answered: What legitimates the use of political power? Who should have

  

What legitimates the use of political power? Who should have authority? Who is sovereign? Who should govern? What form of government/ political regime is best?
Use these philosophers ideas of political power: Max Weber, Michel Focault, Niccolò Machiavelli
In your review you will formulate an interpretation of at least two authors’ answers to your chosen question. You can choose from any of the texts assigned before the due date for the critical review. You will then evaluate their answer in relation to each other, providing some critical insight. Finally, you will use your interpretation and evaluation to argue for your own personal answer to your chosen question.
Your interpretation should mobilise the kinds of evidence discussed in the introductory lecture (textual, contextual, philosophical, and motivational). Your evaluation will also use this evidence to discuss such things as the strengths and weaknesses of an author’s theory, its consistency, etc. Your interpretation and evaluation should also be supported by some further research (i.e. secondary sources). A good place to begin this research is the Cambridge Companion series, which can be accessed online through the library website.
In grading reviews, I will focus on your evaluation and argument for your personal answer to the question. However, the strength of your evaluation and your personal answer is dependent on the quality of your interpretation.
In your evaluation and personal answer I will be looking for systematic thinking. I will also be looking for creativity in your critical insight and more so your own perspective. Remember creativity is not necessarily synonymous with complex, abstract, or unusual.