the Course in Summer 2007

I decided to take the course, Introduction to Political Theory in political science department.
According to course catalog, we will "engage the core arguments of different theorists and come to their own reasoned accounts of political legitimacy." Theorists include Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, Mill, Ghandi, and Barber. And then, we will "examine themes of freedom, equality, democracy, conflict, peace and justice." As a result, we aim at understanding contemporary issues thinking over the way how the theory can apply to it and utilized to modern politics. Therefore, I should do research the main assertion which each theorist such as Plato and Hobbes explained in the beginning for the preparation of the classes. In the end of today's blog, I want to show you brief introduction to theorists as I mentioned above. First, Plato(プラトン) was Greek philosophers. His works on philosophy, politics and mathematics were very influencial. Second, Thomas Hobbes(トマス・ホッブズ) was an English philosophar. And he is today best remembered for his work on political philosophy. Additionally, he made a contribution to several fields like history, geometry, theology, ethics and general philosophy. John Locke(ジョン・ロック) was also an English philosopher. His ideas had great influence on the expantion of epistemology and political philosophy. Then, Jean-Jacques Rousseau (ジャン・ジャック・ルソー) was a Genovan philosopha of the Enlightenment. His ideas influenced the French Revolution, the development of socialist theory, and the growth of nationalism in terms of politics. Edmund Burke(エドマンド・バーク) was Anglo-Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist, and philosopher, who were in the British House of Commons. Next, John Stuart Mill(ジョン・スチュアート・ミル) was Blitish philosopher, political economist and Member of Parliament, was an influential liberal thinker of the 19th century. Lastly, Mahatma Gandhi(マハトマ・ガンジー) was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian Independence movement. In India, he is recognized as the Father of Nation. From the next blog, I want to focus on these philosopher's biography and their main view point of politics.

See you,

Misaki