History of Social Thought

The lecture offers a study of historical roots of sociology before the discipline got its name. It orders of the pre-sociological thought and shows its contemporary application in social sciences. Pre- sociological thought is shown as important not only for its contribution to the development of knowledge and seeking for the truth but also for creating the identity of sociology as a discipline. The lecture covers European social thought from ancient times to XIX century.

The seminars are based on a discussion over the most important and influential original texts devoted to social issues which is supposed to get the students familiar with earlier analyses of society and help to develop their sociological imagination.

Students 1) gain basic knowledge of history of sociological thought

from ancient times to the beginnings of sociology as a discipline, 2) understand social roots of analyzed concepts and ideas and their importance for particular societies, 3) are able to apply conceptions they learnt about to explain the contemporary phenomena and evaluate them; are able to analyze the most important texts that constitute social history thought.

Becker C. L., Państwo Boże osiemnastowiecznych filozofów, Poznań 1995; Becker H., Barnes H. E., Rozwój myśli społecznej od wiedzy ludowej do socjologii, cz. 1, 2, Warszawa, 1964, 1965; Szacki J., Dylematy historiografii idei, Warszawa 1991; Szacki J., Historia myśli socjologicznej. Wydanie nowe, Warszawa 2003; Voegelin E., Nowa nauka polityki, Warszawa 1992.

Stary Testament (Księga Powtórzonego Prawa); Platon, Państwo; Arystoteles, Polityka; Św. Augustyn, O państwie Bożym; T. Morus, Utopia; N. Machiavelli, Książę; T. Hobbes, Lewiatan; J.J. Rousseau, Umowa społeczna; Monteskiusz, O duchu praw.