Proseminar: Political Philosophy
SYC 501 Political Philosophy
Spring 2018-2019 Monday 9:30-12:30 FEB ITB Seminar Hall B4-317
Office: # B4-320 Dept. Humanities and Social Sciences, FEB
Office Hours: Thursday 09.00-1300 Phone: 285 7277, email:
Course Description
The course provides a comprehensive survey and analysis of the greatest works of political philosophy in the Western tradition. Its mode of instruction will be based on both lecture and class discussion. It focuses on the explication, analysis and comparison of key texts. It explores the meaning of some basic theoretical concepts of politics and it traces how those concepts of politics have been understood in philosophical and historical contexts. It also investigates some questionscentral to political philosophy using the ideas and arguments of political thinkers. Typical questions are: Who are we and how shall we live together? What are nature of justice, freedom, and equality? What is meant by the term “state”? What is the justification for an authority of state? What should the relationship be between the individual and the state? How should we envision the relationship between ethics and politics? What is a just society? What constitutes a good citizen? What is the relationship between order, authority and freedom? What rules should govern the political community?
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course students will:
- Able to describe and identify historical philosophical theories that contributed development modern political models.
- able to generate and describe the ideals "good society" drawing from the thoughts of political philosophers
- demonstrate knowledge of key political philosophers and concepts over time
- able to read and interpret carefully, write and speak clearly, and think crically and analytically about political problems
- gain a critical understanding of some of the most important issues and theories
- able to think more critically and reflectively about the nature of political concepts
- understand the changing meaning, nature and scope of political concepts
Course Requirements
Attendance:
Both attendance in class and participation in class are required. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class.It is the responsibility of student to be sure that his/her attendance has been recorded. You are allowed maximum twounexcused absences; but, please note that every absence will have a negative effect on your grade. Students with three or more unexcused absences will receive a grade of FF(FAIL). Additionally, if you have a documented emergency or illness you must provide me with documentation. This will result in an ‘excused’ absence. In the case of illness or an emergency, official documentation must be provided to grant an excused absence. However, in the case of chronic illness or personal emergencies, which require prolonged or frequent absences, the student should withdraw from this course and repeat it when circumstances allow for the fulfillment of course requirements.
Participation:
Students should come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings such that class time is not wasted, and we can engage a discussion of the reading material together. Class discussion will be conducted intermittently at appropriate breaks during the lectures and presentations. Each student is expected to contribute to the discussions, and thus each student is expected to be prepared to ask questions and discuss main ideas of the assigned readings on each day, and whether or not the student is presenting that day. In this context, the role of instructor is to catalyze the discussions, try to explain the political themes to students, and help them see specific relations between what they are reading and their own rising research interests.
Oral Presentation:
Students will also be responsible for doing presentations of the readings at least one time during the semester. Presentations should briefly summarize and analyze conceptual positions and main philosophical arguments of the assigned readings. Nevertheless, the main part of presentation will be critical discussion of the viewpoints raised by the assigned readings
Book Review:
The book review must be no longer than 2000 words, double-spaced with a 12-point font, and conform to APA style. The choice of book for your book review should not be in required reading list of the course. The book review provides the opportunity to examine and explicate a philosopher’s specific work. It contains combination of both summary and analysis of the text. It should not consult any sources other than the text student is reviewing. Here is suggested structure of book review:
- First part should provide a brief description of content and purpose of the work.
- Second part identify main thesis and arguments of the work
- Third part should summarize the major ideas, themes, concepts and arguments of the text.
- Fourth part should critically evaluate and assess strengths and weaknesses main arguments of the text
- Final part should state main political insights that emerge from writings of the text
Term Paper:
Each student is required to write a research paper on examining a specific topic area related to political philosophy. Student can tailor the paper to your own research needs; it may address any themes or topics we deal with in class or critical exposition of any other subject that falls under the field of political philosophy. Term paper should be 5000-6000 words long, double-spaced with a 12-point font, and conform to APA style. The paper must consult philosophical journals and books for scholarly writing relevant to research subject.
Plagiarism in ITU, as in many educational institutions around the world, is treated as a serious academic offence. According to the definition given in the Oxford Compact English Dictionary, plagiarism is "to take the work or idea of someone else and pass it off as one’s own” To copy sentences, phrases or even expression of an idea without acknowledgement of the source is plagiarism; to paraphrase without reference and copying other students' work is the same plagiarism. Therefore, no student shall, with intent to deceive, submit the words, sentences, phrases of another person as his or her own in any assignment submitted in the course.
