京都大学 京都大学

History of Social Thought

Numbering Code U-ECON00 20303 LJ38
U-ECON00 20303 LJ41
U-ECON00 20303 LJ34 		Year/Term 2022 ・ Second semester
Number of Credits 2 Course Type Lecture
Target Year From 2nd to 4th year students Target Student
Language Japanese Day/Period Tue.1
Instructor name TAKEZAWA HIROYUKI (Graduate School of Economics Associate Professor)
Outline and Purpose of the Course ＜Course Objectives＞
This course focuses on the issues in the history of social thought historically raised in discussions about human self-interest and altruism and the appropriate blance of them, using early modern and modern Britain ─ the formative period of economics ─ as a case study.

(2) Cultivating historical perspectives and theorisations to understand economic and historical phenomena by referring to the classics of social science and the humanities.


The theory is analyzed while identifying the argument of each thinker, attributed as the answer for what they regarded as the great dilemma of their ages.


After a generalized historical background, the argument of each thinker is analyzed while identifying what they regarded as the great dilemma of their age and their prescribed answers to it.


　Based on the introductory course 'Introduction to Economic History and History of Social Thought', the lecture comprises the basic contents of the history of social thought.
Course Goals 1. [Ability for Historical Consideration] Developing the ability to clearly analyze and grasp the values and ideas that greatly have influenced the systems and practices of our modern society.
2. [Ability to read literature] Developing the ability to read literature with advanced content related to the humanities and social sciences.
3. [Ability to write] Developing the ability and skills to clearly describe your own opinions and interpretations base upon facts and text-reading.
4. [Research Ability] Developing the research ability appropriate for bachelor's course students.
Schedule and Contents 1 [Course Guidance]
　(1) History of Social Thought as a set of issues, (2) History of Social Thought and Economics, (3) Society Formation and Pursuit of Profit, (4) Importance of Early Modern Britain

2 [Background: Humans and Society in seventeenth century England]

3 [Thomas Hobbes Part 1]
　(1) Human Nature, (2) Concept of a Contractual Society　　

4 [Thomas Hobbes Part 2]
　(1) Theory of Sovereignty, (2) Private Interest and Public Interest

5 [John Locke Part 1]
　(1) Human Nature, (2) Concept of a Contractual Society　　　

6 [John Locke Part 2]
　(1) Protestant State Ownership and Locke, (2) Labor Value Theory, (3) Colonial Theory

7 [Background: Humans and Society in the early eighteenth century Britain] & [First Midterm Test]

8 & 9 [Bernard Mandeville]
　(1) Is the pursuit of Private Interests evil?　(2) Human Nature, (3) Private Interest and Public Interest, (4) Smith and Social Development

10 [Background: Humans and Society in the late eighteenth century Britain] & [2nd Midterm Test]

11 & 12 [David Hume]
　(1) Human Nature and Social Recognition, (2) Luxury and Commercial Activities, (3) Private Interest and Public Interest

13 [Adam Smith Part 1]
　(1) Human Nature and Social Perception, (2) Sympathy

14 [Adam Smith Part 2]
　(3) Commercial Society, (4) the Adam Smith Problem, (5) James Steuart

15 [Summary & Feedback]
Evaluation Methods and Policy Evaluation as per the course objectives. Basically, 6 or more attendance confirmations, 2 midterm exams, and one final test. Details will be explained in the first class, so be sure to attend.
Course Requirements Students are assumed to be enrolled or in the introductory course "Introduction to Economic History & History of Social Thought" (including parallel courses).
Study outside of Class (preparation and review) (1) Values related to economic phenomena and economic activities vary greatly from culture to culture and era. Students should understand this in concretely through the case of the UK.

(2) At the end of each class, we will present review tasks and prepare the subject for the next class; please use it actively to deepen your understanding of the class.

(3) Please actively read and examine the references distributed in the course guidance, literature to be reviewed in each class, and try to understand the theme of the class in a three-dimensional and multifaceted manner.
Textbooks Textbooks/References 成瀬　治 "近代市民社会の成立" (東京大学出版会) will be used primarily for review. Relevant parts will be indicated in each class.
References, etc. アルバート・ハーシュマン "情念の政治経済学" (法政大学出版局), 今井宏　編 "世界歴史体系　イギリス史２　近世" (山川出版社), 福井憲彦 "興亡の世界史　近代ヨーロッパの覇権" (講談社), 川北稔 "近代システム論講義━ヨーロッパと近代世界━" (ちくま学芸文庫), 川北稔 "イギリス近代史講義" (講談社現代新書), A list of books will also be distributed during class.
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