Poli Sci? Philosophy? Social Theory? I have no idea where this falls

[EndOfOrdinary]

My humanities and politics kid is down the rabbit hole again. We are reading Plato's dialogs and The Republic, talking about how society and government interact, Trump, citizen responsibility, the DNC, electoral college, all that jazz. Along the way, he has somehow discovered Jeremey Bentham's Panopticon and is totally all in about this idea of how it creates a social prison. Well okay then. I have pulled the books 1984, Brave New World, and Foucault's Discipline and Punish. That should hold him for the moment. Thank You Internet!

 

The problem is a larger one than just right now for me. I am completely out of my element.

 

Ds as a younger child was fascinated with ancient myth and the stories a culture tells themselves. He loved deciphering power balances, social heirarchy messages, and cultural norms from these stories. That seems to have now morphed into (developed maybe?) the idea of how societies politially deal with outliers, create order, and self govern.

 

My question is, what kind of sub-heading does this type of thought and study fall into?

 

I know very little about these topics. He is giving me quite the crash course....

[ebunny]

 

Ds as a younger child was fascinated with ancient myth and the stories a culture tells themselves. He loved deciphering power balances, social heirarchy messages, and cultural norms from these stories. That seems to have now morphed into (developed maybe?) the idea of how societies politially deal with outliers, create order, and self govern. My question is, what kind of sub-heading does this type of thought and study fall into?

 

IMhO, Sociology and/or anthropology.

[hornblower]

This is political philosophy, which constitutes the core courses of a PoliSci degree (which is my thing :) ). 

You'll want Thomas Hobbes, JS Mill, Rousseau, John Locke, Marx. 

for a text, consider the recommendations here: http://www.e-ir.info/2012/09/11/student-book-features-four-in-roads-to-political-philosophy/  (disclaimer I haven't read them but the synopsis provided sound excellent & thorough) 

for a free MOOC, try this: http://oyc.yale.edu/political-science/plsc-114



 

[MedicMom]

Political philosophy. It's fascinating, but a rather unuseful degree. Ask me how I know. :)

[madteaparty]

I would say Political philosophy as well. Three New Yorkers ago (I don't know, the one right before the election so brace self) there was a particularly good long piece about the problem of voting.

Oh here : http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/11/07/the-case-against-democracy

Edited December 11, 2016 by madteaparty

[azucena]

Here is another Open Yale course that might be good (I am interested in it, but have not taken it): http://oyc.yale.edu/sociology/socy-151.

 

I would be leery of going into Foucault without a grounding in previous political thought; his is a very grim view of humanity.

[EndOfOrdinary]

You guys are so awesome! Leave it to The Hive to save my bacon again.

[EndOfOrdinary]

This is political philosophy, which constitutes the core courses of a PoliSci degree (which is my thing :) ).

 

You'll want Thomas Hobbes, JS Mill, Rousseau, John Locke, Marx.

 

for a text, consider the recommendations here: http://www.e-ir.info/2012/09/11/student-book-features-four-in-roads-to-political-philosophy/ (disclaimer I haven't read them but the synopsis provided sound excellent & thorough)

 

for a free MOOC, try this: http://oyc.yale.edu/political-science/plsc-114

 

 

I had a feeling it might fall somewhere in there. I snagged a cheapo audible Great Course called Modern Political Tradition: Hobbes to Habermas that looks like a good overview of the big guys. It looks like it might give me some good general info. Amazon is sending me a textbook soon! Thank you for the list. It was very helpful.

[EndOfOrdinary]

Political philosophy. It's fascinating, but a rather unuseful degree. Ask me how I know. :)

Leave it to Ds to find rather useless degrees! First it was Classics (which never really seems to go away) and now this one. He is very interested in becoming a diplomat, so perhaps it might be a useful one along the lines somewhere?

 

Perhaps a PoliSci minor focusing in political philosophy....who knows....

[EndOfOrdinary]

I would say Political philosophy as well. Three New Yorkers ago (I don't know, the one right before the election so brace self) there was a particularly good long piece about the problem of voting.

Oh here : http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/11/07/the-case-against-democracy

To the library!

[EndOfOrdinary]

Here is another Open Yale course that might be good (I am interested in it, but have not taken it): http://oyc.yale.edu/sociology/socy-151.

 

I would be leery of going into Foucault without a grounding in previous political thought; his is a very grim view of humanity.

Thanks for the heads up, my ignorance is definitely showing :) . I can never tell what he is going to find overwhelming. He was reading - and loving - Ayn Rand and Fahrenheit 451 around 7ish, but then had to put away Call of the Wild because it was "too intense." I'll preread it for sure.

[C&W'sMum]

My son, 10, also loved the myths and origin stories when he was younger and has more recently gotten into political theory.  He is particularly fascinated by communism and dictators. In other words, political systems that go wrong or are corrupt.  He is reading 1984 and loves it, and I have taken him to a lecture on the situation in North Korean (very interesting!).  He's an excellent reader and loves history.  He finds lots of resources online, but I'd love any additional suggestions.