CoursesKey Questions in Political Theory
PSCI 4610

Key Questions in Political Theory

This course is a basic introduction to certain fundamental topics in political theory. It aims to provide students with concepts and ideas by which to more clearly make sense of political reality.

Instructor(s)
  • Jeffrey Green
Semester

Spring 2025

Register
(Approved Wharton requirement sector: Social Sciences and Cross-Cultural Perspective)

In general, the course proceeds by elucidating major distinctions, such as: ancient vs. modern; deontology vs. consequentialism; “Athens” vs. “Jerusalem” (or: reason vs. revelation); thinking vs. knowing; liberalism vs. democracy; sovereign power vs. disciplinary power; being secular vs. being a secularist; politics as subset of morality vs. political responsibility as requiring the transgression of morality; the grounds of legitimate authority (tradition vs. legal-rational vs. charisma); etc. Overall, the course has three goals: (i) to introduce students to alternate approaches to the practice of political theory; (ii) to introduce students to numerous relatively self-contained debates important to contemporary political theorists; and (iii) to address major figures from the history of political thought, with an eye toward explaining what makes them vital to political theorists today.

Grades will be earned on the basis of three 7-page (double-spaced) papers on each third of the class (30% each) and class participation (10%). The course TA/grader, Audrey Jaquiss, will be the primary evaluator of students’ written work.

Key Questions in Political Theory 2025 Provisional Syllabus

Section Attributes
  • NU Sector Society&Soc Struct (NUSS)
  • PPE Public Policy & Governance (APPU)
  • SEAS Social Science (EUSS)
  • Wharton Core Cross-Cultural Perspective: Non-US (WUCN)
  • Wharton UG Core Flex GenEd (WUFG)
Related Content

Other Courses of Interest

EDUC 5437

Interfaith Dialogue in Action

Instructor(s)

  • Steve Kocher

Semester

Spring 2026

Faith, belief, spirituality and religious identity are central to the lives of so many people, and so building understanding about these aspects of life – encompassing the development of our personal convictions as well as our connections to (or challenges with) institutional religion and spiritual community – is essential to understanding our world.  But conversations on these topics can be complicated, confusing, even contentious.  The Interfaith Dialogue in Action course makes space for students of all religious and non-religious backgrounds to engage with one another, reflect together, and learn skills to build dialogue between people with different faith traditions, worldviews, practices, and beliefs.  

 

Learn More
PHIL 2980, Section 301

Failure to Communicate

Instructor(s)

  • Carlin Romano

Semester

Spring 2026

The phrase “failure to communicate” became iconic in American English from the 1967 film “Cool Hand Luke,” in which Paul Newman played a convict who refuses to listen or follow orders. The film raised questions about the multiple ways we understand “failure to communicate” and its consequences. Is it sometimes a decision to resist a presumption, a premise, an interpretation, an argument, a directive from authority? Is it at other times simply a mechanical failure? This course examines “failure to communicate” in multiple cultural areas, among them literature, romance, politics, show business, law, science, war, psychology, philosophy, business, religion, humor and education.

Learn More