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WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?Philosophy is the activity of rationally reflecting on our most fundamental

beliefs. Fundamental beliefs are those beliefs that ground other beliefs that we have about the world. Examples of fundamental beliefs:

The world existed before I was born. (implicit belief)

The earth is flat. (false belief)

The right thing to do is to look out for yourself. (moral belief)

“In philosophy, the concepts with which we approach the world themselves become the topic of enquiry. A philosophy of a discipline such as history, physics, or law seeks not so much to solve historical, physical, or legal questions as to study the concepts that structure such thinking, and to lay bare their foundations and presuppositions.” – Simon Blackburn

Philosophy of language: Is “language” the same as “thought”? What is the relationship between what we say and the world? What makes a sentence true or false?

Philosophy of science: What is the scientific method? What constitutes a good scientific theory? What is the relationship between observations made in an experiment and a theory?

WHAT IS POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY?“politics” – OED: the activities involved in getting and using power in

public life, and being able to influence decisions that affect a country or a society. It is derived from the Greek word, polis, which was an ancient form of an independent city-state. The word polis has also given us other words, such as

polite – policy – police

Political philosophy is the “reflection on the nature of human community and government, and relations between the collective and the individual.”

Political philosophy is closely related to ethics, which asks what the good life is for someone to follow. Since not very many people believe that the good life is to be lived alone, the question thus arises of how one is to live a good life with others. The relationship [bet. political philosophy and ethics] is important because one’s political philosophy naturally stems from one’s ethical beliefs.

Utilitarianism: “Political institutions should secure the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people!”

Deontologist: “Since duties are the basis of morality, the state should create institutions that protect our rights and that allow us to fulfil our duties.

IN THIS COURSE

This course will focus on the abovementioned activity of political philosophy as a reflection on:

the nature of human community and government (what is the correct form of government?)

relations between the collective and the individual (what are the extents and limits of individual freedom and state power?)

What are some of your own philosophical beliefs about politics?

What is “the state” and what does it do?

What should an individual (not) be allowed to do? What is the extent of individual freedom?

Is there anything the state should be allowed to do that an individual should not?

CONTENT OF THE COURSE

The two questions of the nature of the state and the relationship between the state and the individual will guide us as we engage with some of the major philosophers in the field of political philosophy.

The philosophers we’ll be focusing on this term are Aristotle, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, John Stuart Mill and a couple of contemporary proponents of African political philosophy as represented by Kwame Gyekye and Kwasi Wiredu.

This course is based exclusively on primary texts!

There is no prescribed textbook, but you will have to print copies of the readings.

Since reading primary texts in philosophy is very difficult, we will do some reading together in the lectures. Be sure to always bring your readings with you to lectures!

COURSE STR

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ADMIN

STRUCTURE OF THE COURSECompulsory tutorials in weeks 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 at the Philosophy department (B Ring 6).

Sign up for tutorials at the department.

Lectures on Wednesdays (D1 Lab K009) and Thursdays (D Les 103).

Tutorial Assessments: 40% of your semester mark!

Due Thursdays before 12:00 at the Philosophy department (mistake in study guide)

First assessment is due 12 February by 12:00.

Semester Test: 30%

You only have two opportunities to write. If you miss both, there is no additional opportunity.

Term Essay: 30%

You have five options to choose from. Pick one and submit a hard copy before 12:00 on Thursday 5 March (note that this is before the lecture).

Pick and essay and start working on it. Speak to your tutor and make appointments at the Writing Centre (D Ring 3).

COURSE RULESBe respectful

Listen to others’ views and take them seriously

Do not arrive late for lectures or tutorials

Don’t be distracting by speaking or using cellphones

Treat your tutors with due respect

Show pride in your work and your university

Second year is much harder than first year, and Philosophy is much harder than other humanities subjects, and UJ Philosophy is at an international standard

If you fall behind with your work, you will get swamped and most likely fail

If you consistently work hard and struggle through the work and pass, then you will have accomplished what very few people are able to do

Communicate promptly with your tutor or lecturer if there is a problem

If a problem or issue is left too late, then it eventually becomes irresolvable

Tutorials and lectures are compulsory

But please don’t attend them if you don’t want to be there

NEXT LECTURE

In your next lecture we will start with Aristotle’s Politics.

You need to read:

Book 1: Sections 1-7; 12-13

Book 3: Sections 5-12; 17-18

Read the Benjamin Jowett translation available online.