Examine how thinkers such as Aristotle, Thucydides and Machiavelli, shaped early ideas of virtue, state power and legitimacy. Explore how these views can be relevant today.
Political and Moral Philosophy
This is a Level 1 course from the Politics and International Relations major, part of the Open Bachelor’s programme. It is worth 6 ECTS and takes place in Term 2 in Lisbon.
Course Summary
This course explores topics in political philosophy focusing on ethics drawing on thinkers like Aristotle, Thucydides, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau and Marx. Furthermore it aims to assess the practical relevance and implications of these philosophical themes via contemporary examples including the post 9/11 US international intervention, Russia’s War against Ukraine and a comparison of Mao’s “cultural revolution” in China with Trump’s current political administration in the US in 2025. The course aims to develop the students’ textual interpretation and close reading of primary philosophical courses, prompt an application of philosophical ideas to contemporary affairs and a comparative analysis of case studies.
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)
| Description | Mapped to Human Intelligence | |
|---|---|---|
| CLO 1 | Interpret major political philosophical texts to explain foundational ideas about ethics and power in their historical and intellectual context | CI3 – Mastery of Theoretical Foundations |
| CLO 2 | Apply core philosophical concepts to assess the ethical dimensions of contemporary political events | CI4 – Mastery in Knowledge Application |
| CLO 3 | Effectively and accessibly communicate philosophical arguments in comparative analyses of historical and contemporary political cases to a wide audience. | SEI3 – Effective Communication |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Weighting of Course Grade | Group Assessment? | Invigilated? | CLOs Mapped | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 | Evaluative – Quiz | 20% | No | Yes | CLO 1 |
| Assessment 2 | Written – Essay | 40% | No | No | CLOs 1 & 2 |
| Assessment 3 | Practical – Case Study | 40% | No | Yes | CLOs 1, 2, 3 |
- Assessment 1 Description: A quiz which involves short answers to brief questions to check early understanding of key thinkers (e.g. Machiavelli, Hobbes) and core philosophical terms.
- Assessment 2 Description: A 1500 word essay in which students should critically engage with relevant literature to answer an exam question. Students are encouraged to use AI to help them research and compose the essay, and the grading for the assignment will be significantly weighted on the students’ use of AI which will be assessed and discussed in the academic tutorial.
- Assessment 3 Description: A closed book, invigilated case study that requires students to apply key theories and readings to an unseen scenario, integrating classical philosophy with contemporary critique. Students will have formative practice for this assignment in groups during the course before this individual assessment takes place towards the end of the course.
Indicative List
of Topics
Study how Hobbes and Locke theorized on sovereignty, the state, law and rights. Explain how these themes are still influencing the contemporary understanding of law and individual rights (equality-liberty)
Interrogate the value and relevance of Marx’s ideas in the contemporary world while exploring the issues of poverty, inequality and social exclusions.
Reflect on the application of political philosophy to contemporary themes (9/11- The War on Terror, Russia- Ukraine War, Mao’s Cultural Revolution and Trumpism), exploring the interplay between: (liberal) idealism and political realism, international intervention and (state) sovereignty. Furthermore consider the implications of ideological mobilisation, populism, truth claims, and ethical disruption to the contemporary political scene.
