POL ATLAS2026–27All coursesPolitical Theory
POL485H1Term TBA400-level
Topics in Political Thought II

Rousseau’s Social Contract

Political Theory

Political TheoryNot offered in 2026–27
Session
TBATerm TBA
Weight
0.50.5 credit (half course)
Standing
WithdrawnNot offered in 2026–27
Opens onto
0later courses on this list
01

The course

What is the single greatest work of modern political theory? Actually, it’s no contest: Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s On the Social Contract. Janus-like, it looks back on the social contract tradition of Hobbes, Locke, and others, which it perfects, and forward to the epoch of the philosophies of freedom of Kant, Hegel, and Marx, which it initiates.
02

The particulars

Texts

Rousseau, The Social Contract, edition TBA

Format & requirements

We will meet weekly for 3 hours in seminar format. There will be a shorter and longer term paper and a take-home examination.

Prerequisites

POL200Y1/ or POL200Y5 or (POLC70H3 & POLC71H3)

Also listed as

POL2027H1 L0101

03

Pathways

Opens onto

Courses on this list that name this one as a prerequisite.

No course on this list names this one as a prerequisite.

04

Reading the code

POLPolitical ScienceDepartment of Political Science
485400-levelYear of study this course sits in
HHalf course0.5 credit (FCE)
1St. GeorgeDowntown Toronto campus
HSession not setTerm unlisted in this calendar