Intellectual History from Montesquieu to Marx (U03615)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : HCA-3-Marx

This course aims to introduce students to some of the most important texts in western political and moral thought in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, namely those of Montesquieu, Rousseau, Burke, Wollstonecraft, Kant, Bentham, Hegel, Tocqueville, John Stuart Mill and Marx. It will explore the origins of key movements, such as individualism, utilitarianism and Marxism. It will examine foundational accounts of freedom, representative government, democracy, nationality, empire and the social contract. At all times, it will situate the ideas in their historical contexts, showing how they are both constrained by and instrumental in shaping events, as in the case, for example, of Montesquieu and the American Revolution. As with the other intellectual history courses, this course is distinctive in engaging students with close textual analysis of primary sources.

? Keywords : Intellectual History; Montesquieu; Rousseau; Burke; Wollstonecraft; Kant; Bentham; Hegel; Tocqueville; John Stuart Mill; Marx; individualism; freedom; Marxism; utilitarianism; social contract; general will; empire

Entry Requirements

? This course is not accepting further student enrolments.

? Pre-requisites : A pass in any first level historical course or equivalent and a pass in any second level historical course or equivalent. Visiting students should normally have 3 to 4 history courses at Grade B or above. Before enrolling students on this course, Directors are asked to contact the History Honours Admissions Secretary to ensure that a place is available (tel. 503783).

Subject Areas

Home subject area

History, (School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Schedule E)

Other subject areas

Philosophy, (School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Schedule I)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
10/01/2008	11:10	13:00	Room 8.16, David Hume Tower	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Thursday	11:10	13:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this course, students will:
Have an understanding of some of the most significant ideas in western political and moral theory in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which continue to inform political and individual experience today. These include various accounts of liberty, democracy, the social contract, empire and nationality, and movements such as utilitarianism and Marxism.
Be familiar with the works of such giants of intellectual history as Montesquieu, Rousseau, Burke, Wollstonecraft, Kant, Bentham, Constant, Hegel, Tocqueville, John Stuart Mill and Marx.
Grasp the importance of ideas in history, and more particularly of the complex way that ideas both shape and are shaped by events.
Be able to analyse primary texts, evaluating the arguments and locating them historically.
Demonstrate the above skills in written work, presentations and other oral contributions to the seminars.