Grading:
Student performance will be evaluated as follows
Term Paper 50%
Presentation 15%
Review 20%
Class Participation 15%
Main Texts:
Readings will be drawn from Classics of Moral and Political Theory (New York: Hackett Publishing Company 2006) edited by Morgan, Michael L. and Political Philosophy: the Essential Texts (Oxford, 2005), edited by Steven M. Cahn, in addition to selections of primary texts reproduced in a course packet.
The following are also useful introductions
Boucher D. and Paul Kelly (2009) Political Thinkers from Socrates to the Present. (Oxford, Oxford University Press.)
Dryzek, J., Honig, B. and Phillips, A. (eds.) (2006) The Oxford Handbook of Political Theory (Oxford, Oxford University Press).
Farrelly, C. (2004) Introduction to Contemporary Political Theory (London, Sage).
Gaus, G. (2000) Political Concepts and Political Theories (Boulder: Westview press).
Gaus, G. and Kukathas, C. (eds.) (2004) Handbook of Political Theory (London, Sage).
Goodin, R. and Pettit, P.(eds.) (1993) A Companion to Contemporary Political Philosophy (Blackwell, Oxford).
Kymlicka, W. (2001) Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Introduction (Oxford, Oxford University Press).
McKinnon, C. (2008) Issues in Political Theory (Oxford, Oxford University Press)
Swift, A. (2006) Political Philosophy: a beginners' guide for students and politicians (Cambridge, Polity)
Tully, James (2002) "Political Philosophy as a Critical Activity", special edition, Political Theory, 30, 4 pp. 533-556.
Wolff, J. (2006) Introduction to Political Philosophy (Oxford, Oxford University Press)
Course Mechanics
Week One
Introduction: What is Political Philosophy?
JAMES TULLY (2002) "Political Philosophy as a Critical Activity", Political Theory, 30, 4 pp. 533-556.
Week Two
PLATO:
Euthyphro;
Apology;
Crito;
Phaedo (114d-118a);
Republic
Week Three
ARISTOTLE:
Nicomachean Ethics.
Politics (Bk. I; Bk. II, 1-5, 9; Bk. III; Bk. IV, 1-15, 16; Bk. Vii, 1-3, 13)
Week Four
AUGUSTINE
The City of God
AQUINAS:
Summa Theologica(I–II, Q.90. 1–4, Q.91. 1–4, Q.94. 1–6, Q.95. 1–4, Q.96. 1–6;
II–II, Q.40. 1, Q.42. 2, Q.66. 1–2) 463
Disputed Questions on Virtue [abridged] (On the Virtues in General, 1–9, 13;
On the Cardinal Virtues, 1–2)
Week Five
CICERO
On the Republic
On the Laws
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI I: Letter to Francesco Vettori; The Prince; Discourses (Bk. I. 1-2; Bk. II, 1-2, 20, 29; Bk. III, 1, 9).
Week Six
THOMAS HOBBES: Leviathan (Introduction, Pt. 1-2, Review and Conclusion).
BARUCH SPINOZA
Theologico-Political Treatise
Week Seven
JOHN LOCKE
Second Treatise of Government
Letter Concerning Toleration
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Gettysburg Address
Second Inaugural Address
ALEXANDER HAMILTON and JAMES MADISON
The Federalist Papers
Review paper due
Week Eight
DAVID HUME
A Treatise of Human Nature
Of Parties in General
Of the Original Contract
ADAM SMITH
The Theory of Moral Sentiments
The Wealth of Nations
Week Nine
JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU
Discourse on the Origin of Inequality
Of the Social Contract
IMMANUEL KANT
Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals
Week Ten
JEREMY BENTHAM
Principles of Legislation
JOHN STUART MILL
Utilitarianism
On Liberty
The Subjection of Women
Week Eleven
KARL MARX and FRIEDRICH ENGELS
Alienated Labor
On the Jewish Question
Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844
The German Ideology
Manifesto of the Communist Party
A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy
Socialism: Utopian and Scientific
Week Twelve
JOHN RAWLS
A Theory of Justice
ROBERT NOZICK
Anarchy, State, and Utopia
Week Thirteen
MICHEL FOUCAULT
Power/Knowledge
VIRGINIA HELD
Non-Contractual Society: A Feminist View
MARTHA C. NUSSBAUM
The Feminist Critique of Liberalism
ELIZABETH CADY STANTON
The Solitude of Self
Week Fourteen
JOHN DEWEY
Democracy
JÜRGEN HABERMAS
Three Normative Models of Democracy
On the Internal Relation Between the Rule of Law and Democracy
CHARLES TAYLOR
Atomism
Term paper due
Extra Readings: Documents and Addresses
PERICLES: Funeral Oration
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
THE DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN AND OF THE CITIZEN
THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS