I found this course fascinating. It explained a lot of history and politics that never quite made sense without an explanation of the Enlightenment in particular.

My only comment is that it is very dense compared to other Corsera courses I have done. I think it could have easily been divided into more than one course as there was so much in it. I know that Ian said that there were other topics for which he could have run a whole course, however I think it could have been sufficient for me to have done the whole course on the enlightenment and then another on other topics.

Thank you Ian

It is very well done. It touches all the political theories but that is it, it just touches them. It is still worth taking and you will also learn which one of the theories you can relate to.

This is one of the outstanding courses on Political Philosophy and Practice and the best starter for the beginner in the field.

The content is relevant and interesting but could be more linked to today's time. The videos are not engaging which makes it very hard to follow the lectures. A changing style or more expert interviews would have been nice.

In video discussions distract from the message. I'd prefer to be able to listen to the instructor talk about what he knows, rather than be forced to sit through fumbled questions and unrelatable conversations. There is a discussion forum to address people directly that tends to have higher quality conversation as a result. This method of shoehorning students into the video is frustrating and unnecessary.

Mi nombre es Alejandro Alfonzo Abdala y estoy muy agradecido con este curso. Soy un politólogo egresado de la Universidad de Venezuela el cual tuvo que salir del país por la condiciones sociales y políticas que vivimos, cuando llegué a mi nuevo país México, intenté encontrar empleo en mi carrera como analista político pero por la urgencia de necesitar dinero, he tenido que aceptar otro tipo de empleos no relacionados. Sin embargo haber encontrado este curso gratuito fue una oportunidade de volverme a encontrar con lo que más amo que es la Ciencias Política y haber podido aprender y repasar concepto, sin importar cuantas noches deje de dormir temprano para poder terminarlo. Espero con ansias el próximo curso del Profesor Shapiro y espero poder tener el dinero para pagar por el certíficado, de verdad muchas gracias por la dedicación de hacer este tipo de cursos.

My name is Alejandro Alfonzo Abdala and I am very grateful for this course. I am a political scientist graduated from the University of Venezuela who had to leave the country due to the social and political conditions we live in, when I arrived in my new country Mexico, I tried to find employment in my career as a political analyst but because of the urgency of needing money, I have had to accept other types of unrelated jobs. However, having found this free course was an opportunity to meet again what I love most in Political Science and to have been able to learn and review the concept, no matter how many nights I stopped sleeping early to finish it. I am looking forward to the next course of Professor Shapiro and I hope to have the money to pay for the certificate, really thank you very much for the dedication of doing this type of course.

Out of the general conception, especially in the world that I come from, that Morals have no place in politics, I was interested to take this course, and I am thankful that, at least, I can see now, and recognise, that it has always been a goal to seek among all the different traditions' philosophers and theorists. I can also see, that "Wringing politics our of politics" is not possible, and we'll always, as humans, differ in what we think or believe is moral or not, however, this shouldn't in no way, make us accept that unanimously agreed upon values are violated in pursue of political gains. Truth is, no matter how difficult it is to reach sometimes, is always our destination. Thank you Coursera and a hearty thanks to professor Shapiro.

I cannot speak highly enough of this course; Not only it is offered by one of the most prestigious institutions in the world, it is also absolutely deft, student-friendly, elaborate while being simple, thoroughly comprehensive and really covers the ground. The subdued grey theme of the videos, the attendance of learners and the professor engaging with them and its no-sweat quizzes make it one of the most efficient and worthwhile courses on Coursera. The Sterling Professor Ian Shapiro is utterly eloquent and stands on the verge of semi-omniscience as it seems. Do not hesitate to sign up to this course, because it'll be 100% worth it.

Realmente un curso excelente. Para quienes somos apasionados por la política y la administración pública, siempre queda una zona de gris que son las políticas públicas y la razon de ellas. Eso que el Profesor Ian Shapiro nos desarrolló como los fundamentos morales, nos permite en pleno 2020 tener una mejor aproximación a los fundamentos de ellas, qué las motiva, qué se esconde en los discursos y si acaso tal o cual anuncio o acción de gobierno tienen un correlato ideológico-moral o si son meramente desafortunados. Agradezco la posibilidad y los animo a participar! Gracias Yale, gracias Ian Shapiro.

