This course provides an introduction to the history of 'modern' political thought, from Grotius to John Stuart Mill.  Particular attention is paid to Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Adam Smith, Marx, Hegel and Mill, although other figures - such as Grotius, Pufendorf, Kant, Bentham and Whewell - will also be discussed.  The aim will be to introduce students to the thought of a number of key figures, by way of discussing the context against which they wrote, and some key features of their texts.  Students will also be introduced to a range of interpretative issues, from arguments about the interpretation of specific features of their text, to more general interpretative approaches (although this will not include 'postmodern' and post-structuralist views, for reasons of space).

After successfully completing this course, students should have: (i) a broad knowledge of the main themes in the work of key political philosophers in this period; (ii) experience of - and in discussing the merits of - the interpretation of selected issues in their work; (iii) a broad knowledge of some of the kinds of systematic interpretation which have been offered of these ideas in the Twentieth and the present century.  As a result of having undertaken this course successfully, I would also expect students to have acquired skills in the interpretation of arguments in historical texts, and in the evaluation of contending interpretations, which they can make use of in other courses and settings.  In addition, I would expect that, after having completed the course, they would be able to identify later work that is in the tradition of the different thinkers with whom we are dealing, and also to spot different kinds of systematic interpretation of textual materials - and also to know about some of the pertinent critical questions which it is then useful to raise in respect of such material.

Initial exercise 500 words 10%

First essay 2000 words 35%

Second essay 2500 words 45%

Tutorial participation 10%

Students will be expected to attend, or to listen to, two one-hour lectures a week, and to attend a tutorial for which they will have needed to do preparatory work (which I would expect should take then two hours).  They will then be evaluated by way of an initial exercise and two essays, as well as in terms of their active participation in tutorial discussion.

PHIL1004 or POLS1003, or any other two first-year courses

There is no special assumed knowledge, although a background in philosophy or political theory would be useful.

Iain Hampsher-Monk, A History of Modern Political Thought.  There will also be a reading brick, which will contain material from the texts of the major figures studied in the course.