Western Political Thought (B.A Political Science)

Political ideas of Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mill and Marx.

6 MonthsDuration 6Chapters26Topics

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Syllabus · पाठ्यक्रम

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01Unit 1: Plato 5 topics

The Republic
Theory of justice
Scheme of education
Communism of property and wives
Philosopher king and ideal state

02Unit 2: Aristotle 5 topics

Politics - nature of the state
Classification of constitutions
Theory of citizenship and slavery
Theory of revolution
Aristotle's criticism of Plato

03Unit 3: Machiavelli and Hobbes 4 topics

The Prince - human nature and statecraft
Separation of politics and morality
Hobbes - state of nature and social contract (Leviathan)
Absolute sovereignty

04Unit 4: Locke and Rousseau 4 topics

Locke - natural rights, limited government, right to revolution
Rousseau - state of nature and Social Contract
General Will and popular sovereignty
Comparison of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau

05Unit 5: Utilitarians and Liberals 4 topics

Jeremy Bentham - principle of utility, felicific calculus
J.S. Mill - qualitative utilitarianism
Mill on liberty, representative government and women
T.H. Green - positive liberty (introduction)

06Unit 6: Karl Marx 4 topics

Dialectical and historical materialism
Class struggle and theory of surplus value
Theory of the state and revolution
Dictatorship of the proletariat and classless society

About

You will be able to

Explain Plato's ideal state, theory of justice, education and philosopher king
Describe Aristotle's views on the state, citizenship, constitutions and revolution
Explain Machiavelli's separation of politics from ethics
Compare the social contract theories of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau
Explain utilitarianism (Bentham and J.S. Mill) and liberal ideas of liberty and representative government
Describe Marx's historical materialism, class struggle and theory of the state

Who it is for

B.A Political Science students of Semester 4 (UP state universities, NEP 2020 syllabus)
UPSC / UPPSC optional and UGC-NET aspirants
Learners interested in the history of political ideas

What you need

B.A Political Science Semesters 1-3 or basic knowledge of political theory

Questions

Which syllabus does this follow?

The NEP 2020 common minimum syllabus of UP state universities. Where your university's syllabus differs, the centre follows your own university syllabus.

How do I remember so many thinkers?

The course uses comparison charts (for example Hobbes vs Locke vs Rousseau), key quotes and book names for quick revision.

Is it useful for UGC-NET?

Yes, Western political thought is a major NET and UPSC optional area.