A course that I will definitely go back and watch time and time again. Huge thanks to Professor Shapiro for providing us with such a spectrum of substantial information. As someone who aspires to be a Supreme Court Justice, I can without a doubt say that this course has given me a deeper understanding of not only the foundations of politics ;) but the philosophy and history of it and how we think about decisions, come to a conclusion, and what systems work, what systems don't work, what systems are controversial, etc.

Ian Shapiro se las ha arreglado para mantener un nivel de profundización muy ambicioso siendo a la vez muy ameno y didáctico, claro, entendible para todo el mundo. Ha superado mis expectativas y lo que aprendí aquí hoy lo utilizo en mis clases. Por último, el curso analiza cuestiones sobre las que necesitamos discutir hoy en día en términos de políticas públicas. Sin dudas es un curso valiosísimo que recomiendo hacer, y una muestra de que Coursera cumple cuando promete asequibilidad y calidad a la vez.

Most of the material covered was completely new to me. I found it incredibly interesting to consider very different ways of thinking that have ultimately had some impact on current views. Professor Ian Shapiro gave very engaging lectures and was excellent at recapping and summarising concepts which were at times quite complex. The course was definitely a starting point for me. I would like to continue to learn more about many of the issues and concepts raised.

I'm in the middle of the course but having taken many MOOCs I am already far more engaged in the lectures and discussion. I think the model of having the two students to query works well to make us stop and think about how we might answer the question and to reflect on the logic. I also like the black and white noirish atmosphere of the filming although not quite sure why its like that. I also like the fact that there is reading and not just lecture.

Loved this course. Absolutely worth it. Professor Shapiro is engaging, thoughtful, and clear. He has very deep knowledge of political philosophy and handled student questions/points of confusion really well. I truly feel that my critical thinking skills and ability to understand the rationale of ideologies I disagree with have improved after completing this course.

This is a very beneficial course for any one who would want to understand political dynamics in any society. Philosophers and thinkers who have greatly influenced how present day governments are functioning were substantially discussed. This will help in understanding political and government dynamics in present day situations, especially how democracy truly works.

I just love it! I don't have any political background and sometimes the interpretations made in the course are confusing (I don't mean interpretation in the sense of interpreting some writing or anything like that, rather than the parallelism that is made between contemporary politics and the original principals).

Thanks a lot for making this available!

A superb course. Professor Shapiro breaks down the ideas from key political thinkers to make them accessible to all. Really well explained and a thought-provoking course. The book "The Moral Foundations of Politics" by the Professor is an excellent companion to the course and helps deepen the ideas discussed.

me parecio exelente el curso debido a que pude obtener un enfoque mucho mas amplio sobre la filosofia politica de la que tenia. muchas gracias

It is an excellent course. Amazing teacher who explained complex things using appropriate example. It is worth to have more course from this teacher. Somewhere I felt contents presented in manner that it place some premium to the ideological preference of west in general and US in particular. Echiman Problem was interesting example that teacher employed through out the course. But it could have been offered a balanced view, if teacher used "whiteman" problem i.e. exporting and imposing democracy across the world justifying all kind of violence

Manoj Joseph, India

It is said that "prior knowledge on politics is not required" for this course but I believe that it is better for one to have some basic knowledge on the various philosophers and basic political terms before starting on this course. I did not read up on any political material before advancing into this course and there were a few times I got stuck and had a hard time understanding what was happening.

However, it has been an informative course for me and I have completed this course with more knowledge on politics now! :-)

I had no prior knowledge about any form of politics or political sciences at all, before I engaged in this course, only the utmost basics, such as Utilitarianism and Kantianism. I understand that the course stated right in the beginning that no prior knowledge was required at all to progress through the course. However, I've struggled quite a little trying to comprehend all the terms Professor Shapiro was using. Therefore, I still think that this course is more of an advanced course rather than the very basics.

