Admission requirements
Participation in the seminar is only permitted if the propaedeutic phase has been passed (60 EC).
Description
Politics is a game of power. When studying political phenomena, we often, implicitly or explicitly, rely on certain assumptions about what power is and how it operates. In this course, we critically examine these assumptions and reflect on different methods of studying power. In his empirical approach to political power, Robert Dahl defines it as the capacity of one actor to pursue their interests at the expense of others. Steven Lukes argues, however, that attempts to make power measurable cause us to overlook crucial dimensions of power. After all, do the dominant ideology and power structures of a given society not influence what an actor understands as their own “interests” in the first place?
The philosophical tradition has a long history of reflecting on power. In this course, we engage with a range of thinkers to explore the different dimensions of power. Several philosophers have argued that political philosophy ultimately hinges on whether we can distinguish between legitimate power and the violence into which it degenerates once its legitimacy is lost. The question of power is therefore inseparable from the question of legitimacy. Moreover, the genealogical analyses of Nietzsche and Foucault show that power operates differently across historical periods and continually legitimizes itself on new grounds. This raises the question if power can be legitimate at all. Or, put differently, are power structures fundamentally opposed to human freedom, or can they be understood as expressions of our striving for it?
Learning objectives
- To develop the ability to critically evaluate and compare different philosophical and scientific perspectives on power.
- To cultivate a critical attitude by examining and questioning the methodologies used to understand power dynamics.
- To gain insight into the complexity of the relationship between power, legitimacy, and normativity.
- To develop the ability to apply genealogical analysis to contemporary power dynamics.
These learning objectives are designed to guide students in critically examining philosophical perspectives on power, understanding the interplay between power and legitimacy, applying genealogical analysis in contemporary contexts, and fostering a reflective approach to the methodologies used in the study of power.
Method of Instruction
Assessment Method
Reading List
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Timetable
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