Structure of the Curriculum

Social and Political Philosophy (PS)

Course PDF
Social and Political Philosophy (PS)
COURSE OUTLINE
GENERAL
SCHOOLSchool of Economics and Political Science
DEPARTMENTSociology
Level of StudyUndergraduate
COURSE CODE431007
COURSE TITLESocial and Political Philosophy (PS)
Independent Teaching Activities Weekly Teaching Hours CREDIT UNITS
Lectures - Exercises 3 6
TOTAL 3 6
Course TypeGeneral Background
Prerequisite CoursesNo
Teaching and Examination LanguageGreek
THE COURSE IS OFFERED TO ERASMUS STUDENTSNo
Course Webpage (URL)http://eclass.uoa.gr/courses/SOC126/
(2) LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:

  1. recognize in the fundamental philosophical approaches of society and politics
  2. they are aware of the historical formation of philosophical thought
  3. practice reflection and critical interrogation of sociopolitical phenomena
  4. acquire the ability to recognize the distinct identity of social and political theories developed in the modern world
  5. they are aware of the philosophical core of the theories on society and politics
  6. acquire the ability to identify the philosophical stakes involved in social and political theories and ideologies
  7. they are familiar with the basic scientific paradigms for viewing society and politics
  8. analyze the social determinants as well as the autonomy of politics
  9. they possess analytical and synthetic conceptual work required by the philosophical view of society and politics
  10. They are aware of the necessity, as well as the limits, of the philosophical approach to perceptions regarding contemporary socio-political problems, as well as of the problems themselves

General Capabilities

Promotion of unconstrained, broad, critical thinking

  • Formation of democratic consciousness and respect for the diversity of perceptions, attitudes, and cultures
  • Practice in criticism and self-criticism
  • Contribution to the cultivation of an autonomous, responsible, and simultaneously theoretically grounded professional and social attitude
  • Knowledge of the key milestones of philosophical thought
  • Familiarization with the multiple possibilities of approaching historical and social experience
(3) COURSE CONTENT

The course introduces the fundamental philosophical approaches to society and politics which have specifically contributed to the shaping of the directions of sociological thought. Following a brief reference to the Aristotelian origins of Western political thought and the Roman and
medieval era, the conceptualizations of the basic modern paradigms for viewing politics and the state are introduced in relation to the evolution of the corresponding conceptions of natural law and the social contract. The parallel reference to the conceptions of society contained in these paradigms explains the differentiation as well as the close relationship between social and political thought in the modern world. Through, on the one hand, reference to the major milestones of Western thought on society and politics - Hobbes, Rousseau, Locke, Kant, Tocqueville, Hegel, Marx, Mill - and, on the other hand, the examination of the basic philosophical directions that shape the approach to socio-political phenomena - empiricism, rationalism, dialectics, hermeneutics, structuralism - the philosophical understanding of the fields of society and politics is demarcated, as are the different approaches to the relationships between them. The goal is both the acquisition of specific knowledge and familiarity with the functional evolution of philosophical conceptions regarding socio-political phenomena and the possibilities of grasping them. The introduction to twentieth-century political and social philosophical conceptions highlights their importance both for understanding historical developments and for understanding the shaping of sociological thought. The necessarily brief examination of basic contemporary philosophical conceptions, with a particular emphasis on the view of society and politics, contributes to the preparation for addressing current social theories and epistemological paradigms.

(4) TEACHING & LEARNING METHODS – EVALUATION
DELIVERY METHODFace to face
Information and Communication Technologies

Use of ICT in teaching and communication with students

Activity Semester Workload
Lectures 39
Exercises 30
Presentations-Speeches 30
Private study 51
Course Summary 150
Student Evaluation
Process Description Evaluation

Written examination
Evaluation criteria-areas: questions from selected sections of the syllabus, essay questions from the corresponding chapters

(5) RECOMMENDED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Suggested Bibliography

  • Martin Hollis, The Philosophy of Social Science, Critiki, Athens 2005
  • Kosmas Psychopedis, Introduction to Political Science, Potamos, Athens 2010

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