Philosophy 216 - Contemporary Political Theory

Institution:

Bard College

Subject:

Description:

The tension created by the promise of equality and the guarantee of liberty has largely shaped the debate among contemporary political theorists. Most believe it is the function of the liberal state to meld these two goals, but a resolution of the conflict requires, in turn, an examination of more fundamental normative questions. What, for example, should be relegated to the private sphere and what is more properly viewed as a matter of public concern? By which principles ought social and material goods be distributed, and what does a "fair" distribution mean? Arethere moral limits to actions sanctioned by individual or collective consent? From what perspective( s) should political judgments be made, and from what source does a judgment gain its authority? These questions are discussed as we read late 20th-century political works by Rawls, Nozick,Walzer, Dworkin, and Nagel.

Credits:

4.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.bard.edu

Phone Number:

(845) 758-6822

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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