Once the knowledge on society had its clear object (social body consisting exclusively of humans); it was framed by a particular scientific discipline concerned with this object (sociology); and it was created, and at the same time, addressed by political forces struggling to reproduce and control it (state). This time, however, is gone. Today, we no longer know for sure whether society exists or not? If still of any use, the knowledge on society is now developed from a post-social experience. This makes now the old theories of society only more important: do they themselves bear the responsibility for today’s decline of the very idea of society?

The course will focus on one particular theory of society—the so-called “social contract theory” that explains the formation of society as a result of a contract or agreement among the individuals who live in this particular society. Although the idea of social contract has its roots in ancient philosophy, the course will discuss one of its most prominent modern versions developed in 18th century by Jean Jacques Rousseau.

Literature:

1. Jean Jacques Russeau, The social Contract

https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/rousseau-the-social-contract-and-discourses

https://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/rousseau1762.pdf

2. John Rawls, Theory of Justice, Revised Edition, Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971/1999

(“The Veil of Ignorance” (118-123), Chapter III. The Original Position, 102-170)

http://www.consiglio.regione.campania.it/cms/CM_PORTALE_CRC/servlet/Docs?dir=docs_biblio&file=BiblioContenuto_3641.pdf

3. Louis Althusser, Lessons on Rousseau, London : Verso, 2019. (selected excerpts – to be uploaded)

Course requirements consist in the active participation and contribution (discursive, textual and performative).

The module grading is based on the mentioned contribution, active in-class participation and

• - submission of written assignments (word minimum of 500 total)
• - presentation/statement (10 min.) to be held during WS 2020.

Students from other faculties or universities will be given a place on the course subject to room capacities.