What is the purpose of government? Why should we have a State? What kind of State should we have? Even within a political community, there may be sharp disagreements about the role and purpose of government. Some want an active, involved government, seeing legal and political institutions as the means to solve our most pressing problems, and to help bring about peace, equality, justice, happiness, and to protect individual liberty. Others want a more minimal government, motivated, perhaps, by some of the disastrous political experiments of the 20th Century, and the thought that political power is often just a step away from tyranny. In many cases, these disagreements arise out of deep philosophical disagreements. All political and legal institutions are built on foundational ideas. In this course, we will explore those ideas, taking the political institutions and political systems around us not as fixed and unquestionable, but as things to evaluate and, if necessary, to change. We will consider the ideas and arguments of some of the world’s most celebrated philosophers, including historical thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Mary Wollstonecraft, and John Stuart Mill; and more contemporary theorists such as Elizabeth Anderson, Isaiah Berlin, Thomas Christiano, Frantz Fanon, Amy Gutmann, Friedrich Hayek, Robert Nozick, Martha Nussbaum, Julius Nyerere, Ayn Rand, John Rawls, Peter Singer, and Kok-Chor Tan. The aim of the course is not to convince you of the correctness of any particular view or political position, but to provide you with a deeper and more philosophically-informed basis for your own views, and, perhaps, to help you better understand the views of those with whom you disagree.
CP
This course actually helped me understand the vast ideologies of various political thinkers in a brief way. Thanks to the creator who made learning fun and easy.
MS
This course has broaden my knowledge in the role of the state to promote the welfare of its citizen. This is a course everyone must take.
J
It's really a challenging and worthful course that each and every graduate and post graduate must go through.
DE
Great course! The lectures are very clear and the reading material is adequate for the learning goals.
RC
Complete the reading portions in entirety. Although it will be a long journey, it will open up your mind to a diverse set of ideas.
RT
excellent. instructor has great teaching presentation. natural teacher. one of the better ones I have had on coursera.
CD
Very understandable lessons, interesting, and fun course
SR
This is very helpful that give thinking philosophers's view and also make us to think with open mind . Thanks a lot
SR
Wonderful course, very detailed and analytical. Learnt a lot.
JO
Very well organized and presented.Lectures could be livelier and use examples tied to everyday life.Assignments should be more demanding and require some creativity.
AK
Good Course for those who need to know the purpose of government or state and its role.
JJ
The course is understandable and awesome. Got a lot of knowledge by this online platform.
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that was really helpful and thanks from coursers for outstanding opportunities
Me sorprendió el curso, es necesario organizar el tiempo ya que se realizan muchas lecturas y en este caso es necesario distribuir las lecturas correspondientes de la semana para realizarse con calma, el contenido es excelente PERO tiene un gran problema, la plataforma ofrece el curso gratuitamente, no dan opción en comprar el certificado, si ustedes quieren obtener un certificado por haber tomado este curso es mejor que busquen otro, si lo que ustedes buscan es conocimiento, bienvenido.
For someone who has little knowledge about the the different theories on utility, justice, equality, and freedom, I really gained a lot from this course! The lessons and activities really challenged my thinking and reasoning. Thank you so much!
Great reflexions on democracy
Robotic. Mind-numbing presentation. Useless quizzes. Comes across like a GPT-3 generated course.
Very good
Very helpful to have better idea how important topics are defined from different schools and point of views.
It was an excellent course. Many concepts and theories were new to me, thus broadening the horizon of my understanding on Utility, Justice, Equality and freedom to a new level. The assignments especially has made me think on these subjects and expeess a personal view. The peer review has helped me understand the others perspective on the subject
I like how convenient it is for us especially that I am still a student in a university and I didn't really have to struggle managing this course.
Wonderful course to understand these great ideas.
THANKS FOR GIVING CHANCE SUCH LIKE THIS
Content was great. Readings, videos and discussion forums where above many other courses I have taken. Some room for improvement would be to look at new solutions to age old problems. Also, maybe a socio-economic focus shift from political rights to economic rights. From my personal experience all over the world freedom is directly related to money. So, if we all had more of it we would all be more free. Things like guaranteed income or basic higher minimum wage. Also, duty vs responsibility could have been more addressed. Or more importantly what are they and why are they important, for example should we rely on donations of the super rich to keep cultural arts or should we rely on government or communities. Maybe that would be an extension to this course but important nonetheless. All in all, great course to take.
This is one of the most thought provoking courses that I have taken in quite some time. [The last one was on Sustainability for my MS in Environmental Science about five years back.] This subject of "Why do we need a state?" should be essential for any well-informed voting citizen of any government. I have added this subject to my continuing hobbies list of things to keep studying. Excellent course. I highly recommend it!
Hi
I have just finished studying revolutionary ideas: benefit, equality, justice and freedom. Can I obtain a certificate proving that I have finished the training course?
Excellent course and well taught. Builds up the foundation for the basic question why should we have a state?
Hello everyone
I would like to thank coursear for this course and in particular the instructor
nice explanation sir. thank you
excellent. instructor has great teaching presentation. natural teacher. one of the better ones I have had on coursera.
It's really a challenging and worthful course that each and every graduate and post graduate must go through.
Great course! The lectures are very clear and the reading material is adequate for the learning goals.