Capitalism and Modernity POL 416 and 517 Wednesday 6:00 9:00 p.m., Kendall 332 Fall 2016, Hillsdale College

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1 Capitalism and Modernity POL 416 and 517 Wednesday 6:00 9:00 p.m., Kendall 332 Fall 2016, Hillsdale College Matthew D. Mendham, Ph.D. Office phone: Office: Kendall 406 Office hours: Monday 11:00-12:00, Tuesday 2:30-5:00, Thursday 1:00-2:30 Course Description Modern people live in a world which is profoundly different than anything which came before it, resulting from a relentless revolution of economic, technological, and cultural change. These changes have been fiercely debated since the 18 th century, when Europe and North America first witnessed dramatic shifts from rural, subsistence agriculture to advanced commerce, finance, and industry. For instance, many have asked whether, as much of the population left meager existences for solid worldly comfort or even lavish affluence, would citizens become more enlightened, peaceable, and tolerant, or instead more skeptical, self-centered, and incapable of hardship or sacrifice? Would the lower classes share the new wealth, or be left far behind in degradation, taunted by luxuries they cannot partake of legally? When people have more interaction with foreign cultures, do they tend to adopt the foreigners best attributes, get corrupted by their worst attributes, or are they simply reduced to a materialistic common denominator? Would more trade and interdependence lead to less war or instead, increase its scope and destructive potential? We will pursue such questions with the help of historical, sociological, economic, and political studies, emphasizing thinkers such as Montesquieu, Rousseau, Hume, Smith, Jefferson, Tocqueville, and Weber. Required Texts Bring a hard copy of the assigned reading to class every day. Please do not find online equivalents instead, since the translations are often inadequate, and the different pagination will affect your participation in class and citation in essays. Muller, Jerry Z. The Mind and the Market: Capitalism in Western Thought. New York: Anchor, ISBN: Smith, Adam. An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. 2 volumes. Ed. R. H. Campbell and A. S. Skinner. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, ISBN: Tocqueville, Alexis de. Democracy in America. 2 vol. Ed. Eduardo Nolla, trans. James T. Schleifer. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, ISBN: Weber, Max. The Protestant Ethic and the "Spirit" of Capitalism: And Other Writings. Ed. and trans. Peter Baehr and Gordon C. Wells. New York: Penguin, ISBN: Additional readings on Blackboard (abbreviated as BB ). 1

2 Course Requirements and Grading Attendance and Participation (10% of final grade). Regular attendance and at least occasional discussion are expected of each student. Those who are rarely absent (i.e., no more than two unexcused absences) will earn 80% credit here, with higher grades being reserved for those who are rarely absent and have contributed to discussion. If you find it difficult to speak in class, you may compensate for this by discussing our readings with the professor during office hours or by . Using a laptop in class will count as being half absent for that day, since intellectually speaking, you probably would be. Using cell phones in class will also lead to deductions. Quizzes (15% of final grade). A quiz may be given at the beginning of our first session, covering the readings for that week. The questions are mainly intended to ensure that the students have done the reading entirely and carefully, but will not expect profound mastery of the material. Quizzes will consist of simple formats (e.g., short answer, multiple choice). The lowest quiz grade of the semester will be removed; this would include any quiz which was missed due to unexcused absence, which would thus earn no credit. No make-up quizzes will be offered for unexcused absences. Brief Essay (5% of final grade). One essay of 2-3 pages, analyzing one session of reading. It should display a clear understanding of