Political Theory Section: Liberty

Political Science 211

Fall 1996

Prospectus

What is liberty? The focus in this class will be analyzing and understanding a concept, in this case, liberty. It will also emphasize paying close attention to the details of the text and reconstructing its arguments.

Requirements

Conference participation in good faith. One hour in class exam on the last day of class.

Books and Reserves

All the material for this class is on reserve.

J.S. Mill's On Liberty is available in the bookstore. Marx's "On the Jewish Question" can be found in any collection of Marx's writings in the library. The essays by Taylor and Berlin can be found in collections of their essays in the library.

Readings

1. What is Liberty?
2. JS Mill, On Liberty, Chapters 1-2
3. JS Mill, On Liberty, Chapters 3-4

1. Benjamin Constant, "The Liberty of the Ancients Compared with that of the Moderns"
2. Karl Marx, "On the Jewish Question"
3. Karl Marx, "On the Jewish Question"

1. Karl Marx, "On the Jewish Question"
2. Isaiah Berlin, "Two Concepts of Liberty"
3. Charles Taylor, "What's Wrong with Negative Liberty?"

1. Quentin Skinner, "The Republican Ideal of Political Liberty"
2. Charles Taylor, "What's Wrong with Negative Liberty?"
3. In Class Essay Exam