Revolutionary Ideas: Borders, Elections, Constitutions, Prisons from Coursera

What is the purpose of government? Why should we have a State? What kind of State should we have?

Even within a political community, there may be sharp disagreements about the role and purpose of government. Some want an active, involved government, seeing legal and political institutions as the means to solve our most pressing problems, and to help bring about peace, equality, justice, happiness, and to protect individual liberty. Others want a more minimal government, motivated, perhaps, by some of the disastrous political experiments of the 20th Century, and the thought that political power is often just a step away from tyranny. In many cases, these disagreements arise out of deep philosophical disagreements.

All political and legal institutions are built on foundational ideas. In this course, we will explore those ideas, taking the political institutions and political systems around us not as fixed and unquestionable, but as things to evaluate and, if necessary, to change. We will consider the ideas and arguments of some of the world’s most celebrated philosophers, including historical thinkers such as Plato, Hugo Grotius, David Hume, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, and more contemporary theorists such as Michelle Alexander, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Bryan Caplan, Angela Davis, Ronald Dworkin, Jon Elster, John Hart Ely, H.L.A. Hart, Michael Huemer, Andrew Rehfeld, and Jeremy Waldron.

The aim of the course is not to convince you of the correctness of any particular view or political position, but to provide you with a deeper and more philosophically-informed basis for your own views, and, perhaps, to help you better understand the views of those with whom you disagree.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Part II of the Course

An introduction to the course and to some of the fundamental problems in legal and political philosophy.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores legal and political ideas of philosophers like Plato, Kwame Anthony Appiah, and Michelle Alexander

Taught by Alexander Guerrero

Develops philosophical foundations for opinions and supports evaluations of others' views

Covers political institutions and systems with real-world examples, drawing from Aristotle and Montesquieu

Reviews summary

Revolutionary political ideas deep dive

According to learners, this course offers an incredibly insightful and academically rigorous deep dive into fundamental political philosophies. Students consistently praise the phenomenal instructor whose lectures are described as clear, concise, and captivating, making complex ideas accessible. While many find the course challenging but immensely rewarding, some newcomers found the pace a bit too fast and the readings quite heavy, suggesting it benefits those with prior background. A notable point of frustration for some reviewers was the peer assessment system, which was occasionally perceived as unstructured or inconsistent.

Learners should expect significant and dense reading materials.

"The readings were quite heavy, but necessary."

"The sheer volume of reading overwhelming at times. It felt like a university course compressed, which is good for depth, but hard for a self-paced learner."

"It's a challenging course, but if you're prepared for significant reading and deep philosophical inquiry, you'll gain so much."

Course provides a deep, challenging exploration of political concepts.

"This course was truly exceptional, offering a deep dive into fundamental political philosophies."

"It's academically rigorous yet incredibly accessible for those willing to engage with the material."

"The course material is rigorous and demands thoughtful engagement."

The professor's lectures are a universal highlight, offering profound clarity.

"Professor Schapiro's lectures are incredibly insightful and present complex ideas with remarkable clarity."

"Absolutely brilliant! The instructor is phenomenal, making even abstract concepts accessible."

"The lectures are a highlight – clear, concise, and captivating."

Some learners found the peer review system inconsistent and unstructured.

"Some of the peer assessment tasks felt a bit unstructured, but overall, a highly valuable experience."

"The peer review system was frustrating. It felt like I was spending more time grading others' vague responses than learning from my own."

"My only minor critique is the peer-grading, which can be inconsistent, but that's a platform issue, not specific to the course content."

Pace can be fast, requiring supplementary research for novices.

"As someone new to political philosophy, I found some parts moved very quickly without enough foundational context."

"I had to do a lot of supplementary research to keep up, especially with the more nuanced arguments. Might be better for those with some prior background."

"Good overview, but I felt the pace was a bit too fast for beginners."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Revolutionary Ideas: Borders, Elections, Constitutions, Prisons with these activities:

Review basic principles of logic

Show steps

Provides a stronger foundation in logic, which is essential for understanding and evaluating political arguments.

Browse courses on Logic

Show steps

Review the basics of logic, such as syllogisms and fallacies.
Practice identifying and evaluating arguments.

Review key concepts from high school history and government

Show steps

Refreshes students' knowledge of key historical and governmental concepts, providing a stronger foundation for the course material.

Browse courses on History

Show steps

Review key events and figures in American history.
Review the structure and principles of the U.S. government.

Watch video tutorials on course topics

Show steps

Provides an alternative way to learn the course material and reinforce understanding.

Show steps

Find video tutorials for the course.
Watch the tutorials and take notes.
Review the material covered in the tutorials.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Take practice quizzes on course material

Show steps

Helps students assess their understanding of the course material and identify areas where they need additional support.

Show steps

Locate practice quizzes for the course.
Take the quizzes and review your results.
Identify areas where you need additional study.

Read Plato's Republic

Show steps

Provides a foundational understanding of political philosophy and the ideas of one of the most influential philosophers in history.

View Plato: Complete Works Vol 1 (The Republic,... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the text carefully, taking notes on key concepts and arguments.
Summarize the main arguments of each book.
Identify and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of Plato's arguments.
Consider the implications of Plato's ideas for contemporary political thought.

Write a short essay on the role of government

Show steps

Helps students develop their critical thinking and writing skills while exploring a central theme of the course.

