1 QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY Department of Political Studies POLS 350 History of Political Thought 1990/91 Fall/Winter Monday, 11:30-1:00 Instructor: Paul Kellogg Thursday, 1:00-2:30 Office: M-C E326 M-C B503 Hours: Monday, 9-11:30, 2:30-3:00 ********************************************************************************************************************* Students are advised that incomplete standing will be granted only with the permission of the chairman of undergraduate or graduate studies (as appropriate) and only where there is a clear demonstration of need. Applications for "Incomplete" standing must be made in the first instance to the instructor on the form available in the General Office. The simple fact of nonsubmission of work does not constitute an application and will result in a grade of zero for that assignment. ********************************************************************************************************************* This course is designed for those who already have a grounding in the history of political thought. It will survey the classical contributions to the key paradigms of Western Political Thought aiming to provide students with both an overview of the political ideas which have shaped Western civilization and an awareness of the historical, social and economic circumstances in which these ideas arose. The development of an ability to apply the concepts and methods used will be emphasized as much as the development of a familiarity with the views presented. Marking Scheme First Term Essay, 3,000 words 25% Final Exam 35% 2nd Term Essay, 3,000 words 30% Seminar 10% First Term Required Texts, recommended for purchase Plato, The Republic of Plato, trans. Cornford Aristotle, The Politics of Aristotle, trans. Barker Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The First and Second Discourses, trans. Masters G.W.F. Hegel, Reason in History, trans. Robert Hartman First Term Recommended Texts (available on Reserve) Quentin Skinner, Machiavelli G.E.M. De Ste. Croix, Class Struggle in the Ancient Greek World Henri Pirenne, Economic and Social History of Medieval Europe George Rudé, Revolutionary Europe 1783-1815 Second Term Required Texts John Stuart Mill, Essential Works of John Stuart Mill Alex Callinicos, The Revolutionary Ideas of Karl Marx Max Weber, Selections in Translation Second Term Recommended Texts (available on Reserve) E.J. Hobsbawm, Industry and Empire R. Michels, Political Parties R. Kennedy, The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers Alex Callinicos, Against Postmodernism
2 1st TERM SYLLABUS Week 1, Sept. 10 and 13 Sept. 10 Introduction to the Course. Sept. 13 Lecture:.Social Being and Political Thought Reading: Gordon Childe, What Happened in History, ch 1 and 2, pp 13-54. Week 2, Sept. 17 and 20 Sept. 17 Lecture: Pre-History and the Birth of Democracy Sept. 20 Lecture: The Greek Polis and the Re-Birth of Democracy Reading: Childe, ch. 7 & 8, pp. 138-192; Ste Croix, pp. 3-30, 69-111. Plato, The Republic, Books I-IV, pp. 2-174. Week 3, Sept. 24 and 27 Sept. 24 Lecture: Was there Racism in Ancient Society? Sept. 27 Lecture: Democracy, imperialism, feudalism: the collapse of ancient society Reading: Childe, ch. 9, 10, 11 and 12, pp. 193-292; Ste.Croix, pp. 278-326. Plato, The Republic, Books V-VII, pp. 175-264. Week 4, Oct. 1 and 4 Oct. 1 Lecture: Justice, citizenship and social organization the political thought of Plato Oct. 4 Seminar 1: Discuss Plato's and Aristotle's views on a) the holding of property in common and b) the role of women in society. In what ways are their ideas applicable today? Reading: Plato, The Republic, finish. Aristotle, The Politics, Books I, and II. Week 5, Oct. 11 Oct. 8 Thanksgiving Holiday, no class Oct. 11 Seminar 2: Aristotle has a limited defence of the merits of democracy as opposed to oligarchy. Discuss with reference to his views on slavery. Reading: Aristotle, The Politics, Books II and V. Week 6, Oct. 15 and 18 Oct. 15 Lecture: Politics and the economy, the case of Aristotle Oct. 18 Seminar 3: Ellen and Neal Wood have argued that Plato and Aristotle developed their ideas as an aristocratic reaction to the radical-democratic ideas of the democratic polis. Discuss. Reading: Aristotle, The Politics, finish; Ellen and Neal Wood, Class Ideology and Ancient Political Theory. Week 7, Oct. 22 and 25 Oct. 22 Lecture: Political thought in the Middle Ages Oct. 25 Seminar 4: According to Machiavelli. "The principal foundations of all states are good laws and good armies". Discuss. Reading: Henri Pirenne, Economic and Social History of Medieval Europe, pp. 1-139; 189-220. Quentin Skinner, Machiavelli, all. Week 8, Oct. 29 and Nov. 1 Oct. 29 Lecture: The English Civil War: Levellers, democracy and the bourgeoisie Nov. 1 Seminar 5: Discuss the relationship between Cromwell, the Levellers and the ideas of democracy during the English Civil War. Reading: Christopher Hill, The Century of Revolution, pp. 19-165; and Hill, The World Turned Upside Down, pp. 39-56 and 107-150.
