Class Schedule for Winter 2024

This course will offer an introduction to political philosophy by way of a detailed examination of prominent thinkers and concepts from the history of political philosophy. This term the course will be focused on the central theoretical tradition of modern political philosophy, namely liberalism. The term “liberalism” refers to forms of political theory that emphasize the values of liberty for, and equality among, citizens. In academic discussion and scholarship, the word does not simply refer to “left-leaning” politics in the sense of “liberal” common in contemporary political discourse. Rather, “liberalism” refers to any political vision that puts freedom, especially equal freedoms, first. Thus “liberalism” is the common vision of both contemporary Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. (at least most of them). In this sense of the term, the standard sense in scholarly and academic discussion, liberalism has long been the dominant theoretical tradition in contemporary political philosophy throughout developed societies.