Show steps

Brainstorm ideas for your essay.
Research different perspectives on the role of government.
Develop a thesis statement.
Write a draft of your essay.
Revise and edit your essay.

Join a study group to discuss course materials

Show steps

Provides an opportunity for students to engage with the course material in a collaborative and supportive environment.

Show steps

Find a study group or create your own.
Meet regularly to discuss the course material.
Share notes and ideas with each other.
Help each other understand difficult concepts.

Compile a list of resources on political philosophy

Show steps

Helps students organize and synthesize the wealth of information available on political philosophy, making it easier to access and retain.

Browse courses on Political Philosophy

Show steps

Search for resources on political philosophy.
Evaluate the relevance and quality of the resources.
Organize the resources into a coherent list.
Share the list with other students or make it publicly available.

Career center

Learners who complete Revolutionary Ideas: Borders, Elections, Constitutions, Prisons will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Lawyer

Lawyers are responsible for interpreting laws, representing clients, and advising on legal matters. This course would be helpful for Lawyers because it covers topics such as political philosophy, the role and importance of constitutions, and the role of crime and punishment within a political community. These topics are all relevant to the work that Lawyers do, and this course would help them to build a foundation in these areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lawyer

Political Scientist

Political Scientists study the origins, development, and operation of political systems. This course would be helpful for Political Scientists because it covers topics such as political philosophy, the role and importance of constitutions, and the role of crime and punishment within a political community. These topics are all relevant to the work that Political Scientists and this course would help them to build a foundation in these areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Political Scientist

Public Policy Analyst

Public Policy Analysts research, analyze, and evaluate public policies. This course would be helpful for Public Policy Analysts because it covers topics such as political philosophy, the role and importance of constitutions, and the role of crime and punishment within a political community. These topics are all relevant to the work that Public Policy Analysts do, and this course would help them to build a foundation in these areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Policy Analyst

Legislator

Legislators create and pass laws that govern our society. This course would be helpful for Legislators because it covers topics such as political philosophy, the role and importance of constitutions, and the role of crime and punishment within a political community. These topics are all relevant to the work that Legislators do, and this course would help them to build a foundation in these areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Legislator

Diplomat

Diplomats represent their countries abroad and negotiate with foreign governments. This course would be helpful for Diplomats because it covers topics such as political philosophy, the role and importance of constitutions, and the role of crime and punishment within a political community. These topics are all relevant to the work that Diplomats do, and this course would help them to build a foundation in these areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Diplomat

Journalist

Journalists write, edit, and publish news stories. This course would be helpful for Journalists because it covers topics such as political philosophy, the role and importance of constitutions, and the role of crime and punishment within a political community. These topics are all relevant to the work that Journalists do, and this course would help them to build a foundation in these areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Activist

Activists work to bring about social or political change. This course would be helpful for Activists because it covers topics such as political philosophy, the role and importance of constitutions, and the role of crime and punishment within a political community. These topics are all relevant to the work that Activists do, and this course would help them to build a foundation in these areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Activist

Electorate

Electorate vote in elections and can elect representatives. This course would be helpful for the electorate because it covers topics such as political philosophy, the role and importance of constitutions, and the role of crime and punishment within a political community. These topics are all relevant to the work that Electorate do, and this course would help them to build a foundation in these areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electorate

Political Consultant

Political Consultants advise candidates and political organizations on campaign strategy and public relations. This course would be helpful for Political Consultants because it covers topics such as political philosophy, the role and importance of constitutions, and the role of crime and punishment within a political community. These topics are all relevant to the work that Political Consultants do, and this course would help them to build a foundation in these areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Political Consultant

Lobbyist

Lobbyists represent special interests before government officials. This course would be helpful for Lobbyists because it covers topics such as political philosophy, the role and importance of constitutions, and the role of crime and punishment within a political community. These topics are all relevant to the work that Lobbyists do, and this course would help them to build a foundation in these areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lobbyist

Electoral College

The Electoral College elects the President and Vice President of the United States. This course would be helpful for the Electoral College because it covers topics such as political philosophy, the role and importance of constitutions, and the role of crime and punishment within a political community. These topics are all relevant to the work that the Electoral College does, and this course would help them to build a foundation in these areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electoral College

Chief Elections Officer

The Chief Elections Officer oversees the administration of elections in a state or locality. This course would be helpful for Chief Elections Officers because it covers topics such as political philosophy, the role and importance of constitutions, and the role of crime and punishment within a political community. These topics are all relevant to the work that Chief Elections Officers do, and this course would help them to build a foundation in these areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Elections Officer

Law Professor

Law Professors teach law and legal theory at law schools. This course would be helpful for Law Professors because it covers topics such as political philosophy, the role and importance of constitutions, and the role of crime and punishment within a political community. These topics are all relevant to the work that Law Professors do, and this course would help them to build a foundation in these areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Law Professor

Legal Scholar

Legal Scholars write and publish scholarly articles and books on legal topics. This course would be helpful for Legal Scholars because it covers topics such as political philosophy, the role and importance of constitutions, and the role of crime and punishment within a political community. These topics are all relevant to the work that Legal Scholars do, and this course would help them to build a foundation in these areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Legal Scholar

Politician

Politicians hold elected office and make decisions about public policy. This course may be useful for Politicians because it covers topics such as political philosophy, the role and importance of constitutions, and the role of crime and punishment within a political community. This course would help Politicians to build a foundation in these areas and have a deeper understanding of the issues they will face in their careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Politician