Syllabus
Political Philosophy in the Twentieth Century.
Summer School Project,
August 2002
Uzbekistan
Course Description
This course will introduce participants with the ideas of the most significant
and illuminating political philosophers of the twentieth century. The core course
will be focused on political philosophy of Hannah Arendt, Michael Oakeshott,
Friedrich Hayek, Karl Popper, John Rawls, Robert Nozick, and Jurgen Habermas.
The political philosophy of twentieth century was shaped by the particularities of
social structure and the historical events: two world wars, revolutions, the threat to
human values posed by totalitarianism in its various forms, social, economic and
political changes in the second half of century. All of named above philosophers
contributed to our understanding of human, social, political problems that people in
twentieth century were faced with. Chosen political philosophers represent
different approach, different schools and different explanations and evaluation of
what have happened with human civilization in the last century.
Course Objectives
 To provide an introduction of the major ideas of political philosophy in 20 th
century;
 To give the introduction to key figures in the political philosophy;
 To show the diversity of ways of understanding, ideological and scientific
explanations;
 To emphasize the need to think critically and analytically about the various
conceptions and theoretical explanations;
 To learn how can apply philosophical concepts to real situation.
Course schedule
We expect to give this course on the first week of Summer School, two classes per
day, in the format: 1 hour of lecture & 20 minutes discussion.
Introduction. Political philosophy in 20th century.
Hannah Arendt. Classical Republicanism and the Modern World.
Hannah Arendt. The Origins of Totalitarianism. The Human Conditions.
Michael Oakeshott: Rationalism and Civil Association. Rationalism in
Politics.
5. Friedrich Hayek: The Theory of Spontaneous Order.
1.
2.
3.
4.
6. Karl Popper: Critical Rationalism and Open Society.
7. John Rawls: Liberal Justice.
8. Robert Nozick: The Minimal State.
9. Jurgen Habermas: Discourse Ethics and Democracy.
10.Political Philosophy Map.
11.Conclusion: The End of History?
Readings:
1. Michael Lesnoff. Political Philosophers of the Twenties Century.
2. Hannah Arendt. The Origins of Totalitarianism.
3. Hannah Arendt. The Human Conditions.
4. Michael Oakeshott. Rationalism in Politics.
5. Friedrich Hayek. The Road to Serfdom.
6. Friedrich Hayek. New Studies in Philosophy, Politics, Economics and the
History of Ideas.
7. A.Gamble. Hayek: The Iron Cage of Liberty.
8. Karl Popper. Open Society and Its Enemies.
9. John Rawls. A Theory of Justice.
10.Robert Nozick. Anarchy, State and Utopia.
11.Jurgen Habermas. The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere.
12.Jurgen Habermas. Between Facts and Norms.
Developed by:
1. Pauline Johns- Long, Professor, Yale University.
2. Galina Bityukova, CARC