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HU Credits:
4
Degree/Cycle:
2nd degree (Master)
Responsible Department:
Political Science
Semester:
Yearly
Teaching Languages:
Hebrew
Campus:
Mt. Scopus
Course/Module Coordinator:
Dr. Yiftah Elazar
Coordinator Office Hours:
Teaching Staff:
Dr. Yiftah Elazar
Course/Module description:
The eighteenth-century Scottish philosopher Adam Smith is often perceived as one of the founders of modern economics and fathers of capitalism, but in recent decades, groundbreaking studies have illuminated additional aspects of his work, particularly his moral and political philosophy.
Recent research on Smith presents in a more complex light his conception of a happy modern society, and some researchers have highlighted his criticism of the limitations and dangers of the free market. Whether or not we accept such a reading, it is clear now that Smith’s economic theory was part of an ambitious intellectual project, which sought to to address fundamental questions on moral psychology, ethics, justice, progress, liberty, personal and social happiness, political authority, and more. And whether or not we agree with Smith’s ideas, he deserves to be studied as a major Enlightenment writer whose ideas continue to exert influence in the 21st century.
This seminar offers an in-depth look at Smith’s philosophy, with an emphasis on morals and politics. This is a challenging seminar, in which we’ll delve into Smith’s works and read them closely. We’ll also discuss some of the writers with whom Smith engaged, such as Bernard Mandeville and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and some of the writers who engaged with his work, such as Karl Marx. Finally, we’ll read current research on Smith and see how his complex and elusive thought inspires strikingly different interpretations and worldviews.
Course/Module aims:
To gain insight into the work of one of the most influential thinkers in modernity
To discuss fundamental questions of modern moral and political philosophy
To expose students to recent studies and debates in political thought
To learn how how to conduct research in the history of political thought
Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
To understand some of the intellectual foundations of capitalism and liberalism
To critically read and analyze primary and secondary texts in the history of political thought
To conduct research in the history of political thought
Attendance requirements(%):
85
Teaching arrangement and method of instruction:
Required reading and preparation for each session, discussion in meeting, student presentations in class
Course/Module Content:
Partial list of topics to be discussed - subject to changes:
Smith’s intellectual project, then and now
Smith and Rousseau
The foundations of Smith's moral philosophy
Sympathy and moral imagination
The impartial spectator
The pursuit of wealth
Justice and injustice
The beauty of utility and the force of custom
The character of virtue
Patriotism, good citizenship, and revolution
The development of society and government
Smith's concept of liberty
Justice in the family: women and slaves
The paradox of inequality and wealth
The Adam Smith Problem
Value, Labor, and Power
Wages, poverty, and equality
Capital and productive labor
The unnatural growth of wealth
The critique of mercantilism and the invisible hand
Physiocracy and the system of natural liberty
The duties of the sovereign: military defense and the administration of justice
Education, stupidity, and alienation
Required Reading:
Select sources:
Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759)
Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776)
Adam Smith, Lectures on Jurisprudence [1762-1764]
Bernard Mandeville, The Fable of the Bees (1714, 1729)
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality Among Men (1755)
Additional Reading Material:
See the detailed syllabus, to be published in the beginning of the year
Grading Scheme :
Essay / Project / Final Assignment / Home Exam / Referat 50 %
Presentation / Poster Presentation / Lecture/ Seminar / Pro-seminar / Research proposal 50 %
Additional information:
In the Fall semester, the first two sessions will be held in class, and the rest of the sessions will be held on Zoom.
In the Spring semester, all of our meetings will be held in class.
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