the reading(s), usually by focusing on one theme or highlighting a set of related themes. Although the primary goal is to demonstrate thorough comprehension, the essay should include a thesis, defending a particular interpretation and/or offering an evaluative response. No outside research is expected or recommended, although brief comparisons with other class readings are welcome. For all essays, specific pages (or section numbers) should be cited, and a formal method of citation should be used. Comparative Essay (10% of final grade). One essay of 5-6 pages, comparing, contrasting, or synthesizing an element of the assignments in two or three sessions of reading (e.g., contrasting Mandeville and Hume on the ethics of luxury). The approach should be similar to the Response Essay, although more interpretive creativity and/or reasoned criticism should be evident. Topic Statement and Sources (5% of final grade). Offer one substantial paragraph on what you intend to study, why it seems worthwhile, and what the main questions are. Offer several likely sources in a preliminary Bibliography or Reference List. Research Essay (25% of final grade). One page essay. * It should analyze at least two sessions of assigned reading, while also integrating substantial outside research, comparable to at least three sessions of reading. (In some cases, a student may wish to analyze only one course reading, which is acceptable if the outside research is increased proportionally.) The essay should form a coherent whole with a thesis whether synthesizing, contrasting, defending, or criticizing the sources. The outside research could be secondary scholarship, or additional reading of a primary source. Exams (Midterm and Final, each 15% of final grade; combined 30%). Exams will draw from readings, lectures, and discussions. They will be designed to reveal how deeply and clearly the student has grasped the fundamental analyses and concepts we have studied. The Final will cover only the second half of the course. * For graduate students (enrolled in POL 517), this should be pages. 2

3 Course and University Policies Honor Code. The Hillsdale College Honor Code will be enforced: A Hillsdale College student is honorable in conduct, honest in word and deed, dutiful in study and service and respectful of the rights of others. Through education the student rises to self-government. Please consult the professor with any questions about appropriate use of sources, or collaboration with other students. Excused Absence Policy. Credibly documented illness may be counted as excused, at the discretion of the professor. As for absences due to college-sponsored events (e.g., athletic competitions, debate, forensics), a student s primary collegiate responsibility is academic; therefore, these should be rare. When they are unavoidable, students are responsible for notifying the professor in advance. Regardless of absences, students are responsible for meeting the standard of knowledge established by the professor for the class. Disabilities. Students with documented disabilities are required to notify the professor as soon as possible if accommodation is needed. The professor will provide all reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities, but students are not exempted from fulfilling the normal requirements of the course. Work completed before the student notifies the professor of the disability may be counted toward the final grade at the discretion of the instructor. Course Schedule W Aug. 31: Introductory comments. Recommended: Marion Fourcade and Kieran Healy, Moral Views of Market Society (2007), pp , (BB). I. Modern Disputes and Ancient Alternatives W Sep. 7, session #1. Deirdre McCloskey, Bourgeois Equality: How Ideas, Not Capital or Institutions, Enriched the World (2016), pp. 5-13, 37-52, (BB). W Sep. 7, session #2. Robert D. Putnam, Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis (2015), pp (BB). W Sep. 14, #1. Jerry Muller, The Mind and the Market, Historical Backdrop: Rights, Righteousness, and Virtue, pp Xenophon, Oeconomicus, chapters 