History of Political Philosophy
Code
722031049
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Filosofia
Credits
10
Weekly hours
3 letivas + 1 tutorial
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
1) To acquire a critical in-depth knowledge of the fundamental theses and problems in History of Political Philosophy
2) To acquire an in-depth knowledge of the way certain theses and problems in the History of Political Philosophy fit into the philosophical tradition
3) To acquire the ability to connect the History of Political Philosophy with decisive events in the Political History
4) Recognize the importance of the study of Political Philosophy to understand the present questions in Political Philosophy
Prerequisites
Subject matter
The syllabus consists of a critical analysis of the Plato´s political thought In Republic, starting with the reading of the most decisive parts of that text, as well as of two texts by Hannah Arendt, “What is Authority?” and “Truth and Politics”. Through these issues we aim at a) Understanding the meaning of the Plato’s Political Philosophy, as it is expressed in Republic, through the study of the characteristics of the «ideal city» and the opposition between the philosopher’s «contemplative life» and the «active life» of the prisoners in the cave; b) Understanding the meaning of the Plato’s opposition to democracy and how it is grounded on an idea of truth and knowledge; c) Understanding the chief aspects of the critic by Hannah Arendt to the Plato’s political thought; d) Recognizing to what extent the study of the Plato’s work is still important nowadays for the understanding of questions on Political Philosophy.
Bibliography
− Platão (1982). The Republic, 2 vols. (Greek text, transl., intr. & notes by Shorey, P.), Cambridge, Mass./ London: Loeb.
− Platão (1989). República. Trad. de Rocha Pereira, M.H., 9ª ed. Lisboa: Gulbenkian.
− Arendt, H. (1968). Between Past and Future. Eight Exercises in Political Thought, 2 ª ed. (aumentada). New York: Viking Press.
− Arendt, H. (2006). Entre o Passado e o Futuro. Oito Exercícios sobre o Pensamento Político. Lisboa: Relógiod’Água.
− Popper, K. (1966). The Open Society and Its Enemies. Volume One: The Spell of Plato. London, 5ª ed. rev., London: Routledge.
Teaching method
Two main activities are developed in the course. During the first one and a half hour, there is an explanation of theoretical content, that will be followed by the presentation of questions by the students and a wide debate on the previously presented issues. In the second part of the class, there will be room for reading, interpretation and analysis of the texts on which the presented contents were based.
Evaluation method
The evaluation is chiefly focused on the elaboration of a paper that shall be previously proposed to and supervised by the lecturer (80%). Attendance and participation in class are also taken into account (20%).