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Professor Marion Smiley 110 Humanities Center

Department of Philosophy Phone: (617) 547-8447

Brandeis University email:

Spring 2018

Philosophy 112A/Social Contract and Its Critics

Philosophy 112A explores how moral and political philosophers have used social contract theory over the centuries to justify particular ways of organizing moral, political, and economic life. The first two parts of the course are devoted to a critical reading of the social contract theories of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau, as well as those of contemporary philosophers of property, human rights, and global justice. The third part of the course delves into critical perspectives on these theories from across the political spectrum: conservative, liberal, and radical. In general, the course zeroes on both the logic of the social contract as a justificatory trope -- Is it circular? – and the various ways in which the social contract can (or cannot) be used to ground particular values and practices, e.g., individual freedom, rights, private property, peace, social justice, religious toleration, the rule of law, political equality, national boundaries, and global governance.

Learning Goals/ Students will be expected to garner a deep understanding of key works in the history of moral and political philosophy; to develop critical perspectives on these works; and to hone persuasive (clear and logically sound) arguments of their own.

Course Requirements/ Two 6-9 page papers and a final exam. Class attendance is mandatory. Oral participation is highly valued.

Work Load/ Success in this 4-credit course is based on the expectation that students will spend a minimum of 9 hours of study time per week in course preparation.

Grading/ The two papers and the final exam will be weighted equally for purposes of grading. The instructor reserves the right to raise a student’s final grade on the basis of significant improvement in writing over the term and/or quality of oral performance.

Required Books: The following required books can be purchased at the Brandeis University Bookstore.

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan.

John Locke, Second Treatise.

J. J. Rousseau, Basic Political Writings.

John Dewey, The Public and Its Problems.

The remaining course readings will be distributed as part of a course packet (CP).

NOTE: If you are a student with a disability on record at Brandeis and would like to be accommodated, please speak with me after class or in my office.

READINGS

NOTE: Class discussion will focus on the works associated with each date. Hence, you will need to read each work by the date cited.

Jan. 10: Introduction.

Jan. 17: Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, Chapters 10-16.

NOTE: Since you have a week to read these chapters and since we are meeting to discuss those listed below the very next day, you would do well to get ahead in the readings, i.e., get started on Chapters 17-22.

Jan. 18: Hobbes, Leviathan, Chapters 17-22;

Jan. 22: Hobbes, Leviathan, Chapter 26-31.

Jan. 24: John Locke, Second Treatise, Sections 1-7.

Jan. 29: Locke, Second Treatise, Sections 8-10; 15-16; 19.

Jan. 31: Carole Pateman, “Women and Consent” (CP).

Feb. 7: J. J. Rousseau, Discourse on Inequality.

Feb. 12: Rousseau, Social Contract.

Feb. 14: Lynda Lange, “Women and the General Will” (CP).

Feb. 26: John Rawls, selections, Theory of Justice (CP).

Feb. 28: Thomas Nagel, “Rawls on Justice” (CP);

Ronald Dworkin, “The Original Position” (CP).

March 5: Michael Sandel, selections, Liberalism and the Limits of Justice (CP);

Christine de Stefano, selections, Configurations of Masculinity (CP).

March 7: C.B. MacPherson, selections, The Political Theory of Possessive

Individualism (CP);

James Sterba, “A Marxist Dilemma for Social Contract Theory” (CP).

March 12: Charles Mills, selections, The Racial Contract (CP).

March 14: David Gauthier, “Why Contractualism?” (CP).

March 19: Charles Beitz, selections, Political Theory and International Relations

(CP).

March 21: Nicole Hassoum, selections, Globalization and Global Justice (CP).

March 26: Mathew Lister, “The Legitimating Role of Consent in International

Law” (CP);

Paresh Kathroni, “Social Contract Theory and the International

Normative Order” (CP).

March 28: Eric Palmer, “Multinational Corporations and the Social Contract”

(CP);

Danny Frederick, “Social Contract Theory Should Be Abandoned” (CP).

April 9: David Hume, “On the Social Contract” (CP);

Hume, Treatise on Human Nature, Book Three, Part I.

April 11: Hume, Treatise, Book Three, Part II.

April 16: .John Dewey, The Public and Its Problems, Chapters 1-2.

April 18: Dewey, The Public and Its Problems, Chapters 3-4.

April 23: Conclusions. Final Paper Due.