POLSC201-19A (NET)

Modern Political Thinkers

15 Points

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Division of Arts Law Psychology & Social Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Political Science and Public Policy

Staff

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Convenor(s)

Colm McKeogh

Colm McKeogh
9320
J.2.23A
colm.mckeogh@waikato.ac.nz

Lecturer(s)

Administrator(s)

: frances.douch@waikato.ac.nz

Placement Coordinator(s)

Tutor(s)

Student Representative(s)

Lab Technician(s)

Librarian(s)

: jillene.bydder@waikato.ac.nz

You can contact staff by:

  • Calling +64 7 838 4466 select option 1, then enter the extension.
  • Extensions starting with 4, 5, 9 or 3 can also be direct dialled:
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    • For extensions starting with 3: dial +64 7 2620 + the last 3 digits of the extension e.g. 3123 = +64 7 262 0123.
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Paper Description

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This course examines the ideas of a number of political thinkers in the modern era: Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel and Marx. The objectives of the course are to introduce students to the history of political ideas in the Western tradition from 1500-1900 , and to help students to think clearly and critically about the ideas of thinkers discussed.

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Paper Structure

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This NET paper is taught through lectures on Moodle and a forum on Moodle for each theorist. The forums are intended primarily for discussion of the ideas and arguments presented in the lectures and reading. They are intended to provide an opportunity for students to improve the important skills of developing and expressing their own ideas.
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Learning Outcomes

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Students who successfully complete the course should be able to:

  • understand some of the principal concerns of modern political theorists;
    • understand their ideas, arguments, and the methods of theorising employed;
    • engage critically with the works of major thinkers.
    Linked to the following assessments:
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Assessment

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There are sixteen pieces of assessment: 6 engagement exercises, 6 glossary exercises and four theorist exercises. The Glossary exercises refer to the following list of terms:

Glossary of terms

Absolute on horseback

Alienation of labour

Banality of evil

City of God

Common good

Contradiction in the social system

Direct democracy

Fortuna

General will

Greatest-happiness principle

Historicity

Intrinsic value of labour

Liberalism

Natural rights

Night-watchman state

Paternalism

Romanticism

Sociality

Sovereign

Tacit consent

Teleology

Timocracy

Torch-bearing nation

The two swords

Unconditional election

Utilitarianism

Veil of ignorance

Virtù

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Assessment Components

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The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 100:0. There is no final exam. The final exam makes up 0% of the overall mark.

The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 100:0 or 0:0, whichever is more favourable for the student. The final exam makes up either 0% or 0% of the overall mark.

Component DescriptionDue Date TimePercentage of overall markSubmission MethodCompulsory
1. Engagement exercise 1
1 Mar 2019
4:00 PM
3
  • Online: Upload to Moodle Forum
2. Glossary exercise 1
8 Mar 2019
4:00 PM
3
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
3. Engagement exercise 2
15 Mar 2019
4:00 PM
3
  • Online: Upload to Moodle Forum
4. Glossary Exercise 2
22 Mar 2019
4:00 PM
3
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
5. Engagement exercise 3
29 Mar 2019
4:00 PM
3
  • Online: Upload to Moodle Forum
6. Glossary exercise 3
5 Apr 2019
4:00 PM
3
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
7. Engagement exercise 4
12 Apr 2019
4:00 PM
3
  • Online: Upload to Moodle Forum
8. Theorist exercises 1 and 2
29 Apr 2019
4:00 PM
32
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
9. Glossary exercise 4
3 May 2019
4:00 PM
3
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
10. Engagement exercise 5
10 May 2019
4:00 PM
3
  • Online: Upload to Moodle Forum
11. Glossary exercise 5
17 May 2019
4:00 PM
3
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
12. Engagement exercise 6
24 May 2019
4:00 PM
3
  • Online: Upload to Moodle Forum
13. Glossary exercise 6
31 May 2019
4:00 PM
3
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
14. Theorist exercises 3 and 4
10 Jun 2019
4:00 PM
32
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
Assessment Total:     100    
Failing to complete a compulsory assessment component of a paper will result in an IC grade
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Required and Recommended Readings

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Required Readings

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Required readings are avalable on Moodle. They consist of extracts from the works of each theorist.
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Recommended Readings

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The Reading List contains many works on each theorists, many of them digitised and available to be read on-line.
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Online Support

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Lectures, lecture notes and extracts are available on Moodle and Panopto. Many works on the Reading List are digitised and available on-line.
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Workload

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The expected workload for this paper is 14 hours per week. There is work to be submitted every week.
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Linkages to Other Papers

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Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Equivalent(s)

Restriction(s)

Restricted papers: POLS201

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