Professor Shapiro is an extraordinary teacher. His ability to clarify some fairly opaque readings is impressive. I suggest his next book should be "Pareto for English Majors."

That said, the online course needs to be updated. There's a handful of anachronisms in the video lectures and in the office hours videos. For example, to hear in 2020 that Kenneth Arrow is still living gives one pause. He died in 2017. The credibility of the entire project is thus undermined.

I did not participate in the forums once I figured out that the office hour discussions, at least some of them, were not responses to real time course participation. I expect better from Yale!

Iam unable to submit assessment and there is no one responding when I ask questions about assignment in groups

I don't recommend it

The course "Moral Foundations of Politics," offered by Coursera, provides a comprehensive exploration of the philosophical underpinnings of political thought. It covers a range of theories from the Enlightenment to contemporary discussions, including utilitarianism, Marxism, social contract theory, anti-Enlightenment thought, and the role of democracy. Through a blend of lectures, readings, and quizzes, students engage deeply with the material and develop a nuanced understandings of political morality. One of the strongest aspects of the course is its broad coverage of different political theories. The course dives into the works of influential thinkers such as John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Immanuel Kant, and modern theorists like John Rawls and Robert Nozick. For instance, the discussions around social contract theory effectively contrast Hobbes' bleak view of the state of nature as "nasty, brutish, and short" with Locke's more optimistic perspective on natural rights and government. The course encourages students to critically engage with complex and often competing ideas. The quizzes, such as those on Anti-Enlightenment politics and democracy, push students to understand and articulate different philosophical arguments. For example, understanding Alexis de Tocqueville’s concerns about the "tyranny of the majority" and James Madison's worries about factions in a democracy illustrates the nuanced challenges faced by democratic systems. The course does an excellent job of relating historical philosophical debates to contemporary political issues. The section on Rawls vs. Habermas, for example, highlights ongoing debates about the nature of justice and political legitimacy, showing how these theories can be applied to understand current political structures and conflicts. The quizzes and assignments are designed to reinforce learning and stimulate critical thinking. They cover a wide range of topics and ensure that students not only recall factual information but also apply and critique philosophical ideas. For instance, analyzing Nozick's minimal state theory and its implications for individual rights and state functions fosters a deeper understanding of libertarian perspective. While the course covers a broad range of topics, some areas might benefit from more in-depth exploration. For example, the discussion on the practical implications of different democratic theories could be expanded to include more case studies or contemporary examples. This would help students see the direct impact of philosophical ideas on real-world politics. While the lectures and quizzes are informative, the course could benefit from more interactive elements such as discussion forums, live Q&A sessions, or peer-reviewed assignments. These additions would provide students with opportunities to engage with each other and the instructor, enhancing their learning experience. Providing additional reading materials or multimedia resources could help students who want to delve deeper into specific topics. Annotated bibliographies, video interviews with contemporary philosophers, or links to relevant articles would be valuable additions to the course content. As a student of this course, I found it immensely enriching. The structured approach to examining different moral foundations of politics helped clarify my understanding of complex political theories. The course's emphasis on critical thinking and application of theories to modern contexts was particularly beneficial. For instance, grappling with Rawls's concept of the "veil of ignorance" and his Difference Principle provided a robust framework for thinking about justice and fairness in society. Similarly, examining Nozick's arguments against redistributive justice challenged my preconceptions about the role of the state and individual rights. The course also highlighted the enduring relevance of classical theories. Tocqueville's insights into the potential dangers of majority rule and Madison's concerns about factions resonate strongly with current political dynamics, demonstrating the timeless nature of these philosophical debates. Overall, the "Moral Foundations of Politics" course is a highly valuable educational experience. It equips students with a solid foundation in political philosophy, encourages critical analysis, and connects historical ideas to contemporary issues. With a few enhancements to depth and interactivity, the course could be even more impactful. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in understanding the moral and philosophical foundations that underpin political systems.