Liberty and Equality: Early Modern Political Thought

Catalog description

Addresses key thinkers, texts and concepts that have played an influential role in the development of modern political thought. Students examine what modern thinkers have to say about various political and philosophical topics such as liberty, equality, the state of nature, natural rights, laws of nature, the social contract, democracy, republicanism, popular sovereignty, the purpose and limits of government, the relationship between politics and religion, and the relationship between reason and tradition. Students consider the extent to which these thinkers and their political thought have shaped--and should or should not inform--contemporary political life.