Reading Political Philosophy: From Machiavelli to Mill - Audio

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.

Concentrating on the masterpiece Leviathan, Hobbes’ political and social doctrine is defined and considered, along with Hobbes’ thought on the viability of monarchy.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.