Philosophy 226 - Introduction to Political Philosophy

States are made up of individuals. Yet states have powers that no individuals have. They collect taxes, put us in jail, draft us into the army, and tell us what we can and cannot own. In this course, an introduction to Western political philosophy, we seek to understand what, if anything, could justify the state in wielding such extraordinary power over us. We will pursue questions like: Why should I obey the law? Should the state tax the rich and give to the poor?
Does the state promote freedom, or threaten it? Readings will include works by Hobbes, Locke,
Rousseau, Mill, Rawls, and Nozick.

Limited to 25 students. No prerequisite. Fall semester. Professor Hasan.  (V).

How to handle overenrollment: Priority to majors, then on the basis of seniority and enrollment at Amherst.

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Emphasis on written work, readings, oral presentations, group work, and class participation.