Fall 2017Prof. Lloyd
Meets: TTH 9:30-10:50, GFS 228MHP 205c
Office Hours: TTH 8:15-9:15 & by
GESM 120: Political Philosophy Meets Reality
Political philosophy investigates how we might design a “realistic utopia”, meaning a just and flourishing society, consistent with our best understanding of human nature, and other practical constraints. When political philosophers get things right, they can spur social improvements. But when well-intentioned ideals clash with persistent human tendencies or material limits, we end up instead with dystopias. This course examines several of the most promising political philosophies from our Western tradition, asks how they have worked out in practiceso far, and uses science fiction to consider what they might entail if they were fully realized.
Course Requirements:
Active informed participation in all class meetings (20%)
First midterm exam Thursday, September 28 (20%)
Second Midterm exam Thursday, November 2 (25%)
Final exam Thursday, December 7, 11-1(35%)
Required Readings:
Plato, Apology
Locke,Second Treatise of Government
Singer, Practical Ethics
Excerpts on Blackboard of works by Rousseau, Marx, Engels, Hobbes, Rawls, Dworkin, Nozick, Bentham, Pope Francis.
Required film viewings roughly every two weeks
Tentative schedule of topics and readings (subject to revision)
Weeks 1&2:Responses to unjust laws;civil disobedience and conscientious refusal
Read: “GESM Readings for the first class” (BB); Plato Apology; Rawls “conscientious refusal” (BB); for week 2Singer Practical Ethics pp. 1-8 & chapter 11; view PoitrasSnowden
Weeks 3&4:Justification of private property
Read: Locke Second Treatise of Government, chapters 1-5 (BB); Hardin “The Tragedy of the Commons” (BB); NozickAnarchy, State and Utopia (BB);view The Island
Weeks 5&6:Economic inequality and exploitation
Read: Pope Francis EvangeliiGaudium; Singer chapter 8; Engels “Socialism, Utopian and Scientific” (BB); view In Time
Week 7: How can we decide on an economic system?
Read: Rousseau The Social Contract, Book I chapt 6, Bk 2, chapt. 1-3, Bk 4, chapt. 2,8 (BB); Rawls on “the original position” (BB); view Danton
Weeks 8&9: Meritocracy and Equality of Opportunity
Read: meritocracy readings (BB); Dworkin “Why Liberals Should Care About Equality” (BB); Rawls A Theory of Justice (BB); view Gattaca
Weeks 10 &11 Maximizing utility
Read: Bentham Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (BB); Singer Practical Ethics, chapter 1; Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale excerpt (BB)
Weeks 12&13 Treatment of Non-humans
Read: Singer chapter5; view StarTrek TNG: “The Measure of a Man”
Week 14 Treatment of the Environment
Read: Singer, chapter 10
Week 15 How should society’s policies be determined? Course review and preparation for the final exam
Course Policies
No recording or streaming of lectures is permitted. Internet posting of course materials is prohibited. Please turn off your phone during class.
There will be no make-up exams, so please record those dates on your calendar and organize your other work around them! No one who has not taken the final exam will receive a passing grade in the course.
Statement on Academic Conduct and Support Systems
Academic Conduct:
Plagiarism – presenting someone else’s ideas as your own, either verbatim or recast in your own words – is a serious academic offense with serious consequences. Please familiarize yourself with the discussion of plagiarism in SCampus in Part B, Section 11, “Behavior Violating University Standards” policy.usc.edu/scampus-part-b. Other forms of academic dishonesty are equally unacceptable. See additional information in SCampus and university policies on scientific misconduct,
Support Systems:
Student Counseling Services (SCS) – (213) 740-7711 – 24/7 on call
Free and confidential mental health treatment for students, including short-term psychotherapy, group counseling, stress fitness workshops, and crisis intervention. engemannshc.usc.edu/counseling
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1 (800) 273-8255
Provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Services (RSVP) – (213) 740-4900 – 24/7 on call
Free and confidential therapy services, workshops, and training for situations related to gender-based harm.engemannshc.usc.edu/rsvp
Sexual Assault Resource Center
For more information about how to get help or help a survivor, rights, reporting options, and additional resources, visit the website: sarc.usc.edu
Office of Equity and Diversity (OED)/Title IX Compliance – (213) 740-5086
Works with faculty, staff, visitors, applicants, and students around issues of protected class. equity.usc.edu
Bias Assessment Response and Support
Incidents of bias, hate crimes and microaggressions need to be reported allowing for appropriate investigation and response.studentaffairs.usc.edu/bias-assessment-response-support
The Office of Disability Services and Programs
Provides certification for students with disabilities and helps arrange relevant accommodations. dsp.usc.edu
Student Support and Advocacy – (213) 821-4710
Assists students and families in resolving complex issues adversely affecting their success as a student EX: personal, financial, and academic. studentaffairs.usc.edu/ssa
Diversity at USC
Information on events, programs and training, the Diversity Task Force (including representatives for each school), chronology, participation, and various resources for students. diversity.usc.edu
USC Emergency Information
Provides safety and other updates, including ways in which instruction will be continued if an officially declared emergency makes travel to campus infeasible. emergency.usc.edu
USC Department of Public Safety – UPC: (213) 740-4321 – HSC: (323) 442-1000 – 24-hour emergency or to report a crime.
Provides overall safety to USC community. dps.usc.edu
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