The Modern Political Tradition: Hobbes to Habermas

Overview

Without even realizing it, we all use the fruits of political philosophy. From liberty to democracy to community, the terms and concepts originated by political philosophers are ingrained in our global consciousness. Yet many of us have an incomplete picture of how these ideas developed. This course sheds light on Western political and social theory, as well as its influence on modern history.

Guided by an award-winning professor, these lectures reveal how political philosophers created virtual blueprints of action for leaders in response to societal challenges. You’ll gain tools to comprehend the language of politics and understand the evolution of political ideas, addressing democracy, freedom, and distributive justice. Encounter revolutionary figures from Niccolò Machiavelli to Ayn Rand and appreciate the context for various political ideas relevant today.

Video Lessons

01: Origins and Conflicts of Modern Politics

Kick off the course with a discussion of political philosophy’s influence and major concepts like democracy and republicanism.

Length: 35 min

02: Ancient Republics, Empires, Fiefdoms

Delve into the history of politics leading up to 16th-century Europe, focusing on Plato and Aristotle.

Length: 30 min

03: Machiavelli’s New Order

Explore Niccolò Machiavelli’s break from classical virtue politics and his establishment of a new political thought.

Length: 29 min

04: Hobbes, Natural Law, the Social Contract

Learn about Thomas Hobbes’ social contract theory based on moral relativism and a pessimistic state of nature.

Length: 32 min

05: Locke on Limited Government and Toleration

Examine John Locke’s view of the state of nature and the social contract’s impact on modern republicanism.

Length: 33 min

06: Rousseau’s Republican Community

Investigate Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s endorsement of the social contract and his vision for modern civil society.

Length: 32 min

07: Kant’s Ethics of Duty and Natural Rights

Explore Immanuel Kant’s deontological ethics and their significant influence on modern political theory.

Length: 31 min

08: Smith and the Market Revolution

Discover the thoughts of 18th-century thinkers like Voltaire and Adam Smith on commerce promoting liberty and peace.

Length: 32 min

09: Montesquieu and the American Founding

Examine the contributions of Montesquieu and others to the American Constitution and the notion of separation of powers.

Length: 31 min

10: Debating the French Revolution

Dive into the liberal, conservative, and proto-progressive arguments surrounding the philosophical impact of the French Revolution.

Length: 31 min

11: Legacies of the Revolution-Right to Left

Explore the origins of the political terms “right” and “left” and their implications following the French Revolution.

Length: 33 min

12: Nationalism and a People’s War

Understand the rise of nationalism and modern warfare through the philosophical work of Carl von Clausewitz.

Length: 29 min

13: Civil Society-Constant, Hegel, Tocqueville

Examine the contributions of Benjamin Constant, Hegel, and Tocqueville to political theory and republicanism.

Length: 33 min

14: Mill on Liberty and Utility

Investigate John Stuart Mill’s doctrine of individual liberty, his utilitarian views, and their impact on political theory.

Length: 30 min

15: Marx’s Critique of Capitalism

Explore Karl Marx’s vision of communism and its implications for capitalism from the 19th century onward.

Length: 31 min

16: Modern vs. Traditional Society

Learn about the shift from traditional to modern society through the perspectives of Weber, Freud, and Nietzsche.

Length: 32 min

17: Progressivism and New Liberalism

Understand the emergence of American progressivism and its critique of individualism and limited government.

Length: 30 min

18: Fleeing Liberalism-Varieties of Socialism

Examine the various forms of socialism that developed in response to capitalism and their philosophical roots.

Length: 31 min

19: Fleeing Liberalism-Fascism and Carl Schmitt

Investigate the rise of fascism and Carl Schmitt’s critiques of parliamentary democracy and liberal republicanism.

Length: 32 min

20: Totalitarianism and Total War

Explore the philosophical interpretations of totalitarianism in light of World War II and its political spectrum.

Length: 31 min

21: Conservative or Neoliberal-Oakeshott, Hayek

Discover the philosophical underpinnings of neoliberalism and conservatism in the post-WWII world.

Length: 30 min

22: Reviving the Public Realm-Hannah Arendt

Analyze Hannah Arendt’s critiques of modern economics and her call for a return to civic republicanism.

Length: 31 min

23: Philosophy vs. Politics-Strauss and Friends

Examine Leo Strauss’s significant influence on American neoconservatism and his critiques of modernity.

Length: 29 min

24: Marcuse and the New Left

Delve into Herbert Marcuse’s ideas and the emergence of the New Left and its critiques of capitalism.

Length: 31 min

25: Rawls’s A Theory of Justice

Explore John Rawls’ justification of welfare liberalism and questions surrounding distributive justice.

Length: 32 min

26: Ayn Rand, Robert Nozick, Libertarianism

Take a nuanced look at libertarianism and its critiques from figures like Ayn Rand and Robert Nozick.

Length: 32 min

27: What about Community?

Investigate the communitarian critiques of liberalism presented by emerging political theorists.

Length: 33 min

28: Walzer on Everything Money Shouldn’t Buy

Discover Michael Walzer’s alternative to traditional theories of distributive justice.

Length: 30 min

29: Identity Politics-Feminism

Examine the feminist challenge to liberal republican political theory and explore different feminist philosophies.

Length: 30 min

30: Identity Politics-Multiculturalism

Explore how recognizing cultural differences redefines liberal republicanism and the implications for equality.

Length: 30 min

31: The Politics of Nature-Environmentalism

Survey the arguments of the environmental movement and its relationship with liberal republican political theory.

Length: 31 min

32: Postmodernism, Truth, and Power

Explore the postmodern critique on politics, focusing on feminist and multiculturalist theories.

Length: 31 min

33: Habermas-Democracy as Communication

Investigate Jürgen Habermas’s defense of modern republicanism and arguments for liberal social democracy.

Length: 32 min

34: The End of History? Clash of Civilizations?

Assess the implications of global events on the future of liberal republicanism and its applicability worldwide.

Length: 30 min

35: Just Wars? The Problem of Dirty Hands

Revisit the ethics of war and examine Michael Walzer’s version of just war theory in contemporary conflicts.

Length: 32 min

36: Why Political Philosophy Matters

Conclude the course with an exploration of the future of government and the surprisingly common ground Americans share.

Length: 33 min