Political philosophy has been a fruitful and prolific discipline specially since the publication
of John Rawls’s A Theory of Justice, in 1971. This course analyses the main concepts,
debates, and ideas in contemporary political philosophy from classical debates about political
authority to open disagreements about how to achieve a society of equals.
To do so, the course is divided in three main parts: part one introduces and discusses
political authority, legitimacy, and political obligation; part two focus on discussing the
concept of justice and egalitarian responses such as equality of opportunity, equality of
outcomes, and social or democratic equality; finally, the third part introduces and discusses
gender equality and discusses the value of democracy, is democracy justified for its
consequences, is it justified for other values? What is the relation, if any, between equality
and democracy?
Introductory readings include Adam Swift, Political Philosophy: a beginner's guide for
students and politicians (Cambridge: Polity Press 2013); and Will Kymlicka, Contemporary
Political Philosophy: An Introduction (OUP, 2001). Both books are available at CEU Library
and as ebooks through access to CEU Library.
- Instructor: Cristina Astier