Type of Credit: Elective
Credit(s)
Number of Students
This course examines the continuing relevance of one of the greatest or most influential figures in the history of modern political philosophy, namely Thomas Hobbes. To do so, it examines the answers his work Leviathan suggests to various central questions that arise in reflecting on political life such as the scope of sovereign power, the legitimacy of the modern state and the relationship between religion and politics.
能力項目說明
Our main goal will be to understand the philosophers’ view and arguments. This project may well also help us as we re-think about the nature of state, sovereignty and politics in general today.
| 教學週次Course Week | 彈性補充教學週次Flexible Supplemental Instruction Week | 彈性補充教學類別Flexible Supplemental Instruction Type |
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Requirements:
Participation (30 %)
Midterm exam (30 %)
Final exam (30%).
While there are several editions of Leviathan available, I recommend this one: Hobbes, Thomas 1994. Leviathan. (ed.) E. Curley, Indianapolis, Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company.
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Week |
Topic |
Content and Reading Assignment |
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1 |
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Introduction to Hobbes’s Leviathan Presentation arrangements |
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2 |
Human nature |
Leviathan. Part I: Of Man, Introduction, ch. 1-4: 3-22. |
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3 |
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Leviathan ch. 5-7, 22-37. |
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4 |
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Leviathan ch. 10- 12, 50-74. |
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5 |
State of nature |
Leviathan ch. 13- 15, 74-100. |
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6 |
Sovereign state |
Leviathan. ch. 16 -19, 101 – 127. |
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7 |
Natural liberty & Equality |
Leviathan. ch. 20 -21, 127 – 145. |
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8 |
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Leviathan. ch. 22 - 24, 146-165. |
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9 |
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Midterm exam |
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10 |
Skinner’s Hobbes |
Liberty before liberalism, 1-57. |
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11 |
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Leviathan. ch. 25 - 26, 165-189. |
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12 |
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Leviathan. ch. 27 -28, 190-210. |
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13 |
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Leviathan. ch. 29-30, 210-233. |
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14 |
Theology |
Leviathan. ch. 39-41, 314-333 |
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15 |
Of Power Ecclesiastical 論教會權力 |
Leviathan. ch. 43-44. Sec.9, 397-415. Leviathan. A Review and Conclusion, 485-497. |
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16 |
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Final exam |
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17 |
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TBA |
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18 |
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TBA |
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Grading is based on participation (30%), Midterm exam (30%) and final exam (40%)
Hobbes, Thomas 1994/ Leviathan. (ed.) E. Curley, Indianapolis/Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc..
Quentin Skinner, Liberty before Liberalism. Cambridge University Press.