Spokane Public Library is excited to pilot a new mini-course in political philosophy\, led by our Current Affairs Sp ecialist\, Shane Gronholz\, who holds a PhD in philosophy.
\nTaking place each Wednesday in September\, this course will delve into the founda tional questions of political philosophy. Each class is designed to stand alone\, so you can gain valuable insights even if you're unable to attend all sessions.
\nIn his role as Current Affairs Specialist\, Shane fr equently reflects on the nature of our political disagreements and the sta te of civic dialogue. He posits that many of these disputes stem from diff ering underlying political philosophies. While understanding these philoso phies may not resolve all disagreements\, it can foster a deeper understan ding and appreciation of perspectives different from our own.
\nThe central question we'll explore is: Where does the authority of the governm ent come from? The government makes a lot of rules about who gets to do wh at. Governments have told people whom they can marry\, what drugs they can take\, how much they have to pay in taxes\, what rights have to be respec ted (and which ones do not)\, and much\, much more. Our question is simply : why do they get to do that?
\nThis is a fundamental inquiry in pol itical philosophy\, and your answer to it can significantly shape your vie ws on what the government is entitled to do. Join us as we unpack this que stion and explore its far-reaching implications.
\nIn our inaugural session\, we'll delve into the social contract theory\, a pivotal concept in political ph ilosophy that has profoundly influenced the formation and understanding of government\, particularly in the United States.
\nThe social contra ct theory posits that individuals consent\, either implicitly or explicitl y\, to surrender some of their freedoms to an authority in return for the protection of their remaining rights. This idea has been instrumental in s haping the principles of governance and political obligation\, and its ech oes can be found in the writings of the framers of the U.S. Constitution.< /p>\n
However\, like all theories\, social contract theory is not withou t its critics. After introducing the key tenets of social contract theory and discussing influential thinkers such as Thomas Hobbes\, John Locke\, a nd Jean-Jacques Rousseau\, we'll shift our focus to the critiques. We'll e xplore arguments that challenge the theory's assumptions about human natur e\, consent\, and the role of government.
\nThis critical approach w ill allow us to examine the theory from multiple angles\, deepening our un derstanding of its strengths\, weaknesses\, and implications for our under standing of government and society. Because this is such an influential an d well-developed theory\, we will devote our first two classes to studying and discussing it.
\nJoin us as we critically engage with this foun dational theory in political philosophy.
\nBy \;attending librar y programs\, you are agreeing to potentially appear in photos/videos taken at our locations that may be used in promotional materials including soci al media.
\nWe strive to make events welcoming for people of all abi lities. To request accommodations (i.e. hearing assistance\, ASL requests\ , or other ADA inquiries)\, call the library at 509-444-5308.
\n \nhttps://spokanelibrary.libnet.info/event/9018456 URL;VALUE=URI:https://spokanelibrary.libnet.info/event/9018456 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR