Department of Politics Office: Room 303 Fall 2016 Office hours: Wed. 10:30-11:30

Transcription

1 G PROF. MARIA G. KOWALSKI New York University Department of Politics Office: Room 303 Fall 2016 Office hours: Wed. 10:30-11:30 POLITICAL THEORY COURSE OVERVIEW This course examines a selection of the most influential and enduring works in the western tradition of political philosophy, highlighting the way in which major concepts of political thought have evolved from ancient Greece to contemporary western society. By critically examining the works of classical and modern political theorists (such as Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Mill, Rawls and Nozick), we will explore such topics as the nature of the state, the justification of political authority, distributive justice, democracy and freedom. What is the meaning of these concepts? How (if at all) can they be achieved? What social and political arrangements best preserve them? Our objective in the course is to understand and critically evaluate some of the most important ideas and theories in the history of political philosophy and to reach our own reasoned positions on the issues they raise. COURSE REQUIREMENTS Take-home midterm exam: 30% One long paper (20-25 pages), due Dec. 2016: 60% Active participation in class discussions: 10% REQUIRED TEXT: (Readings from additional sources are shown below.) Aristotle, Politics. Ed. Stephen Everson. Second edition. Cambridge University Press. Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan. Ed. with Introduction by Edwin Curley. Hackett Publishing Company. Immanuel Kant, Practical Philosophy, Ed. Gregor. Cambridge University Press. John Locke, Two Treatises of Government. Ed. Peter Laslett. Cambridge University Press. John Stuart Mill, On Liberty and Other Writings. Ed. Stefan Collini. Cambridge University Press. Robert Nozick, Anarchy, State and Utopia. Basic Books. Plato, Republic. Hackett Publishing Company. John Rawls, A Theory of Justice. Revised edition. Belknap Press. John Rawls, Political Liberalism (expanded ed) John Rawls, The Law of Peoples. Harvard University Press. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Basic Political Writings, Hackett Publishing Company. LECTURES AND CLASS PARTICIPATION: Lectures have two main purposes. The first is to supply background for the readings and to place them in a larger philosophical context. The second is to demonstrate how to go about identifying, analyzing, and assessing the central claims and arguments in the readings. One of the best ways to improve your skills of analyzing and evaluating philosophical arguments

2 Kowalski, Political Theory 2 is through discussion, so there will be an attempt made to devote at least half of the class to discussion. PAPER GUIDELINES The papers must defend a thesis. It cannot consist in the mere report of your opinions, or in a mere summary of the opinions of the authors being discussed. You have to defend the claims you make, by offering a sustained critique or defense of the author s views. These are not research papers: no texts other than those assigned in the course need to be used. Papers should be double spaced in 12 point Times New Roman, with one-inch margins. Printed copies must be submitted by the end of the class on the due date; electronic submissions will not be accepted, except with prior permission under unusual circumstances. Extensions will not be granted except under extraordinary circumstances, and late papers will be penalized for each day they are late. If you believe your personal circumstances warrant an extension, please discuss it with me before the due date. Late papers. Late papers will be penalized one-third of a letter grade for each day late (for example, from A- to B+). Weekend days count. If you finish a late paper during a weekend, it to me right away and turn in a hard copy later. If you need assistance with your writing, please visit the NYU Writing Center (411 Lafayette, 3 rd floor): ACADEMIC INTEGRITY All source material, whether actually quoted or not, must be properly cited. Plagiarism or any other form of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Please review Academic Integrity Guide available at STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the Moses Center for Students with Disabilities at (212) as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. For more information, see the CSD website: CALENDAR OF ASSIGNMENTS This calendar may be revised as the semester goes on. I. INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE. II. JUSTICE, LAW AND DEMOCRACY IN ANCIENT GREECE Plato, Republic, Books I-X. Julia Annas, Introduction to Plato s Republic. Allan Bloom, Interpretive Essay in The Republic of Plato. J. Peter Euben, The Tragedy of Political Theory, chs 7, 8. Paul Friedlander, Plato: An Introduction. Charles Griswold, ed., Platonic Writings/Platonic Readings. Terence Irwin, Plato s Ethics.

3 Kowalski, Political Theory 3 G. Klosko, The Development of Plato s Political Theory. Martha Nussbaum, The Fragility of Goodness, (chapter on Plato). Nickolas Pappas, Plato and the Republic. C.D.C. Reeve, Philosopher-Kings. Arlene Saxonhouse, Fear of Diversity. Gregory Vlastos, Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosopher, Platonic Studies, nos. 5 & 6. Gregory Vlastos, The Theory of Social Justice in the Republic, in H. North (ed.) Interpretations of Plato. III. VIRTUE, THE COMMON GOOD AND LIMITS OF DEMOCRACY Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book. I, (chs. 1 13), II (chs. 1 7), V, VIII, X (ch. 9). Aristotle, Politics, Book. I (chs. 1 7 and 12 13), II (chs. 1 5), III (chs. 1 and 4 5), IV, VII, VIII (chs. 1-2). Jeremy Waldron, The Wisdom of the Multitude, Political Theory, 23 (1995). John Cooper, Reason and Human Good in Aristotle. David Keyt and Fred D. Miller, Jr., eds., A Companion to Aristotle s Politics. Richard Kraut, Aristotle: Political Philosophy. Fred D. Miller, Nature, Justice, and Rights in Aristotle's Politics. Martha Nussbaum, Fragility of Goodness, pt. 3. Stephen Salkever, Finding the Mean. Aristide Tessitore, Reading Aristotle s Ethics. Bernard Yack, The Problems of a Political Animal. IV. THE SOCIAL CONTRACT, LEGITIMACY AND POLITICAL OBLIGATION Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, chapters 1-16, 22-34, 46. David Gauthier, Public Reason, Social Philosophy and Policy, 12:1 (1995). Deborah Baumgold, Hobbes's Political Theory. Mary Dietz, Thomas Hobbes and Political Theory. David Gauthier, The Logic of Leviathan: The Moral and Political Theory of Thomas Hobbes. Jean Hampton, Hobbes and the Social Contract Tradition. David Johnston, The Rhetoric of Leviathan. C.B. Macpherson, The Political Theory of Possessive Individualism, chap. 2. Noel Malcolm, Aspects of Hobbes. Michael Oakeshott, Introduction to Leviathan in Rationalism in Politics. Quentin Skinner, Reason and Rhetoric, ch. 8 and Visions of Politics, vol. 3. Quentin Skinner, Reason and Rhetoric in Philosophy of Hobbes. Quentin Skinner, Hobbes and Civil Science. Leo Strauss, The Political Philosophy of Hobbes. Richard Tuck, Hobbes and Philosophy and Government. John Locke, The Second Treatise of Government, Second Treatise, chapters John Locke, A Letter Concerning Toleration. Hanna, Pitkin, Obligation and Consent, American Political Science Review, 59:4 (1965).

4 Kowalski, Political Theory 4 A. John Simmons, Tacit Consent and Political Obligation, Philosophy and Public Affairs, 5:3 (Spring 1976). Richard Ashcraft, Revolutionary Politics and Locke s Two Treatises of Government. John Dunn, The Political Thought of John Locke. Ruth Grant, John Locke s Liberalism. Peter Laslett, Introduction to CUP edition of Two Treatises of Government. A. John Simmons, The Lockean Theory of Rights and On the Edge of Anarchy. A. John Simmons, Moral Principles and Political Obligations, chapter on tacit consent. James Tully, An Approach to Political Philosophy: Locke in Contexts. Jeremy Waldron, God, Locke, and Equality. Jeremy Waldron, The Right to Private Property, ch. 6. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Discourse on Inequality and Social Contract. Nadia Urbinati, Representation as Advocacy: A Study of Democratic Deliberation, Political Theory, 28:6 (2000). Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson, Democracy and Disagreement, chap. 1. Bernard Grofman, Rousseau s General Will: A Condorcetian Perspective, American Political Science Review, 82:2. Jeremy Waldron, Response to Grofman and Feld, American Political Science Review, 83:4. R.D. Masters, The Political Philosophy of Rousseau. Arthur Melzer, The Natural Goodness of Man. J. Miller, Rousseau: Dreamer of Democracy. Susan Okin, Women in Western Political Thought, pt. III. Judith Shklar, Men and Citizens. Jean Starobinski, Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Transparency and Obstruction. Patrick Riley, The General Will Before Rousseau. Robert Wokler, Rousseau. Patrick Riley, ed., Cambridge Companion to Rousseau. Judith Shklar, Men and Citizens. V. CAPITALISM, SOCIALISM, AND THE INDIVIDUAL Immanuel Kant, Practical Philosophy: Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals ; An Answer to the Question: What Is Enlightenment? ; Toward Perpetual Peace. Karl Marx, Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844 ; The Communist Manifesto ; Critique of the Gotha Program. VI. DEMOCRACY: INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND FREE EXPRESSION John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, Considerations on Representative Government, ch. 2-4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16 Joel Feinberg, Limits to the Free Expression of Opinion Ronald Dworkin, Paternalism, The Monist

5 Kowalski, Political Theory 5 F. R. Berger, Happiness, Justice and Freedom: The Moral and Political Philosophy of J.S. Mill. John Gray, Mill on Liberty John Gray, ed. On Liberty In Focus. Andrew Pyle, ed., Liberty: Contemporary Responses to John Stuart Mill. Alan Ryan, J.S. Mill. Alan Ryan, The Philosophy of John Stuart Mill. John Skorupski, John Stuart Mill. John Skorupski, ed., The Cambridge Companion to Mill. Dennis Thompson, John Stuart Mill and Representative Government. VII. THE POSSIBILITIES AND LIMITS OF DEMOCRACY: CONTEMPORARY DEBATES John Rawls, A Theory of Justice. Sections 1-17, 20-35, 39-43, 67-69, 77-79, 82. John Rawls, The Basic Liberties and Their Priority in Political Liberalism, Lecture 8. John Rawls, The Idea of Public Reason Revisited in The Law of Peoples. Jürgen Habermas, Three Normative Models of Democracy. Jürgen Habermas, On the Internal Relation Between the Rule of Law and Democracy Joshua Cohen, Deliberation and Democratic Legitimacy, in Essays on Reason and Politics: Deliberative Democracy, ed. James Bohman and William Rehg Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson, "Why Deliberative Democracy is Different," Social Philosophy and Policy, 17 (Winter 2000). Samuel Freeman, ed., John Rawls: The Cambridge Companion. Norman Daniels, ed., Reading Rawls. Thomas Pogge, Realizing Rawls. Michael Sandel, Liberalism and the Limits of Justice. Robert Paul Woolf, Understanding Rawls. VIII. WEALTH, PROPERTY AND LIBERTARIANISM Robert Nozick, Anarchy, State and Utopia. Pages ix-xiv, 3-35, 48-53, S. Hailwood, Exploring Nozick. A. R. Lacey, Robert Nozick. Jeffrey Paul, ed., Reading Nozick: Essays on Anarchy, State and Utopia. D. Schmidtz, ed. Robert Nozick. S. Wolff, Robert Nozick: Property, Justice and the Minimal State. IX. COSMOPOLITANISM AND GLOBAL JUSTICE John Rawls, The Law of Peoples