PHI204: Political Philosophy: From Aristotle to Locke
Key details
| Accredited towards | Bachelor of Arts in the Liberal Arts |
| Unit type | Core unit |
| Credit points | 6 |
| Indicative contact hours | 3 hours per week |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Offered in | Semester 2 |
| Tuition fee | Learn more |
Overview
Political philosophy studies the human person as a social animal who seeks a life in common with others and forms families, households, cities, and states ordered to a common end. An overarching theme of the unit will be the striking contrast between the virtue-oriented approach characteristic of premodern political philosophy, in Aristotle and Aquinas, and the individualist, rights-oriented approach to politics characteristic of the ‘Early Modern turn’ in political philosophy in the thought of Hobbes and Locke. Works studied may include Aristotle’s Politics, Aquinas’ On Kingship; Summa theologiae I-II.90–97, selections from Hobbes’ Leviathan, and Locke’s Second Treatise on Government.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit of study, students will be able to:
- Understand and explain a range of ideas and systems of thought within the study of political philosophy
- Analyse the contributions of Aristotle, Aquinas, Hobbes, Locke and other thinkers in the field of political philosophy
- Identify and analyse key similarities and differences between the authors studied, particularly in relation to the early modern changes in political philosophy
- Develop and express a coherent, extended philosophical argument in written form
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