Overview

Political Philosophy: Hobbes to Human Rights introduces early modern and modern political philosophy. The course provides a solid grounding in the content of Hobbes’ Leviathan, Locke's Second Treatise on Government, Rousseau's Social Contract, and Mill's On Liberty. Attention is also given to the political writings of Karl Marx and Mary Wollstonecraft.

Outline

Part 1: Early Modern Political Philosophy

Part 2: Modern Political Philosophy

Evaluation

Your final grade is based on the grades you achieve in three assignments and a final examination. The three assignments are together worth 60 per cent of your final grade and the remaining 40 per cent of your final grade will derive from the final examination. Please note that the passing grade for the final examination is 60 per cent. To receive credit for the course you must achieve at least 60 per cent on the final examination and an overall course grade of 60 per cent or better.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbooks

Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan. 1651. Ed. C. B. Macpherson. London: Penguin, 1985.

Locke, John. Second Treatise of Government. 1690. Ed. C. B. Macpherson. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1980.

Marx, Karl, and Frederick Engels. The Communist Manifesto: A Modern Edition. London: Verso, 1998.

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. The Social Contract. Trans. Maurice Cranston. London: Penguin, 1968.

Other Materials

Other course materials include a study guide, student manual, and a reading file.