PPR426:Political Theory and Modernity: Order, Value, and Critique

Objectives

How can we understand the role of the political in modernity? This module explores the idea of the political through reading some work of the seminal thinkers of modernity.It calls the focus of this examination 'Political Modernity'. This can be understood to be both a tract of time and a way of thinking. Its focus is on persons as critical and rational subjects. In political modernity these subjects find themselves in a world where traditional forms of authority and order are either under question or have broken down. As such, the module understands the political to be intimately connected to philosophical, religious, and social concerns. Therefore, whilst its primary focus is political, the module will be of interest to and complement theoretical investigation in Philosophy, Religious Studies, and allied disciplines.

Structure

The module begins by offering a brief introduction to its main themes (the question of the subject and authority in modernity), before progressing to outline the defining highpoints of modernity and the basis of much of the debate which was to follow (Part A: Kant and Hegel). In Part B we move on to explore the first wave of diverse critique of this highpoint of modernity (Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Marx). Finally, in Part C we have the opportunity to examine the thought of some who have contributed to this debate in the 20th century, and set the problems of contemporary analysis in and of Political Modernity (Schmitt, Arendt, Camus, Foucault, and Derrida).

Select Bibliography

Connolly, W,E., Political Theory and Modernity

Habermas, J., The Philosophical Discourse of Modernity

Toulmin, S., Cosmopolis

Kant, I., 'An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?'

Hegel, G.W.F., Lectures on the Philosophy of World History

Kierkegaard, S., Two Ages

Marx, K., The German Ideology

Nietzsche, F., The Genealogy of Morals

Schmitt, C., Political Theology

Arendt, H., The Human Condition

Foucault, M., 'What is Enlightenment?' and 'Nietzsche, Genealogy, History'

Derrida, J., 'The Mystical Foundation of Authority' and 'Before the Law'.

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