International Relations and Political Philosophy
Dr. David Lorenzo
Office: 271305
lorenzo@nccu.edu.tw
2939-3091 x51305
Overview
This seminar explores discussions of international relations from a selection of works in
political philosophy drawn mainly (though not exclusively) from the Western tradition. It
focuses on understandings of human nature, the character of the state, understandings of
power relations, the nature of war, descriptions of international political economy and
considerations of the role of ethics and morality in the conduct of international diplomacy
and decisions regarding war. It also explores the philosophical origins of liberal, Marxist
and realist theories.
Objectives
1. To grasp the various ways in which international relations, including such topics
as war, balances of power, the nature of international hierarchy and the state, have
been understood in the larger political science literature.
2. To understand how various ways of thinking about international relations have
their roots in philosophical understandings of human nature, the state and
economics.
3. To understand the similarities and differences among various philosophical
treatments of international relations.
4. To explore more deeply various ways of thinking about the state and
conceptualizing its place in international relations.
Requirements
a. A five page paper, due the week of November 10, which outlines a question or
problem arising from the ideas of a particular philosopher. Worth 25% of total
grade.
b. A fifteen page paper, due at the end of the term, which addresses some broad
question arising from the writings of one or more of the philosophers under
discussion. Worth 60% of total grade.
c. Attendance and in-class discussion. Worth 15% of total grade.
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Class Schedule:
Week of September 15: Introduction
Week of September 22: Sun-tze and Lord Shang
The Art of War and The Book of Lord Shang
Week of September 29: Thucydides,
The Peloponnesian War (1.21-3, 2.34-46 (Funeral Oration), 2.50-54 (The Plague), 3.3649 (The Mytilenian Debate), 5.84-116 (The Melian Dialogue).
Week of October 6: Plato and Aristotle:
The Republic (Books II-IV), The Laws (Book 1) and The Politics (Books 1, 3 and 7)
Week of October 13: Augustine and Aquinas
The City of God (Bks I, IV, VI [sections 17-24], XIX [sections 11-17]), Summa
Theologica (II-II, Q 40; II-II, Q 64, articles 6-8)
Week of October 20: Machiavelli
The Prince (chapters 1-3, 5-6, 8-9, 15-19, 21, 24-26), The Discourses (I.2-14)
Week of October 27: Vitoria and Erasmus
De Indis De Jure Belli, Dulce Bellum Inexpertis
Week of October Nov. 3: Hugo Grotius and Samuel Pufendorf
The Law of War and Peace, On the Duties of Man and Citizen
Week of November 10: Thomas Hobbes
Leviathan (chaps 13-14, 17-18, 21)
Week of November 17: John Locke
Second Treatise (chaps. 1-3, 7-9, 16)
Week of November 24 J.J. Rousseau
The State of War, Second Discourse on the Origins of Inequality
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Week of December 1: Edmund Burke,
Reflections on the Revolution in France
Week of December 8: Immanuel Kant
Perpetual Peace, Essay on Theory and Practice
Week of December 15: G.W.F. Hegel:
The Philosophy of Right (III.iii.a.i-III.iii.c [paragraphs 272-360])
Week of December 22: V.I. Lenin
Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism
Week of December 29: Michael Walzer
Just and Unjust Wars
Week of January 6: John Rawls
The Law of Peoples
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