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PHL253Arts Unitsintermediate

Social And Political Philosophy

This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of social and political philosophy. It explores major themes such as justice, power, authority, and liberty, examining the works of influential Western philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Marx. The course also delves into political ideologies, including communalism, socialism, capitalism, democracy, and anarchism. Students will develop critical thinking skills and relate these concepts to contemporary African thought and situations.

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325h

Study Time

13

Weeks

25h

Per Week

none

Math Level

Course Keywords

Political PhilosophySocial PhilosophyJusticeLibertyDemocracy

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level

Builds on foundational knowledge

65%

intermediate

📚

Math Level

No Math

📖

Learning Type

Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Nature of Political Philosophy

2

Western Political Thought

3

Social Contract Theory

4

Theories of Justice

5

Communalism and Communitarianism

6

Socialism

7

Democracy

8

Anarchism

Total Topics8 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (6 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

computer-based tests

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

forum discussions

Team-based learning and peer interaction

Group Work

portfolio presentation

Extended work showcasing practical application of skills

Practical Work

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Policy Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Political Advisor

Apply your skills in this growing field

Social Worker

Apply your skills in this growing field

Journalist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Public Administrator

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

GovernmentNon-profit OrganizationsEducationMediaInternational Relations

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week

1

Module 1: The Idea of Political Philosophy

4h

Unit 1: Meaning, Nature and Origin of Politics

2 study hours

•Read the unit introduction to understand the scope of political philosophy.
•Define politics from different scholars' perspectives.
•Trace the origin of politics from the Greek word Polis.
•Discuss the functions and scope of politics in various settings.

Unit 2: Meaning of Political Philosophy

2 study hours

•Define political philosophy and socio-political philosophy.
•Examine the origin of political philosophy and the scope of political philosophers.
•Identify basic questions in political philosophy related to individual and community.
•Distinguish between social philosophy and political philosophy.

Week

2

Module 1: The Idea of Political Philosophy

5h

Unit 3: Social Contract Theory

3 study hours

•Examine the meaning of a social contract and how it was arrived at.
•Discuss the principles involved in the social contract, including authority and obedience.
•Trace the emergence of a political society from the social contract.
•Explain the three central kernels of the social contract: human nature, origin of the state, and ends of government.

Unit 4: Political Science and Political Philosophy

2 study hours

•Examine the meaning of political science.
•Discuss how political science differs from political philosophy.
•Explain the points of divergence between political philosophy and political science.
•Compare and contrast the methodologies used in political science and political philosophy.

Week

3

Module 2: Western Political Thoughts

3h

Unit 1: Plato and Aristotle's Political Ideas

3 study hours

•Explain politics as conceived by Plato and Aristotle.
•Grasp Plato and Aristotle's understanding of human nature.
•Identify who should rule according to Plato and Aristotle.
•Explain the concept of justice as viewed by Plato.

Week

4

Module 2: Western Political Thoughts

3h

Unit 2: St Augustine and St Thomas Aquinas' Political Philosophy

3 study hours

•Explain politics as conceived by Saint Augustine and Saint Thomas Aquinas.
•Discuss Augustine and Aquinas' belief in the role of God in the creation of political society.
•Examine how political society was created and its purpose according to the two philosophers.
•Explain the best political regime in the two philosophers' discussions.

Week

5

Module 2: Western Political Thoughts

3h

Unit 3: Thomas Hobbes

3 study hours

•Explain political society as conceived by Hobbes.
•Discuss Hobbes' idea of rights and the metaphysical basis of his political thought.
•Explain Hobbes' concepts of 'Rights'.
•Examine how political society was created and its purpose according to Hobbes.

Week

6

Module 2: Western Political Thoughts

3h

Unit 4: John Locke's Political Philosophy

3 study hours

•Discuss how a political society emerged according to Locke.
•Explain Locke's idea of Class inequality, consent and property.
•Assess Locke's type of government that may be acceptable in society.
•Discuss his idea of revolution and grasp Locke's Liberal tradition.

Week

7

Module 2: Western Political Thoughts

3h

Unit 5: Jean Jacque Rousseau

3 study hours

•Discuss how a political society emerged according to Rousseau.
•Explain Rousseau's idea of class inequality, a general will and human nature.
•Attempt an explanation of political society as conceived by Rousseau.
•Assess the distinction between Rousseau, Hobbes and Locke's political ideas.

Week

8

Module 2: Western Political Thoughts

3h

Unit 6: Niccolo Machiavelli

3 study hours

•Explain Machiavelli's political thoughts.
•Explain the conception of political power.
•Discuss the reason for Machiavelli's separation of morality from politics.

Week

9

Module 2: Western Political Thoughts

3h

Unit 7: Karl Marx

3 study hours

•Explain Karl Marx and Friedrich Engel's political ideas.
•Explain the concept of class struggle in Karl Marx's political philosophy.
•Identify the sources that influenced Karl Marx's political philosophy.
•Evaluate the place of the mode of production in Karl Marx's political idea and its effect on society.

Week

10

Module 3: The Idea of Justice in John Rawls, Irish Young and Robert Nozick Political Philosophy

3h

Unit 1: John Rawls' Concept of Justice

3 study hours

•Explain John Rawls' idea of justice.
•Explain his idea of the original position as the origin of justice.
•Discuss his understanding of the veil of ignorance and impartiality.
•Identify the reason why Rawls subscribes to the particular conception of justice.

Week

11

Module 3: The Idea of Justice in John Rawls, Irish Young and Robert Nozick Political Philosophy

3h

Unit 2: Iris Marion Young's Concept of Justice

3 study hours

•Explain Iris Young's concept of justice.
•Explain the alternative model of justice proposed by her against the idea of distributive justice.
•Discuss her argument against the distributive form of justice.
•Examine her strategies on how to address structural injustices in society.

Week

12

Module 3: The Idea of Justice in John Rawls, Irish Young and Robert Nozick Political Philosophy

3h

Unit 3: Robert Nozick's Concept of Justice

3 study hours

•Explain Robert Nozick's idea of justice.
•Discuss his argument against the left-wing anarchist.
•Draw a comparison between his theory of justice and John Rawls' theory of distributive justice.
•Know his ideas of a utopian society and 'invisible hand.'

Week

13

Module 4: Political Concepts

4h

Unit 1: Communalism

2 study hours

•Explain communalism and communitarianism as a political ideology.
•Discuss the values that are inherent in the two concepts.
•Identify the reason why they are favored by some society such that they are adopted as an ideology in some state.
•Explain the limitations of these concepts in human society.

Unit 2: Socialism

2 study hours

•Define Socialism as a political ideology.
•Discuss the aims and objectives of socialism as a political concept.
•Explain the values and features of Socialism.
•Identify the reasons why Socialism is a preferred political ideology in some society.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create detailed summaries of each philosopher's key arguments and concepts.

2

Develop comparative charts contrasting different philosophers' views on major themes like justice and liberty.

3

Practice applying theoretical concepts to real-world political events and social issues.

4

Review all self-assessment exercises and discussion forum contributions.

5

Focus on understanding the historical context and intellectual influences of each philosopher.

6

Prioritize studying the core concepts from each unit, such as the state of nature, social contract, and general will.

7

Allocate specific study time for each module, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all units.

8

Create concept maps linking key ideas across different modules.

9

Answer practice questions under timed conditions to simulate the exam environment.

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