Spring 2015: Dr. Garrison: INQ 260 PS A: the Moral Problem of Politics

Spring 2015: Dr. Garrison: INQ 260 PS A: The Moral Problem of Politics

Roanoke College

Department of Public Affairs

The Moral Problem of Politics (INQ 260 PS A)

Spring 2015

Spring 2015: Dr. Garrison: INQ 260 PS A: The Moral Problem of Politics

Tu/Th 1:10-2:40 p.m.

West 125

Office Hours: Tu, 2:40-3:40, W, 1-2,

Th, 10-11,and by appointment

Dr. Justin D. Garrison
West 121

540-375-5265

Spring 2015: Dr. Garrison: INQ 260 PS A: The Moral Problem of Politics

Course Description

Does morality have a place in politics? Can good people thrive in government and society, or can only people of questionable character dominate? This course is organized around a semester-long inquiry into theoretical and literary sources addressing different aspects of the moral problem of politics. In the course, students will encounter a normative social science framework for addressing the moral problem of politics and for analyzing both politics and literature. Students will complete rigorous writing assignments. Oral presentations on course readings will also be required.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon completing INQ 260, each student will:

Be able to describe and apply the principles and methods of scientific inquiry relevant to the normative study of themoral problem of politics as presented in works of politics and literature.
Be able to write clearly and effectively about the normative study of the moral problem of politics as presented in works of politics and literature.
Be able to communicate effectively in oral format about the normative study of the moral problem of politics as presented in works of politics and literature.
Be able to articulate on exams concepts and ideas related to the normative study of the moral problem of politics as presented in works of politics and literature.

Course Grading

Spring 2015: Dr. Garrison: INQ 260 PS A: The Moral Problem of Politics

Please Vote for Me Paper:10%
All the King’s Men Paper:20%
Oral Pres. 1:5%
Oral Pres. 2: 5%
Exam 1: 10%
Exam 2: 15%
Final Exam:15%
Participation: 20%

Spring 2015: Dr. Garrison: INQ 260 PS A: The Moral Problem of Politics

Grading Scale

The course has a total of 100 points. The final grade scale is as follows: Below 60 = F, 60-62 = D-, 63-67 = D, 68-69 = D+, 70-72 = C-, 73-77 = C, 78-79 = C+, 80-82 = B-, 83-87 = B, 88-89 = B+, 90-92 = A-, 93-100 = A.

Required Readings

Thomas Aquinas, St. Thomas Aquinas on Politics and Ethics,Norton CE, ISBN: 0393952436

Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince, Norton CE, ISBN: 0393962202

Benedetto Croce, Politics and Morals, Kessinger Publishing, ISBN: 1163158704

Robert Bolt, A Man for All Seasons, Vintage, ISBN: 0679728228

William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Simon & Schuster, ISBN: 0743482743

Robert Penn Warren, All the King’s Men, Mariner Books, ISBN: 0156004801

Cormac McCarthy, The Road, Vintage, ISBN: 0307387895

Diana Hacker, A Writer’s Reference, 7th Ed. Bedford/St. Martin’s ISBN: 0312601433

Course Requirements

Reading Guides and Participation:

Course texts will have corresponding reading guides. Guides will contain terms for students to learn through reading as well asquestions for students to consider. All guides will be posted on Inquire under “Reading Guides.”Students will be called upon to provide answers to these questions and descriptions of these terms during class lectures. Substantive class participation, expressing both familiarity with and contemplation of course readings, will be considered in the evaluation of final grades.

Paper Assignments:

This course will have a total of two paper assignments based on questions provided by the instructor. The papers must be uploaded in Word format to Turnitin in Inquireno later than the beginning of class on the due date. Email submissions will not be accepted. Failure to turn in a paper by the beginning of class on the due date will result in a one-third of a letter grade deduction from the paper grade, which will be repeated for every day that the assignment is late, up to three days. A paper more than three days late will be recorded as a zero. The first paper is due on Tuesday, 17 February 2015. The second paper is due on Thursday, 2 April 2015. Essay prompts will be distributed via Inquire.

Oral Presentation Assignment:

Each student will deliver 2five-minute PowerPoint presentations on class readings for a particular date. Each student will be available for questions from the class and the instructor. Presentation content and delivery will be graded. Students who do not present on their scheduled date will have one additional chance to make a presentation. Such “late” presentations will incur a whole letter grade deduction for the particular presentation. Students who make no presentation will earn a zero for the particular presentation. More information about this assignment will be distributed via Inquire.

