An introduction to the key problems of modern Political Philosophy focusing on the foundations of modern Liberalism in the Enlightenment contract theories of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau.
Method of instruction
Lectures with seminar discussions.
Examination
Mid-semester take-home exam (40%), and final take-home (60%).
Required reading
*Hobbes’s Leviathan (CUP 1991). ISBN: 0521567971. *Locke’s Second Treatise of Government (CUP, 1988). ISBN: 0 521 35730 6. *Rousseau’s Discourse on the Origin of Inequality and excerpts from The Social Contract, both in: Basic Political Writings, tr. Cress, (Hackett 1988). ISBN: 0 87220 047 7.
Admission requirements
None
Timetable
see Rooster BA1-programma 2008-2009
Registration
Please register for this course on U-twist. See registration procedure
Information
dr. H.W. Siemens ( h.w.siemens@phil.leidenuniv.nl)
Remarks
Lectures will be in English, although Dutch can be used for exams and contributions in class.
The course is available as elective.