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Yale University

Moral Foundations of Politics

Yale University via Coursera

Overview

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When do governments deserve our allegiance, and when should they be denied it?

This course explores the main answers that have been given to this question in the modern West. We start with a survey of the major political theories of the Enlightenment: Utilitarianism, Marxism, and the social contract tradition. In each case, we begin with a look at classical formulations, locating them in historical context, but then shift to the contemporary debates as they relate to politics today.

Next, we turn to the rejection of Enlightenment political thinking, again exploring both classical and contemporary formulations. The last part of the course deals with the nature of, and justifications for, democratic politics, and their relations to Enlightenment and Anti-Enlightenment political thinking.

In addition to exploring theoretical differences among the various authors discussed, considerable attention is devoted to the practical implications of their competing arguments. To this end, we discuss a variety of concrete problems, including debates about economic inequality, affirmative action and the distribution of health care, the limits of state power in the regulation of speech and religion, and difficulties raised by the emerging threat of global environmental decay.

Syllabus

  • Welcome to Moral Foundations of Politics
    • Welcome to the course. Meet your instructor and learn about the structure of the course and what makes it distinctive.
  • Enlightenment Political Theory
    • This module explores what makes a government legitimate. More specifically, was the Third Reich illegitimate and was Eichmann breaking some kind of higher law here?
  • Utilitarianism: Classical and Neoclassical
    • Classical and neoclassical utilitarianism are examined in this module starting with the historical context. Professor Shapiro then shifts to the contemporary debates as they relate to politics today.
  • Marxism, Its Failures and Its Legacy
    • This module on Marx's Enlightenment theory focuses on the foundations of capitalism theory and its major weaknesses.
  • The Social Contract Tradition I
    • This module looks at classical formulations of the Social Contract Tradition, locating them in historical context, but then shifts to the contemporary debates as they relate to politics today.
  • The Social Contract Tradition II
    • This module looks at classical formulations of the Social Contract Tradition, locating them in historical context, but then shifts to the contemporary debates as they relate to politics today.
  • Anti-Enlightenment Politics
    • This module explores the rejection of Enlightenment political thinking, again exploring both classical and contemporary formulations.
  • Democracy
    • This module deals with the nature of, and justifications for, democratic politics, and their relations to Enlightenment and Anti-Enlightenment political thinking.

Taught by

Ian Shapiro

Reviews

4.5 rating, based on 15 Class Central reviews

4.9 rating at Coursera based on 5572 ratings

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  • Teresa Tse
  • Really interesting course mostly about Political Philosophy but that inevitable reaches economy, Ethics, Justice and other areas of Philosophy. I would really recommend it for all interested in a broad introduction to the basis of Political Sciences…
  • Anonymous
    Engaging and fascinating course touching on history, political philosophy and economics. A good introduction to these challenging topics and a rewarding experience.
  • A very useful introduction to political philosophy that goes through a number of traditions from (and against) the Enlightenment and ending with democracy. It focuses on the traditions, the rationale behind them and the problems with them. The delivery of the material is a little one dimensional, but the basic information is there and there is the opportunity to read further if you wish.
  • Oscar González
    I live in Colombia and I am a law student and I want to learn more about the branch and I know that this free course they are offering will be very helpful for my professional life
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    Estado Apolitico
    Very good course for someone who is beginning learning of the subject ! I'm just know starting taking courses in Political Science, and this course alerted me for many foundations I should learn to understand for the future
  • Profile image for Cláudio Tereso
    Cláudio Tereso
  • Brennan Mccloney
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    Luis Ribeiro
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  • Emma Moretzsohn

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