This paper in the history of philosophy has as its primary focus the study of Thomas Hobbes. The focus of the paper will be Hobbes's masterpiece Leviathan. We will study Hobbes in comparison to other social contract theorists of the 17th century, including Spinoza and Locke. We will also be interested in the evaluation of Locke's psychology, ethics, politics and philosophy of religion against contemporary alternatives.
About this paper
| Paper title | Advanced History of Philosophy |
|---|---|
| Subject | Philosophy |
| EFTS | 0.2500 |
| Points | 30 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2026 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $2,090.50 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 36 PHIL points at 200-level or above
- Contact
- michael.lebuffe@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
- Teaching staff
Professor Michael LeBuffe
- Paper Structure
Essential reading each week will be a chapter or more of Leviathan.
Supplementary readings will vary week to week. They will include other works of Hobbes, other 17th-century primary sources, and secondary sources.
Class will include student presentations, lecture and debate.- Textbooks
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan. Edited by Edwin Curley. Indianapolis, Hackett.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will be able to:
- Present, criticise and defend the positions and central arguments of Leviathan
- Demonstrate understanding and correct use of philosophical concepts involved in the paper
- Explain different accounts of the social contract in Hobbes, Spinoza and Locke
- Explain central issues in early modern ethics and moral psychology
- Demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of central course texts
- Use texts effectively in written interpretative argument
This paper in the history of philosophy has as its primary focus the study of Thomas Hobbes. The focus of the paper will be Hobbes's masterpiece, Leviathan. We will study Hobbes in comparison to other social contract theorists of the 17th-century, including Spinoza and Locke. We will also be interested in the evaluation of Locke's psychology, ethics, politics and philosophy of religion against contemporary alternatives.
About this paper
| Paper title | Advanced History of Philosophy |
|---|---|
| Subject | Philosophy |
| EFTS | 0.2500 |
| Points | 30 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2027 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 36 PHIL points at 200-level or above
- Contact
- michael.lebuffe@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
View more information on the Philosophy programme's website.
- Teaching staff
- Paper Structure
Essential reading each week will be a chapter or more of Leviathan.
Supplementary readings will vary week to week. They will include other works of Hobbes, other 17th-century primary sources and secondary sources.
Class will include student presentations, lecture and debate.
- Textbooks
- Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan. Edited by Edwin Curley. Indianapolis, Hackett.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will be able to:
- Present, criticise and defend the positions and central arguments of Leviathan.
- Demonstrate understanding and correct use of philosophical concepts involved in the paper.
- Explain different accounts of the social contract in Hobbes, Spinoza and Locke.
- Explain central issues in early modern ethics and moral psychology.
- Demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of central course texts.
- Use texts effectively in written interpretative argument.