Class History of Political Ideas and Theories

The social, cultural, geopolitical, and ideological turbulence that affects peaceful relations between citizens of (complex) contemporary societies requires that Political Science and International Relations students develop the capacity for critical and informed thinking about the political quality of ideas, doctrines, and ideologies disseminated in the public sphere. In this context, the knowledge provided by the curricular unit of History and Theory of Political Ideas, from Classical Antiquity to Contemporaneity, can contribute to mitigating the effects of ideas, theories, and doctrines that threaten the well-being of the citizens of these (complex) societies.

Not applicable

  1. Brief introduction to the history of ideas. 2. Rule of law (human, divine, natural, and spontaneous) vs. rule of men. 2.1. Rule over free human beings vs. rule over enslaved human beings. 2.2. Who should rule? 2.2.1. One: monarchy, tyranny, authoritarianism, totalitarianism. 2.2.2. A few: oligarchy, aristocracy, kakistocracy. 2.2.3. All: democracy (direct, representative, participatory, and populist). 3. The place and role of liberty: individual liberties vs. collective liberties; liberty of the ancients vs. liberty of the moderns; positive liberty vs. negative liberty. 4. Contractualism: Hobbesian, Lockean, Rousseauian, and Rawlsian. 5. The distribution of property: nature and problems of distributive justice. 6. Contemporary political issues: rights of minorities, nature, and future generations; digitalization of politics; wars, nationalism(s), and populism(s).  

Theoretical classes with the presentation of syllabus contents through excerpts from texts from the bibliography. Theoretical classes will be organized by thematic content according to the program, with the direct involvement of students expected through debate on those contents. The evaluation process comprises two alternative modalities: continuous or through an exam. In the continuous assessment, the weighting value of the three elements is as follows: 45+45% - two written tests. 10% - class participation: this may include preparing short written comments on the content taught in each class. The exam will consist of a written test. Certification of the grades may require an oral examination.

Goldhill, S. Amor, sexo e tragédia, a contemporaneidade do classicismo. Trad. Maria da Graça Caldeira, Aletheia Editores: Lisboa, 2006, ISBN: 989-622-033-6. Platz, J. Theories of Distributive Justice. Who Gets What and Why. New York: Routledge, 2020. Queiroz, R. Liberdade. Lisboa: Almedina, 2024.  Ryan, A. On Politics. A History of Political Thought from Herodotus to the Present. Allen Lane: United Kingdom, 2020.  Sófocles. Antígona. Trad. Maria Helena da Rocha Pereira. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian: Lisboa,1997.   Walzer, Michael. A luta por Uma política Decente. "Liberal" como adjetivo. Lisboa: Gradiva, 2023. ISBN: 978-972-31-1180-4