PLSC 432 - Liberal Democracy and Its Critics

2022-2023 Catalog Year

Credit(s): 3
Lecture: 3
Non-Lecture: 0
This course examines the theoretical foundations of modern and democratic politics as well as the thought of some of its leading critics. We will study authors such as Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Kant, Mill, Tocqueville, Marx, and Nietzsche. We will consider the differing views of these authors on topics such as the character of equality, the origin of rights, the strengths and weaknesses of democracy, the virtues and vices of capitalism, the relationship of science to society, the possibility of enlightenment, and the place of religion in politics.

Prerequisite(s): PLSC 130 or permission of the instructor.
Offered: Once Every Other Year
Program Attribute: PTHY