Classics of Political Philosophy

Code:

MFIL050

Acronym:

CFP

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Philosophy

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Philosophy
Course/CS Responsible:	Masters in Philosophy

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MFIL	11	study plan	1	-	6	41	162
MFPE	14	Study plan	1	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

1 - To acquire an in-depth knowledge of  classic texts of Political Philosophy.
2 - To reflect upon relevant problems, concepts and arguments within that work.
3 - To place the studied works in the context of the general evolution of Western political philosophy and in the context of the particular character of the periods they belong to.
4 - To investigate the relation between political factual history and political philosophical theorization.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of the semestre students should know/be able:
1 - To show to have acquired an in-depth knowledge of four classic texts of Political Philosophy (from Antiquity to ninenteenth century), each corresponding to one four epochal categories in which the syllabus is divided.
2 - To reflect upon relevant problems, concepts and arguments within that work.
3 - To research the relation between political factual history and political philosophical theorization.
4 - To interrelate problems, concepts and political philosophies from different epochs.

Working method

Presencial

Program

General introduction on Western political philosophy and its evolution.
I. Western ancient and medieval political philosophy.
II Western Renaissance and early modern political philosophy.
III. Western eighteenth century political philosophy setecentista.
IV. Western nineteenth century political philosophy oitocentista.
Conclusion.

Classics of Politica Philosophy:
I. Plato, Republic.
Aristotle, Politics.
Augustine of Hippo, City of God.
Thomas of Aquinas, De regno ad regem Cypri.

II. Machiavelli, The Prince.
La Boétie, Of Voluntary Servitude.
Hobbes, Leviathan.
Spinoza, Theological-Political Treatise.

III. Mandeville, B., The fable of the Bees.
Montesquieu, The Spirit of the Laws.
Rousseau, The Social Contract.
Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France.

IV. Hegel, Elements of the Philosophy of Right.
Tocqueville Democracy in America.
Marx, K. , The capital.
Stuart Mill, On Liberty.

Mandatory literature

Platão; A^república. ISBN: 972-31-0509-8
Aristóteles; Política. ISBN: 972-699-561-2
Agostinho; A^cidade de Deus. ISBN: 972-31-0543-8 972-31-0897-6 972-31-0898-4
Tomás de Aquino; La^royauté au roi de Chypre. ISBN: 978-2-7116-2713-4
Nicolau Maquiavel; O^príncipe. ISBN: 972-665-272-4
Étienne de La Boétie; Discours de la servitude volontaire
Thomas Hobbes; Leviatã. ISBN: 972-27-0708-6
Bento de Espinosa; Tratado teológico-político. ISBN: 972-27-1336-1
Bernard Mandeville; The fable of the bees, or private vices, publick benefits. ISBN: 0-86597-072-6
Montesquieu; Do espírito das leis. ISBN: 978-972-44-1564-2
Jean-Jacques Rousseau; Do contrato social. ISBN: 85-13-00218-6
Edmund Burke; Reflections on the revolution in France and on the proceedings in certain societies relative to that. ISBN: 0-140-43204-3
Friedrich Hegel; Princípios da filosofia do direito
Alexis de Tocqueville; Da democracia na América. ISBN: 972-8500-46-7
Karl Marx; O capital
John Stuart Mill; Ensaio sobre a liberdade

Teaching methods and learning activities

- Seminar sessions consisting in lectures and in the analysis and critical discussion (with students) of the chosen works, as well as other material considered relevant to political philosophy. There is the possibility in some sessions of guest lecturers addressing specific topics.
- Distributed evaluation without final exam.
- Students are required to attend at least 75% of classes (except in cases foreseen in the assessment regulations and cases of students who have successfully attented classes in the previous academic year).
- Evaluation based on the individual short presentation scheduled during one of the seminar sessions (20%) and on the individual written assignment (80%).

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	20,00
Trabalho escrito	80,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	121,00
Frequência das aulas	41,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

- Distributed evaluation without final exam.
- Students are required to attend at least 75% of classes (except in cases foreseen in the assessment regulations and cases of students who have successfully attented classes in the previous academic year).
- Evaluation based on the individual written assignment (80%) and on the active participation.

Calculation formula of final grade

Written assignment (80%) + participação activa nas aulas (20%).

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Deadline/modality of written assignment adapted.

Classification improvement

Grade improvement possible for written assignment.