3 Week 9, Nov. 5 and 8 Nov. 5 Lecture: Political Thought in The Age of Reason Nov. 8 Seminar 6: Rousseau argues that there is a contradiction between virtue and enlightenment. Discuss. Reading: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The First Discourse and Rudé, Revolutionary Europe, pp. 9-64. Week 10, Nov. 12 and 15 Nov. 12 Lecture: Political Thought and The American and French Revolutions Nov. 15 Seminar 7: Discuss Rousseau's views on "the social contract". Or; Do Rousseau's ideas prefigure democracy or totalitarianism? Reading: Rousseau, The Second Discourse; Rudé, pp. 65-178; and Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France. Week 11, Nov. 19 and 22 Nov. 19 Seminar 8: What is the significance of the debate between Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine on the subject of the French Revolution? Does it have significance for politics today? Nov. 22 Lecture: The Rise of capitalism and the development of European Political Philosophy Reading: E.J. Hobsbawm, Industry and Empire, pp. 23-108; Thomas Paine, The Rights of Man. Week 12, Nov. 24 and 27 Nov. 24 Lecture: Hegel and the dialectic in history Nov. 27 Seminar 9: Hegel's dialectic, based on a notion that nothing is eternal except for change itself, is the ultimate philosophic attack on conservatism. Yet in the end, Hegel adopts the most conservative of all political attitudes, endorsing the rule of the 19th century German state bureaucracy. Discuss. Reading: G.W.F. Hegel, Reason in History, all.
4 Essay Assignments First Term 1. Was there racism in ancient society? 2. Discuss Plato's and Aristotle's views on a) the holding of property in common and b) the role of women in society. In what ways are their ideas applicable today? 3. Aristotle has a limited defence of the merits of democracy as opposed to oligarchy. Discuss with reference to his views on slavery. 4. Ellen and Neal Wood have argued that Plato and Aristotle developed their ideas as an aristocratic reaction to the radical-democratic ideas of the democratic polis. Discuss. 5. According to Machiavelli. "The principal foundations of all states are good laws and good armies". Discuss. 6. Discuss the relationship between Cromwell, the Levellers and the ideas of democracy during the English Civil War. 7. Rousseau argues that there is a contradiction between virtue and enlightenment. Discuss. 8. Discuss Rousseau's views on "the social contract". 9. Do Rousseau's ideas prefigure democracy or totalitarianism? 10. What is the significance of the debate between Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine on the subject of the French Revolution? Does it have significance for politics today? 11. Was the French Revolution an aberrent event that delayed the rise of democracy in France or a necessary precursor to it? 12. Hegel's dialectic, based on a notion that nothing is eternal except for change itself, is the ultimate philosophic attack on conservatism. Yet in the end, Hegel adopts the most conservative of all political attitudes, endorsing the rule of the 19th century German state bureaucracy. Discuss.
