CONTINENTAL POLITICAL THOUGHT
Continental political theory is a tradition of thought usually distinguished from 'Anglo-American political theory' and originally associated with French and German writers in the 19th and early 20th century. What it means for humans to be free and what the requirements of a free society are the questions that motivate Continental political thought. Topics include: what it means for humans to live freely; the nature of reason and language; the relationship between politics, reason and culture; the political effects of language and technology; and the competing models of political freedom that result. Covers leading European political theories from the 18th through the 21st centuries and their application to contemporary questions of democratic theory.
Topics
- what it means for humans to live freely
- the nature of reason and language
- the relationship between politics
- reason and culture
- the political effects of language and technology
- and the competing models of political freedom that result
Topics explicitly listed in official catalogue description
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: POLI SCI 160 Course Designation: Core GenEd - Humanities & Arts Breadth - Humanities Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2025 Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate familiarity with the major European political theorists since the 18th century through written essays, quizzes and class discussion. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Practice critical reading and writing skills through analysis of sophisticated philosophical texts in written essays. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Identify and categorize the vocabulary and content of contemporary political theory debates through quizzes and written essays. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Analyze and assess the theoretical roots of contemporary political conflicts in written essays. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Assess and compare the arguments for and against different kinds of political systems in written essays and class discussions. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate familiarity with the major European political theorists since the 18th century through written essays, quizzes and class discussion. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Practice critical reading and writing skills through analysis of sophisticated philosophical texts in written essays. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Identify and categorize the vocabulary and content of contemporary political theory debates through quizzes and written essays. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Analyze and assess the theoretical roots of contemporary political conflicts in written essays. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Assess and compare the arguments for and against different kinds of political systems in written essays and class discussions. Audience: Undergraduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027