The course, Modern Political Theory , is a survey of Western political thought from Machiavelli and the Renaissance in the 15th century until the latter part of the twentieth century. We will situate each of these theorists in the particular historical periods in which they lived and analyze the various answers that they offered to problems and questions about human nature, war, justice, liberty, violence, equality, freedom, and obligation. We will spend considerable time linking these theorists to contemporary issues, i.e. Machiavelli, Saddam Hussein and war, Mill and Privacy in sexual relations.
Political theory can help to illuminate the past and the present.
John Locke's writings on property, liberty, contract, and individual rights are crucial components of our Constitution and our very conception of our nation and our selves. Contemporary conservative theory and libertarianism have clear roots in the liberalism of John Locke. Rousseau's writings on equality find echoes in contemporary feminism and the Civil Rights movement. In studying these great theorists and their writings, we are studying our history and ourselves. We will also link the issues of political theory to political science and social science in general.