Republicanism and the Social Contract: History of Political Thought from Milton to Locke (VS1) (U03779)

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

This course aims to provide an understanding of the hugely influential political theories that were produced in the extraordinary political ferment of seventeenth century England. In just a few decades, the country suffered civil war, killed its king, became a republic, restored a king, only to fear his tyranny. These turbulent times developed two of the most important traditions in the history of political thought: republicanism and social contract theory. By exploring some great works of political theory, notably by Thomas Hobbes, James Harrington and John Locke, as well as lesser known works from the period, this course will equip students with the history of key ideas about liberty, human rights, equality, justice, constitutions, civic virtue and the way that governments represent and are accountable to the people. By locating the development of these concepts in their turbulent contexts, the course will show the ineluctable interdependency of ideas and actions. It will complement the new course being introduced in 2005-6 by Dr Thomas Ahnert on the Scottish Enlightenment.

Entry Requirements

? This course is only available to part year visiting students.

? This course is a variant of the following course : U02978

? Pre-requisites : 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 1 (Blocks 1-2)

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

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
24/09/2007	16:10	18:00	Room 11.18, David Hume Tower	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	16:10	18:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will gain an understanding of the major political theories of republicanism and the social contract that came out of the turmoil of seventeenth century England and that continue to carve the contours of our world. They will come to see how and why key concepts such as freedom, justice, accountability, natural rights and natural law were developed in this period.
This course is unusual in being taught principally through primary texts. It will therefore introduce students to the historical coalface. They will learn to read a wide range of seventeenth century authors, some famous, such as Hobbes and Locke, and some lesser known, such as Marchamont Nedham. They will learn to analyse their arguments internally, to connect these arguments to those in other texts and to their contexts. They will acquire a sensitivity to the belief that texts cannot be understood outside their contexts and, conversely, that historical events cannot be understood without grasping the ideas that informed them.

Assessment Information

One 3000 word essay and one 'take home' examination. The essay will make up one third of the final assessment, the exam will be worth two-thirds of the final assessment.