PHIL 411: Strategies of Action in Political Philosophy

Number of Sections: 1 | Day and Time: M & W (15:20-17:00 ICT)

Course Description

This seminar explores power, disobedience and strategies of resistance across a range of philosophical perspectives and historical contexts. The course focuses on four main thinkers: Sun Tsu, Friedrich Nietzsche, Hannah Arendt and Byung-Chul Han. Their positive, affirmational and productive approaches to oblique strategies of political action are complemented by readings from Foucault, Deleuze, Hakim Bey and Francoise Jullien. Additional readings will support contemporary resistance and disobedience case studies, including Occupy Wall Street, the Arab Spring, the Hong Kong Umbrella Movement, and Earth First! activism. Students will analyze ideas, but more importantly will work to develop them into collective strategies and tactics, using philosophies of resistance and disobedience to transform thought and urge communities into constructive action.

Prerequisites:

PHIL 201: Intro to Political Philosophy