Overview

The study of the history of political thought is not merely a subject of antiquarian historical interest, but is appealed to in the work of nearly all political philosophers. The great texts of the past define the problems of political philosophy, inspire new solutions to those problems and offer resources for contemporary political thinkers. However, this raises serious issues about the status and appraisal of historical texts. How should we go about recovering their meanings? Should writings of past political thinkers be studied as historical documents, or as philosophical texts which may be analysed apart from their historical setting? What are the advantages and problems of both approaches? Can the question be resolved, or should we be eclectic in our methods of study of political thought? This course offers recognised research training in methodological approaches to historical texts. We consider (among others) the approaches of RG Collingwood, Michael Oakeshott, Quentin Skinner, John Pocock, Hans Georg Gadamer, Leo Strauss and Michel Foucault. Students are also encouraged to think about the political implications of these approaches.

Convenor: Dr Jon Parkin

Autumn Term

Module guide

• Approaches to the History of Political Thought (PDF , 109kb)