This course is structured around readings related to some key themes and concepts in political philosophy: authority, democracy, liberty, justice, and so on. Towards the end of the course, we will also address the topic of ethics, particularly as it is relevant to the political questions raised in the course. In examining these key themes, we will also look at some more applied and practically-oriented issues in contemporary political philosophy: is democracy the best we can do? Is “nudging” people into better choices paternalistic? Are multiculturalism and liberalism compatible? Are we responsible for our own health? And so on. The goal is to leave students in a better position to understand what exactly is involved in contemporary social and political disputes.