4-5, pp (BB). Livy, From the Founding of the City, Preface, pp. 3-4 (BB). W Sep. 14, #2. Plato, Republic, Book VIII (entire), 543a-569c; Book IX, 571a-76b (BB). II. Debating the Rise of Capitalism in the Enlightenment W Sep. 21, #1. Bernard Mandeville, The Fable of the Bees (1723), The Grumbling Hive, pp ; Remark L (on luxury), pp ; Remark Q (on frugality), pp ; Remark Y (on ease), pp (BB). Response Essay will be due Saturday, Sep. 24, 11:00 p.m., sent by attachment. W Sep. 21, #2. Muller, Voltaire: A Merchant of a Noble Kind, pp W Sep. 28, #1. Montesquieu, The Spirit of the Laws (1748), Book III, chapters 1-6, pp ; IV.4-7, pp ; V.2-3, pp ; V.6, pp ; XI.5-6, pp , ; XV.9, p. 253 (BB). 3

4 W Sep. 28, #2. The Spirit of the Laws, XIX.27, pp ; XX.1-5, pp ; XXI.20, pp ; XXIII.29, pp ; XXIV.3-4, pp David Kettler, review of The Passions and the Interests: Political Arguments for Capitalism before Its Triumph (1977), by Albert O. Hirschman (BB). W Oct. 5, #1. David Hume, Of Refinement in the Arts (1752, originally titled Of Luxury ), pp (BB). Paul Cheney, review of The Case for the Enlightenment (2005), by John Robertson (BB). W Oct. 5, #2. Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality (1754), Part II, [1-34], pp , and [55-58], pp ; Note IX, [1-3], pp (BB). Mendham, Rousseau on Commerce and Politics, pp. 1-2 (BB). W Oct. 12, #1. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Discourse on Political Economy (1755), [24-78], pp (BB). W Oct. 12, #2. Midterm Exam. W Oct. 19, #1. Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations (1776), Introduction, pp ; I.i, [10-12], pp ; I.ii, pp ; I.viii, [1-27], pp , and [35-44], pp ; I.x.c, [12-16], pp , and [31], p. 146; II.ii, [93-95], pp ; II.iii, [26-31], pp ; II.iv, [13-15], pp Editor s notes are optional for Adam Smith readings. W Oct. 19, #2. Wealth of Nations, III.iv, [1-5], pp , [9-11], pp , and [15-16], pp ; IV.ii, [1-4], pp , [9-10], pp , and [23-45], pp ; IV.iii.c, [1-3], pp , and [8-11], pp ; IV.v.b, [39-43], pp Comparative Essay will be due Saturday, October 22, 11:00 p.m., sent by attachment. W Oct. 26, #1. Wealth of Nations, IV.ix, [50-52], pp ; V.i.f, [1-15], pp , and [46-61], pp ; V.i.g, [1-16], pp W Oct. 26, #2. Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, ( ), I.i.1, [1], p. 9; I.iii.3, pp ; IV.1.7, [8-10], pp ; V.2, pp ; VII.ii.4, pp (BB). III. The Economics of Liberty and Culture in Early America W Nov. 2, #1. Franklin, Father Abraham s Speech (1758), pp (BB). Franklin, On the Price of Corn, and the Management of the Poor (1766), pp (BB). James Madison, Parties (1792), pp (BB). Madison, Property (1792), pp (BB). W Nov. 2, #2. Thomas Jefferson, Writings (BB). Letter to John Jay on commerce and sea power (1785), pp Letter to John Banister, Jr. on European education (1785), pp Letter to James Madison on property and natural right (1785), pp Notes on the State of Virginia (1782, 1787), Queries 18-19, pp President Jefferson to Brother Handsome Lake (1802), pp Letter to Jean Baptiste Say on Malthus and the New World (1804), pp Letter to Benjamin Austin on manufactures (1816), pp Letter to John Adams on their prophecies (1816), pp

5 W Nov. 9, #1. Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Vol. 1 (1835), (author s) Introduction, pp Democracy in America, Vol. 1, Part 2, Chapter 10, from section, The Position that the Black Race Occupies in the United States, pp (begin 554 at the first paragraph, and end 562 after the last paragraph). For Democracy in America, the editor s notes, and all text in square brackets, are optional. W Nov. 9, #2. Democracy in America, Vol. 1, Part 2, Chapter 10, section, Some Considerations on the Causes of the Commercial Greatness of the United States, pp ; Vol. 1, Conclusion, pp ; Vol. 2 (1840), Part 2, Chapters 8-12, pp W Nov. 16, #1. Democracy in America, Vol. 2, Part 2, Chapters 13-20, pp W Nov. 16, #2. Democracy in America, Vol. 2, Part 3, Chapter 1, pp ; Vol. 2, Part 3, Chapter 7, pp ; Vol. 2, Part 4, Chapter 6, pp ; Tocqueville, First Memoir on Pauperism (1835), pp (BB). Topic Statement and Sources will be due Saturday, Nov. 19, sent by attachment. Wednesday, Nov. 23: Thanksgiving Break. IV. The Soul of the Capitalist in the German Nineteenth Century W Nov. 30, #1. Muller, Karl Marx: From Jewish Usury to Universal Vampirism, pp , W Nov. 30, #2. Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1905, 1920), pp. 1-17, (end 17 after last full paragraph; begin 35 at first full paragraph). W Dec. 7, #1. Weber, The Protestant Ethic, pp , (begin 78 and 104 at first full paragraph; end 82 at last full paragraph). W Dec. 7, #2. Conclusion and review. Recommended reading: Mendham, A Student s Guide to Academic Writing (BB). Research Essay will be due Saturday, Dec. 10, at noon, sent by attachment. Monday, Dec. 12, 10:30 a.m. Final Exam. Select Bibliography Appleby, Joyce. The Relentless Revolution: A History of Capitalism. New York: W. W. Norton, Broadie, Alexander, ed. The Cambridge Companion to the Scottish Enlightenment. Cambridge UP, Bryant, Joseph M. The West and the Rest Revisited: Debating Capitalist Origins, European Colonialism, and the Advent of Modernity. Canadian Journal of Sociology 31.4 (2006): Cheney, Paul. Revolutionary Commerce: Globalization and the French Monarchy. Cambridge: Harvard UP, Clark, Gregory. A Farewell to Alms: A Brief Economic History of the World. Princeton UP, Clark, Henry C., ed. Commerce, Culture, and Liberty: Readings on Capitalism before Adam Smith. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund,

6 Collier, Paul. The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It. Oxford UP, Davis, David Brion. Inhuman Bondage: The Rise and Fall of Slavery in the New World. Oxford UP, De Vries, Jan. The Industrious Revolution: Consumer Behavior and the Household Economy, 1650 to Present. Cambridge UP, The Limits of Globalization in the Early Modern World. Economic History Review 63.3 (2010): Elias, Norbert. The Civilizing Process: Sociogenetic and Psychogenetic Investigations (1939). Trans. Edmund Jephcott, revised edn. Oxford: Blackwell, Fischer, Claude S. Made in America: A Social History of American Culture and Character. U. of Chicago Press, Fleischacker, Samuel. A Short History of Distributive Justice. Cambridge: Harvard UP, On Adam Smith s Wealth of Nations : A Philosophical Companion. Princeton UP, Force, Pierre. Self-Interest before Adam Smith: A Genealogy of Economic Science. Cambridge UP, Gartzke, Eric. The Capitalist Peace. American Journal of Political Science 51.1 (2007): Glaeser, Edward L. Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier. New York: Penguin, Gorski, Philip S. The Disciplinary Revolution: Calvinism and the Rise of the State in Early Modern Europe. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, Hanley, Ryan Patrick. Adam Smith and the Character of Virtue. Cambridge UP, Kolakowski, Leszek. Main Currents of Marxism: Its Rise, Growth, and Dissolution. Trans. P. S. Falla. 3 vol., Oxford UP, One-volume edition, New York: Norton, Lang, Michael. Globalization and Its History. Journal of Modern History 78 (2006): Mokyr, Joel. The Gifts of Athena: Historical Origins of the Knowledge Economy. Princeton UP, Piketty, Thomas. Capital in the Twenty-First Century. Trans. Arthur Goldhammer. Cambridge: Belknap Harvard UP, Pocock, J. G. A. Virtue, Commerce, and History: Essays on Political Thought and History, Chiefly in the Eighteenth Century. Cambridge UP, Rahe, Paul A. Soft Despotism, Democracy s Drift: Montesquieu, Rousseau, Tocqueville, and the Modern Prospect. New Haven: Yale UP, Rasmussen, Dennis C. The Pragmatic Enlightenment: Recovering the Liberalism of Hume, Smith, Montesquieu, and Voltaire. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, The Problems and Promise of Commercial Society: Adam Smith s Response to Rousseau. University Park: Pennsylvania State UP, Reinert, Sophus A. Translating Empire: Emulation and the Origins of Political Economy. Cambridge: Harvard UP, Whatmore, Richard. Against War and Empire: Geneva, Britain, and France in the Eighteenth Century. New Haven: Yale UP, Wootton, David, ed. Republicanism, Liberty, and Commercial Society, Stanford UP,