Summer Timetable

POL381H1F L0101

Topics in Political Theory

Secularism: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives

Themes

This survey course considers the topic of secularism in founding texts of political thought as well as in contemporary formulations. It focuses on the arguments and principles for understanding and assessing the relationship between religion and politics in public life. The first part of the course concentrates on key modern thinkers (Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, Marx and Weber) in order to trace the historical and philosophical foundations of modern secularism. In the second part, the focus shifts to contemporary perspectives (Rawls, Habermas and Taylor) that revisit earlier formulations and to others that are critical of modern secularism (Asad, Connolly, Nandy and Chatterjee). The final part of the course looks at some contemporary cases such as the headscarf issue and Sharia law in which secularism is put to the test.

Texts

Selections from Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, Marx, Weber, Rawls, Habermas, Taylor, Asad, Connolly, Nandy and Chatterjee.

Format and Requirements

Participation (15%); mid-term (25%); final essay (2700 words) (30%); final exam: (30%).

Prerequisites

POL200Y1 or POL200Y5 or (POLC70H3 and POLC71H3)