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Reading Political Philosophy: From Machiavelli to Mill: Track 5

Audio

The history and development of political philosophy has been dominated by many inspirational and radical thinkers. The tracks on this album offer both an introduction and an in-depth insight into the leading theorists in this field and their most important works. In a series of lively and invigorating discussions, leading political philosophers examine canonical texts and seminal thinkers from the Seventeenth to the Nineteenth Century, highlighting their intellectual and cultural impact and the context in which the texts were originally written. This material forms part of The Open University course AA311: Reading political philosophy, from Machiavelli to Mill.

Track 5: Rousseau: Derek Matravers and Timothy O’Hagan

Rousseau and his opinions on liberty are discussed with particular reference to his seminal 1755 text Discourse on Inequality. A wide number of topics including sovereignty, legislators and social choice, is broached.



Tracks in this podcast:

Track Title Description
1 Reading Political Philosophy: From Machiavelli to Mill An introduction to this album. Play now Reading Political Philosophy: From Machiavelli to Mill
2 Machiavelli: Nigel Warburton and Quentin Skinner An in-depth discussion of Machiavelli’s The Prince, including its social, historical and moral context and the book’s continuing relevance to contemporary political thought. Play now Machiavelli: Nigel Warburton and Quentin Skinner
3 Hobbes: Jon Pike and Quentin Skinner Concentrating on the masterpiece Leviathan, Hobbes’ political and social doctrine is defined and considered, along with Hobbes’ thought on the viability of monarchy. Play now Hobbes: Jon Pike and Quentin Skinner
4 Locke: Jon Pike and Jeremy Waldron A wide-ranging discussion of Locke using the Second Treatise as a starting point. Locke’s relationship to liberalism and modern liberal theory is analysed, as well as his relationship to the ‘state of nature’ debate. Play now Locke: Jon Pike and Jeremy Waldron
5 Rousseau: Derek Matravers and Timothy O’Hagan Rousseau and his opinions on liberty are discussed with particular reference to his seminal 1755 text Discourse on Inequality. A wide number of topics including sovereignty, legislators and social choice, is broached. Play now Rousseau: Derek Matravers and Timothy O’Hagan
6 Marx: Derek Matravers and Jonathan Wolff This discussion focuses on the concept of production and labour in Marx’s writings, and the way in which they highlight aspects of fundamental historical materialism, formal equality and the relationship between the state and the individual. Play now Marx: Derek Matravers and Jonathan Wolff
7 Derek Matravers and Gerry Cohen on The German Ideology The German Ideology, Marx and Engels’ 1845 book, is dissected and discussed. The discussion highlights the importance of the book in terms of Marx and the development of his theory of history, the inevitabilities in history, and rights as a moral truth. Play now Derek Matravers and Gerry Cohen on The German Ideology
8 Mill: Nigel Warburton and Alan Ryan This debate analyses Mill’s On Liberty. Arguments are made as to whether the book has a single, viable truth and what it can tell us about choice, freedom of speech and self-development. Play now Mill: Nigel Warburton and Alan Ryan
9 Mill: Nigel Warburton and Janette Radcliffe-Richards This discussion focuses on a feminist reading of Mill, concentrating particularly on his treatise On the Subjection of Women and its relevance to 19th Century society and culture. Mill’s precarious position as an early feminist is discussed in depth. Play now Mill: Nigel Warburton and Janette Radcliffe-Richards

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