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Early Political Texts - POLS3040
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Students studying
 
Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
 
 
School:  School of Social Sciences and International Studies
 
 
Course Outline: http://www.arts.unsw.edu.au/politics/
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.125 (more info)
 
 
Contact Hours per Week: 3
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: 12 units of credit at the POLS2000 level
 
 
Fee Band: 1 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description

Using the texts of three of the key early modern political theorists, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, this course examines and explores the foundational themes of sovereignty, authority, legitimacy, political obligation, and liberty. The approach will be to look at these thinkers in their particular context and the issues they were addressing in their time, as well as use their work to look for answers to questions that still remain open today. Questions of method, including the similarities and differences in the use of the social contract device, will also be explored, as will the role of God and their differing conceptions of morality.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course students should be able to:
  • Explain the social contract device and the differing ways in which these three thinkers employed it
  • Understand the tensions and basic arguments that exist over the concepts of sovereignty, authority, legitimacy, political obligation, and liberty
  • Articulate and analyse the political argument of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau
  • Think critically, to have improved both their skills and knowledge in political philosophy as well as their knowledge of its history.

Assessment

  • Essay (3500 words) - 50%
  • Seminar presentation and paper (2500 words) - 35%
  • Seminar participation - 15%

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