298. Experimental course
Major Political Concepts II: Power and the State
Power represents the central concept of politics. Since politics has to do with the ways in which we make ourselves, power is constitutive of who we really are, and become. Therefore, we need to know about the natures of power and the State to be able to bring consciousness, rationality and responsibility to the political processes of making ourselves and our society.
Non-Western Political Thought
Far from being a homogenous system, non-Western political philosophy portrays a host of diverse ideas of man, society, truth, good and power. Like its "Western" counterpart, "non-Western" political thought has historically evolved in response to the socio-political exigencies of time. Having this fragmentary nature in mind, we begin this course with an evaluation of the very dichotomy of western vs. non-western traditions of thought. Then, we trace the historical and intellectual exchanges between select branches of each tradition and inquire into medieval and contemporary Islamic political thought. Perhaps, the recent world-wide resurgence of political Islam and its growing importance in international and domestic affairs fully account for this choice. The "eastern" philosophy of non-violence and its relevance for the current world shape our second area of concern.
Finally, we will specifically investigate a branch of contemporary Islamic political thought that seeks to learn from, and incorporate, Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence, and, in so doing, offer alternatives to both "western-secularist" and "Islamic fundamentalist" political ideologies.
Major Political Concepts: Justice, Freedom and Democracy
It seems that for centuries, justice, freedom and democracy have engaged the minds of political thinkers and won the hearts of us, typical citizens of the world. These ideas help us understand who we are, how we live and why our life can improve. However, do we have a clear perception of what democracy and freedom really are? Does everyone, regardless of all differences among human beings, envision the idea of justice the same way we do? If yes, then what is that consensual notion of justice? If the answer is negative, can we really "justify" anything?