Course: Introduction to Philosophy of State and Law

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Course title Introduction to Philosophy of State and Law
Course code KPF/B083
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminary
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Šmíd Jan, PhDr. Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
1. Introduction, distribution of topics for presentations 2. Beginnings of the philosophy of law, Greeg tragedy, Polis, sophists, Sokrates 3. Platon, Aristoteles, stoa, Cicero 4. Christianity and the Law, st. Augustin, st. Thomas, concepts "potestas absoluta" a "princeps legibus solutus 5. Renaissance, Reformation and the beginnings of the modern state; the Reichspublizistik, early modern concepts of natural law 6. Classical theory of state and sovereignty in T. Hobbese and J. J. Rousseau 7. Liberal concepts of sovereignty: Locke, Montesquieu 8. The power of the multitude as the core of sovereignty? Harrington, Spinoza, Sieyes 9. The law in the philosophy of German Idealism: Kant, Fichte 10. State as the moral idea: Hegel 11. Positivisms, neokantianism and normativism (Gerber, Jellinek, Kelsen) 12. Antipositivism and the "Methodenstreit": Heller, Schmitt, Smend 13. The legal thinking after 1945 (Radbruch, Dworkin, Hart)

Learning activities and teaching methods
unspecified, unspecified, unspecified
Learning outcomes
In this course, the basic concepts of modern philosophy of law and state will be analyzed. The target is to make a short introduction into the key theories of state in the modern era, since Hobbes to the 20th century. The course will deal with different methodological approaches to the problem of relation between state and law as well as between state and society and their relevance from the perspective of current problems of postindustrial society. We will also analyze concepts of sovereignty and legitimacy and their role in the modern philosophy of state.
Students will get following knowledge: - Use of basic concepts of legal philosophy - Understanding the relation between political and legal philosophy - Understanding the philosophical and theoretical roots of basic legal principles and methodologies
Prerequisites
Understanding the Englis language is a precondition; understanding of German is an advantage

Assessment methods and criteria
unspecified
Active participation at the lessons, presentation, elaboration of an essay, written test
Recommended literature
  • Agamben, G. Homo sacer. Suverénní moc a pouhý život. Praha, 2011. ISBN 978-80-7298-272.
  • Bataille, G. Svrchovanost. Praha, 2000. ISBN 80-238-6231-6.
  • Belling, V. Legitimita moci v postmoderní době. Brno, 2009. ISBN 978-80-210-5081-5.
  • Belling, V. Zrození suveréna. Pojem suverenity a jeho kritika v moderní politické a právní filosofii. Brno, 2014.
  • HEGEL, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich. Základy filosofie práva. Praha, 1992. ISBN 80-200-0296-0.
  • HOBBES, Th. Leviathan. Praha, 2009.
  • Kant, I. Základy metafyziky mravů. Praha, 2014. ISBN 978-80-7298-501-.
  • ROUSSEAU, J. J. O společné smlouvě neboli o zásadách státního práva. Dobrá Voda, 2002.
  • Schmitt, C.. Politická theologie. Praha, 2012.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Social Sciences (Two-Subject Combination) (A14) Category: Philosophy, theology - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Social Sciences (Two-Subject Combination) (A8) Category: Philosophy, theology - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Political Science (Two-Subject Combination) (A8) Category: Social sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Education Study plan (Version): Social Sciences (A14) Category: Philosophy, theology - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Political Science (Two-Subject Combination) (A14) Category: Social sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Social Sciences (Two-Subject Combination) (A14) Category: Philosophy, theology - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Education Study plan (Version): Social Sciences (A14) Category: Philosophy, theology - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Social Sciences (Two-Subject Combination) (A14) Category: Philosophy, theology - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Philosophy (A14) Category: Philosophy, theology - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Human Studies focused Aesthetics (A14) Category: Philosophy, theology - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Social Sciences (Two-Subject Combination) (A14) Category: Philosophy, theology - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -
Faculty: Faculty of Education Study plan (Version): Social Sciences (A14) Category: Philosophy, theology - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -