative analysis: immanent criticism. According to MacIntyre, this is the only method at hand for forming and developing an intellectual tradition. The other main direction has been trying to establish a common position for the argumentation of values. The tradition of the contract theory has developed several different concepts on this matter. In the course we will study two of these - Apel's transcendental pragmatism and Scanlon's contractualism -trying to establish some kind of intra-subjectivity also at the study of normative problems.

The second part of the course deals with the question of power legitimacy and the problem of obedience to the law. The dicussions will be based on Plato's texts and also another classical text, maybe the most classical of all: Hobbes' Leviathan (which will be read in parts. Hobbes explained his theory in terms of a social contract. This politically philosophical method and idea tradition is discussed and critisized more generally by Carole Pateman in The Problem of Political Obligation. A Critique of Liberal Theory. Pateman's book also illustrates the approach, commonly used within political theory, of discussing different theoretical traditions at the same time as one is claiming to interpret the meaning of the classical arguments. The rest of the literature on the issue of law obedience is meant to illustrate different ways of reading and using political texts of this kind.

The third and last part of the course will present an analytical and critical overview of contemporary liberal theories. The main book is Contemporary Theories of Liberalism by Gerald Gaus. The major theme in the book is different conceptions of The Public Reason within Post-Enlightenment Liberalism. Broadly speaking, it deals with different definitions and derivations of The Common Good. On what grounds should citizens agree on the principles for a political constitution? Is the agreement based on common moral insights, or is it a pragmatic compromise between self-regarding individuals and groups? Is it possible to find an '"overlapping consensus" regarding constitutional justice in a multicultural society? This type of questions will be discussed in the seminar. As a complement to Gaus' abstract (and sometimes technical) analysis, we will also read original texts from some of the most important thinkers (such as Isaiah Berlin, John Rawls and Jürgen Habermas)

Instruction

The course contains three literature sections, each of which is introduced by one or two lectures and concluded by a seminar. The last few weeks of the course will be devoted to a course paper which will be defended in a seminar context.

Assessment

Examination is based upon the assessment of a course paper, shorter seminar papers and active participation in seminars. Grades awarded Fail (U) - Pass (G) - Pass with Distinction (VG). In addition, grades will be given according to European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), that is using a seven-step scale.