History 397CR - ST-The Corporation in History

Corporations pervade our lives, whether as our employers; producers of goods and services for our consumption; or as the subjects of significant debate over their impact upon governments, markets, and societies. This seminar places this debate in the context of the deeper conceptual and political history of the concept of "corporation," tracing its origins and shifting meanings as both a concept and socio-economic form in philosophical and political history since the medieval period. The course begins by exploring early conceptions of `corporation,? especially in relation to the rise of the joint-stock company. It continues by examining the conceptualizations, critiques, and defenses of `corporation? by political and economic thinkers since the Enlightenment. The course concludes by charting two key developments in modern thought on the corporation that have since proved central to contemporary discussion: the idea that corporations are people; and that they bear some responsibility to society. How did the meaning and form of "corporation" change over time, and why? Throughout, we will critically engage with an array of primary and secondary sources, aiming to develop better grounds for our own views on modern corporations and their social role.