Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

PY 205 - Social & Political Philosophy


Credit Hours: 3

A historical survey of major trends in social and political thought from Plato to Dewey. Contrasting views of the following issues will be treated: law and the structure of the state; concepts of justice; its relation to political obligation; social contract theories; political utopias; theories of human nature; and civil disobedience and revolution.

Fulfills SUNY General Education – Humanities.

Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • compare and contrast Plato’s and Aristotle’s views on the various possible forms of government;
  • describe the political philosophy of the ideal political leader according to Machiavelli;
  • answer the question: What is the source of legitimate governmental authority?;
  • discuss the importance of Mill’s “harm principle”;
  • outline Gandhi’s theory of non-violent resistance;
  • state and explain the role of Rawls’ “original position”; and
  • state and evaluate Nozick’s critique of Rawls.


Cycles (C, N, S)