授業の目的 【日本語】
Goals of the Course(JPN) | | |
|
授業の目的 【英語】
Goals of the Course | | NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE COURSE. 12 LECTURES WILL BE DELIVERED VIA ONLINE PLATFORM (e.g. Zoom). 3 LECTURES WILL BE DELIVERED FACE-TO-FACE. MANY INTERACTIVE OPPORTUNITIES AND LIVELY DISCUSSIONS ARE THE KEY FEATURES OF THE COURSE.
This course is an introduction to political theory and philosophy. Rather than focusing on famous philosophers from the past and present, this course centers on key concepts and questions underpinning our political life, such as: "Are we free enough?", "How can taxation be justified?", "Why do people hate politics?", "Is democracy the best form of governance?", and "How can we define the least advantaged people?" In this course, we will consider these questions in relation to core political themes, including liberty, justice, knowledge, citizenship, democracy, and communication. We will examine how ancient, modern, and contemporary political thought can deepen our understanding of politics. |
|
|
到達目標 【日本語】
Objectives of the Course(JPN) | | |
|
到達目標 【英語】
Objectives of the Course | | Students will gain a substantive familiarity with key concepts underpinning contemporary politics, including freedom, justice, fairness, democracy, and cultural diversity.
Students will also develop a deeper understanding of the major lines of argument and schools of thought within both Western and non-Western political traditions.
Additionally, students may gain a more sophisticated analytical lens through which to discuss various issues associated with contemporary politics, such as freedom of speech, assisted suicide, the right to be "stupid," and the crisis of democracy. |
|
|
授業の内容や構成
Course Content / Plan | | NOTE: * MEANS A FACE-TO-FACE CLASS
Week 1: Introduction—Why we study theories politically and politics theoretically?
Part I: Think Theories Politically—Basic Concepts
Week 2*: Imagination — "The Veil of Ignorance" workshop (Face-to-Face)
Week 3: Freedom—Are we free enough? (Some key conceptions of freedom, Free speech vs. Hate speech etc)
Week 4: Justice—What does a just society look like? (Utilitarianism, Deontology, Libertarianism and Egalitarianism)
Week 5: Money—Markets as life opportuniteis or moral challenges? (Capitalism and Neo-liberalism)
Part II: Think Politics Theoretically—Democracies
Week 6*: Varieties of Democracies—Using visuals to understand the diverse conceptions of democracies
Week 7: The Crisis of Democracies—Which democracy? Which crisis?
Week 8: Democracy and Knowledge—Whose knowledge should be taken seriously? (Political epistemology)
Week 9: Democracy and Communication—What is deliberative mini-publics? (Deliberative democracy )
Week 10: Democracy and Sortition—How should we select better political leaders? (Lottocracy)
Part III: Think Political Theories Practically—Politics Today
Week 11: Good Citizen—Are citizens politically competent enough? (Citizen empowerments)
Week 12: Culture—How to assess different forms of democracies across cultures? (V-Dem, Participedia)
Week 13*: Representation of the excluded—How to represent future generations, non-human etc.? (Face-to-Face)
Week 14: Presentation by students 1
Week 15: Presentation by students 2 |
|
|
履修条件・関連する科目
Course Prerequisites and Related Courses | | |
|
成績評価の方法と基準
Course Evaluation Method and Criteria | | | Grading between A+ to F is based on the sum of 1) class participation and several 'response comments' submitted to email (45%) and 2) final essay (55%). Please refer to the Student Handbook for details of the grading standard and a pass mark. |
|
|
教科書・テキスト
Textbook | | | Key resources will be given in each session, coupled with the URL for Google Scholar etc. Handout shall also be circulated prior to the lecture. |
|
|
参考書
Reference Book | | 1) Simone Chamers (2024) Contemporary democratic theory. Polity (https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Contemporary+Democratic+Theory-p-9781509543397)
2) O'Flynn Ian (2021) Deliberative democracy. Polity (https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Deliberative+Democracy-p-9781509523450)
3) Robert Talisse (2015) Engaging political philosophy. Routledge (https://www.routledge.com/Engaging-Political-Philosophy-An-Introduction/Talisse/p/book/9780415808330?srsltid=AfmBOoqZCAnOrZTlh1RsFwECDzv03zkgFUw0WATJn1Op-za5ihGsYJ3j)
- |
|
|
課外学習等（授業時間外学習の指示）
Study Load(Self-directed Learning Outside Course Hours) | | | Students are expected to review the class content after the lecture. |
|
|
注意事項
Notice for Students | | | NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE-BASED COURSE. ALL LECTURES WILL BE DELIVERED VIA ONLINE PLATFORM (E.G. ZOOM). NO RECORDED LECTURE IS AVAILABLE. |
|
|
授業開講形態等
Lecture format, etc. | | | NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE-BASED COURSE. ALL LECTURES WILL BE DELIVERED VIA ONLINE PLATFORM (E.G. ZOOM). NO RECORDED LECTURE IS AVAILABLE. Prior to each lecture, the lecturer will circulate the link for the online class to students. If you do not receive the link, please let the lecturer know |
|
|
遠隔授業（オンデマンド型）で行う場合の追加措置
Additional measures for remote class (on-demand class) | | | The lecturer will be delivered online, but there is a plenty of opportunities for a student to particiapte in lively discussions with other students and the lecturer. |
|
|