POLS 001A. Political Theory

This course is an introduction to political theory by way of an introduction to some of its most important themes, problems, and texts. It seeks to elicit an understanding of theory as a way of thinking about the world; theory as related to political practices and institutions; and theory as a form of politics. We will look at three central issues of politics- 1) Justice; 2) Freedom; 3) Power, Knowledge and Values-over the course of the semester. The course proceeds topically as well as chronologically, and we will return to certain primary classic theory texts more than once. Primary texts will include Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Mill, Marx and Foucault, as well as texts that present a contemporary perspective on each issue.
Social sciences.
1 credit.
Catalog chapter: Political Science
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/political-science

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