Exams:

This course will have three exams. The first exam will be given on Thursday, 29 January 2015.The second exam will be given on Thursday, 26 February 2015.A final exam will be held on Friday, 24 April 2015.Each exam will consist of a broad essay question.

Exams may be taken on a date other than that which is stipulated on the syllabus only with the prior approval of the instructor under circumstances he determines to be compelling. The College has established the final exam date, and the exam must be taken on that date.

Attendance:

Attendance of all classes is mandatory and will be taken at the beginning of each class. If you are late to class, it is your responsibility to inform the instructor at the end of class. Otherwise, you will be considered absent. You are expected to be both mentally and physically present for every class. Distracting behavior will generate an absence for that class. 3 absences from class, excused or unexcused, are permitted during the semester. A 4thabsence will incur a 3-percentage point deduction from the final grade. 5 absences will result in dismissal from the course with a failing grade (DF). A DF has a negative impact upon a student’s cumulative GPA. A formal written warning will precede such dismissal.With this in mind, please reserve your quantity of permitted absences for true emergencies.

Quizzes:

Should it become necessary, the instructor reserves the right to give unannounced quizzes. Quiz grades will be incorporated into the participation grade for each student.

Electronic Devices Policy

Students must turn off cell phones before the beginning of class. Electronic devices, including but not limited to laptops, iPads, and e-readers, are prohibited in the classroom. The use of any electronic devices on exams or in class is strictly prohibited. The use of such devices during lectures and class discussions will generate an absence on the grounds that the student is not mentally present in class.

Academic Integrity

All Roanoke College students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity in all classes and on all exams and assignments. Violations of the College’s Academic Integrity (AI) policy include but are not limited to plagiarism, cheating, lying, and unauthorized use of an electronic device.

As stated in the Academic Integrity Handbook: “Barring unusual circumstances, an F in the course is the minimum penalty for a student found to be in violation of academic integrity.” More severe penalties may also apply to violations of the AI policy. Ignorance of the AI policy is no defense against violations. Students are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the AI Handbook, which can be found at

Disability Support Services

The Office of Disability Support Services, located in the Goode-Pasfield Center for Learning and Teaching in Fintel Library, provides reasonable accommodations to students with identified disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are provided based on the diagnosed disability and the recommendations of the professional evaluator. In order to be considered for disability services, students must identify themselves to the Office of Disability Support Services. Students are required to provide specific current documentation of their disabilities. Please contact Richard Robers, M.A. Ed., Coordinator of Disability Support Services, at 540-375-2247 or e-mail .

Students on record with the Disability Support Services are strongly encouraged to discuss accommodations with the instructor during the first two weeks of class. Please note that students with approved accommodations in need of testing accommodations must make arrangements with the instructor at least one week in advance of any exam.

Subject Tutoring

Subject Tutoring is an internationally certified tutor training program through CRLA ITTPC (College Reading & Learning Association International Tutor Training Program Certification) and is coordinated by Shannon McNeal at The Center for Learning & Teaching. Tutoring sessions are held Sunday through Thursday, 4-9 p.m.For a list of tutorials or to make an appointment, go to

Writing Center

The Writing Center @ Roanoke College, located in Room 15 on the Lower Level of Fintel Library, offers writing tutorials for students working on writing assignments/projects in any field. Writers at all levels of competence may visit the Writing Center at any point in their process, from brainstorming to drafting to editing, and talk with trained peer writing tutors in informal, one-on-one sessions. The Writing Center is open Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 9 pm. We open for Spring Semester on Sunday, January 19th. Simply stop in, or schedule an appointment by going to where our schedule of writing workshops and creative writing playshops is also posted. Questions? Email or call 375-4949.

Schedule of Classes

Week 1: Introduction to the Course

Overview: Students will be introduced to the course and learn the purpose and expectations of the course.

January 13:Introduction to the Course

Tutorial on Successful Reading Habits in INQ 260

January 15: Film: High Noon

Week 2: Politics, Normativism, and the Social Sciences

Overview: Students will learn basic concepts and ideas relevant to the normative approach to studying politics. Concepts such as politics, leadership, law, violence, and war will be discussed.

