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).
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
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.
Indicative Assessment
Initial exercise 500 words 10%
First essay 2000 words 35%
Second essay 2500 words 45%
Tutorial participation 10%
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Workload
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.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
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.
Majors
Minors
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $2604 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $3576 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3202 | 16 Feb 2015 | 06 Mar 2015 | 31 Mar 2015 | 29 May 2015 | In Person | N/A |
