Introduction to Political Philosophy Political Science 175D Spring 2016 Professor Spragens 204 F Gross Hall 660-4313 spragens@duke.edu This course has several purposes. First, the student should come to understand the basic nature, structure, and problems of political theorizing: what questions does a political theorist ask, how does he or she go about answering them, what are the characteristic difficulties of the enterprise, and so on. Second, the student should learn something about the substance of some of the most influential conceptions of politics and the good society ever articulated. Third, the student will be introduced to some of the persistent issues of political theory and policy: what is good political leadership, how can a society be held together, what problems of human nature must a political society confront, and so on. Finally, since what the different theorists have to say will undoubtedly clash in some respects with the student s own assumptions and beliefs about politics, this course is partly an exercise in political self-examination and self-understanding. Students will likely become more aware of their own beliefs and may be motivated to examine, defend, or revise these assumptions in light of the challenges presented to them by the theorists under consideration. Course requirements fall under three headings: First, students are expected to do the assigned reading in advance of class discussions and to be prepared to contribute to those discussions. Second, a mid-term quiz and a final examination will be given. Third, each student will write two analytical/argumentative essays of 1500-2000 words on topics addressed in the course reading. The first paper is due March 11/12. The second paper is due April 26. The course grade will be based 20% on each of the two essays and 40% on the two exams. The final exam will count twice as much as the mid-term quiz. The quality of a student s participation in discussion sections will determine the other 20% of the course grade. The teaching assistants for this course are Alex Oprea and Michael Hawley.
Schedule of Topics and Readings January 14 Introduction The Logic of Political Philosophy January 19 January 21 Crisis and Diagnosis Reconstruction and Prescription Spragens, Understanding Political Theory Glenn Tinder, Political Thinking Peter Berger, The Precarious Vision Plato: Order and the Polis January 26 January 28 February 2 February 4 The Problem of Justice Order in the Soul and the Polis Eros, Mimesis, and the Philosopher King The Disintegration of the Polis and the Trouble with Democracy Plato, The Republic Thomas L. Thorson, Plato: Totalitarian or Democrat? Liberalism and the Scientific Revolution February 9 February 11 February 16 A World Without Ends The War of All Against All The Social Contract and the Sovereign
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, Chapters 5, 6, 10-18, 20, 21, 26, 29, and 46. T.A. Spragens, The Politics of Motion: The World of Hobbes February 18 February 19/20 February 23 February 25 A Brief Digression: Writing Critical Analyses and the Structure of Political Argument Mid-term quiz Toleration verses Conformity Separation of Church and State John Locke, A Letter Concerning Toleration March 1 March 3 The State of Nature and the Origin of Property The Purposes and Limits of Legitimate Government John Locke, Second Treatise of Civil Government, Chapters 1-13, 19. March 8 March 10 Science and Political Progress The Future as Liberal Utopia Marquis de Condorcet, Outlines of an Historical View of the Progress of the Human Mind, epochs 8, 9, and10 (Online at oll.libertyfund.org/titles/1669) Carl Becker, The Heavenly City of the Eighteenth Century Philosophers. March 15, 17 Spring Break
The Politics of Democratization and Industrialization March 22 March 24 March 29 The Harm Principle Individuality and the Good Society Applications and Implications John Stuart Mill, Considerations on Representative Government, Chapters 2-8 Dennis Thompson, John Stuart Mill and Representative Government April 7 April 12 April 14 Dialectical Materialism The Contradictions of Capitalism Revolution and the Classless Society Friedrich Engels, Socialism: Utopian and Scientific Karl Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto Henry Mayo, Introduction to Marxist Theory Eros Revisited (in a Minor Key) April 19 April 21 What are the Human Instincts? The Social Necessity of Repression April 26 Sigmund Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents Philip Rieff, Freud: The Mind of the Moralist Loose Ends and Questions
Course Policies Attendance Although highly recommended, attendance is not required at course lectures. The lectures are intended to help students understand the historical circumstances, the philosophical assumptions, the political concerns, and the logic of the most important arguments in the texts. Absences may compromise mastery of course content and therefore handicap exam performance, but they are not subject to penalty per se. Attendance at discussion sections, in contrast, is expected; and the quality of a student s participation in the discussions will be taken into account in assigning course grades. Here students are contributing to the each others education by sharing their ideas and insights; and doing one s part in making these discussions illuminating is a course responsibility. Papers The two course papers are to be critical analyses of some major/argument or issue encountered in the reading. We will devote a full class on February 18 to a discussion of strategies of good critical analysis. You may also consult with your section leader regarding questions or difficulties you have in carrying out these assignments. Papers must be submitted to your section leader no later than midnight on the due dates specified in the syllabus. Extensions will be granted only for good and sufficient reasons and must be consented to in advance by the section leader. Late papers will be assessed a penalty of one-third a letter grade for each day past the deadline. Laptops Students will be permitted to bring laptops to class, but only on one very important condition. That condition is that using a laptop for any purpose other than note taking is absolutely prohibited. If any student violates this prohibition, the presence of laptops in this class will no longer be allowed.