January 20:Aquinas, Politics and Ethics, pp. 18-29

Tutorial on Oral Presentations

January 22: Aquinas, Politics and Ethics, pp. 44-58, 66-69

Tutorial on Exams

Week 3: The Moral Problem of Politics: A Man for All Seasons

Overview: The theoretical ideas discussed in class from Aquinas will be used as a framework to analyze Robert Bolt’s All Man for All Seasons. This short play will enable students to begin making connections between literature and normative political concepts with a view to understanding more clearly the moral problem of politics.

January 27: Bolt, All Man for All Seasons, all

January 29: Exam 1

Week 4: Politics, Normativism, and the Social Sciences

Overview: Students will continue to develop their understandings of basic concepts and ideas relevant to the normative approach to studying politics. Concepts from Week 2 will receive further illumination through assigned readings.

February 3: Machiavelli, Prince, pp. 3-42

February 5: Machiavelli, Prince, pp. 42-72

Week 5: The Moral Problem of Politics: Please Vote for Me

Overview: The theoretical ideas discussed in class from Machiavelli will be used as a framework to analyze the short documentary Please Vote for Me. This film will enable students to apply what they have learned about the moral problem of politics.

February 10: Film: Please Vote for Me

Tutorial on Paper Writing

February 12: Benedetto Croce, “Disgust for Politics” (Inquire), “Indifference to Public Affairs” (Inquire), and “Political Honesty” (Inquire)

Week 6: Politics, Normativism, and the Social Sciences

Overview: Writings from Benedetto Croce will impart to students a clearer understanding of the relationship between morality and practical circumstances in politics. The nature of political morality will be further investigated and popular frustration with politics will be discussed.

February 17: Croce, Politics and Morals, pp. 1-22

Please Vote for Me Paper Due

February 19: Croce, Politics and Morals, pp. 22-44

Week 7: Politics, Normativism, and the Social Sciences

February 24: Croce, Politics and Morals, pp. 44-67

February 26:Exam 2

Week 8: Spring Break

March 3, 5—Spring Break—No Classes

Week 9: The Moral Problem of Politics: All the King’s Men

Overview: The theoretical ideas discussed in class from Aquinas, Machiavelli, and Croce will be used as a framework to analyze Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men.

March 10: Warren, All the King’s Men, pp. 1-163

March 11: Warren, All the King’s Men, pp. 164-285

Week 10: The Moral Problem of Politics: All the King’s Men

Overview: The theoretical ideas discussed in class from Aquinas, Machiavelli, and Croce will be used as a framework to analyze Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men.

March 17: Warren, All the King’s Men, pp. 286-404

March 19: Warren, All the King’s Men, pp. 405-533

Week 11: The Moral Problem of Politics: All the King’s Men

Overview: The theoretical ideas discussed in class from Aquinas, Machiavelli, and Croce will be used as a framework to analyze Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men. Representative examples of secondary literature on the novel will be used to enhance student understanding of conducting and integrating research into paper assignments.

March 24: Warren, All the King’s Men, pp. 534-661

March 26: Eric Sands, “Democracy’s Burden,” Steven Ealy, “Willie Stark and Political Leader” (Inquire)

Week 12: Normative Research and Writing in the Social Sciences

Overview: Students will be assigned readings from Hacker’s A Writer’s Reference. Effective research habits, methods of citation, and writing style will be discussed and explored during lectures and in-class activities.

March 31: Hacker, A Writer’s Reference, pp. 460-488

April 2: Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, all

All the King’s Men Paper Due

Week 13: Politics, Normativism, and the Social Sciences

Overview: Students will read and discuss selections from the political thought of Thomas Hobbes. Topics to be covered include human nature, state of nature, violence, and community. Hobbes will be used as a framework to analyze Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Topics to be covered during these lectures will include the state of human beings without society and the presence of good and evil in a post-civilization context.

April 6: Hobbes, Leviathan (Inquire)

April 8: McCarthy, The Road, pp. 3-93

Week 14: The Moral Problem of Politics: The Road

Overview: Hobbes will be used as a framework to analyze Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Topics to be covered during these lectures will include the state of human beings without society and the presence of good and evil in a post-civilization context.

April 14: McCarthy, The Road, pp. 94-204

April 16:McCarthy, The Road, pp. 205-287

Week 15: Final Exam

April 24: Final Exam, Block 11, 2:00—5:00 p.m.