Political and Social Philosophy

3 Units

Justification of social institutions, primarily political ones. Such distinctions as that between de facto and legitimate authority; analysis of criteria for evaluation, such as social justice and equality; inquiry into theories of justification of the state; theory of democratic government and its alternatives. Readings from classical and contemporary sources. Recommended preparation: PHIL 101 . Offered as PHIL 334 , POSC 354 , PHIL 434 , and POSC 454 .