5 QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY Department of Political Studies POLS 350 History of Political Thought 1990/91 Fall/Winter Monday, 11:30-1:00 Instructor: Paul Kellogg Thursday, 1:00-2:30 Office: M-C E326 M-C B503 Hours: Monday, 9-11:30, 2:30-3:00 ************************************************************************************************************ Students are advised that incomplete standing will be granted only with the permission of the chairman of undergraduate or graduate studies (as appropriate) and only where there is a clear demonstration of need. Applications for "Incomplete" standing must be made in the first instance to the instructor on the form available in the General Office. The simple fact of nonsubmission of work does not constitute an application and will result in a grade of zero for that assignment. ************************************************************************************************************ The purpose of this course is to survey the classical contributions to the key paradigms of Western Political Thought. The aim of the course is to provide students with both an overview of the political ideas which have shaped Western civilization and an awareness of the historical, social and economic circumstances in which these ideas arose. Marking Scheme First Term Essay, 3,000 words 25% Final Exam 35% 2nd Term Essay, 3,000 words 30% Seminar 10% First Term Required Texts, recommended for purchase Plato, The Republic of Plato, trans. Cornford Aristotle, The Politics of Aristotle, trans. Barker Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The First and Second Discourses, trans. Masters G.W.F. Hegel, Reason in History, trans. Robert Hartman First Term Recommended Texts (available on Reserve) Quentin Skinner, Machiavelli G.E.M. De Ste. Croix, Class Struggle in the Ancient Greek World Henri Pirenne, Economic and Social History of Medieval Europe George Rudé, Revolutionary Europe 1783-1815 Second Term Required Texts John Stuart Mill, Essential Works of John Stuart Mill Out of print replace by Jene M. Porter, ed., Classics in Political Philosophy (Scarborough: Prentice-Hall, 1989). Alex Callinicos, The Revolutionary Ideas of Karl Marx Max Weber, Selections in Translation Second Term Recommended Texts (available on Reserve) E.J. Hobsbawm, Industry and Empire R. Michels, Political Parties R. Kennedy, The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers Alex Callinicos, Against Postmodernism
6 2nd TERM SYLLABUS * indicates available in xerox from the professor. Note of explanation to second term outline. The book around which I had originally designed much of the second term (Essential works of Mill) is out of print. I have found an excellent substitute, however, a new collection edited by Jene M. Porter which has Mill and much more. In fact, had the book been available in September, I would have used it as a text for the entire year. (For those looking for readings on Aquinas and St. Augustine on which I lectured but had no text, you will find good selections here). It is, however, quite a bit more expensive than the book it replaces. To justify the extra expense involved, I have changed the outline a bit. We begin with a quick return to Hobbes and Locke, a step back in time from the end of the first term which ended with Rousseau and Hegel. But there are excellent selections from Hobbes and Locke in the Porter collection and it will make the pain of the purchase a little more bearable if substantial portions of the readings are from the book. I. Hobbes and Locke Week 13, Jan. 7 and 10 Jan. 7 Lecture: Introduction to the Second Term Jan. 10 Lecture: State and society in the Leviathan Reading: Thomas Hobbes, selections from the Leviathan Porter, pp. 231-282. Week 14, Jan. 14 and 17 Jan. 14 Lecture: State and Society in the writings of John Locke Jan. 17 Seminar 1: Compare and contrast the views on state and society in the writings of Hobbes and Locke. What is the relevance of these views today? Reading: John Locke, selections from The Second Treatise in Porter, pp. 283-332. II. Marx and Marxism Week 15, Jan. 21 and 24 Jan. 21 Lecture: Alienation and exploitation: the industrial revolution and the development of Marx's political thought Jan. 24 Seminar 2: Outline the views of the young Marx on alienation as developed in the "Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844". Are these views Marx abandoned in his more developed works? Reading: Callinicos, The Revolutionary Ideas of Marx, pp. 7-64; Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, selections in Porter, pp. 473-486; (Historical and social context: E.J. Hobsbawm, Industry and Empire, pp. 109-153). Week 16, Jan. 28 and 31 Jan. 28 Lecture: From Marx to Engels Jan. 31 Seminar 3: Has history ended (as maintained by Fukayama and others)? Discuss with reference to Marx's ideas on the role of classes and class struggle in historical development. Reading: Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, selections in Porter, pp. 487-508; Callinicos, The Revolutionary Ideas of Marx, pp. 65-209.
7 III. Mill and Liberalism Week 17, Feb. 4 and 7 Feb. 4 Lecture: Capitalism, the individual and the rise of Liberalism. Feb. 7 Seminar 4: Can Mill and Green's ideas of liberty and individuality be reconciled with capitalism? Reading: *T.H. Green, "Liberal Legislation and Freedom of Contract"; *John Stuart Mill, selections in Porter, pp. 435-458; (Historical and social context: E.J. Hobsbawm, Industry and Empire, pp. 154-194). Week 18, Feb. 11 and 14 Feb. 11 Lecture: Utilitarianism and Liberal Political Philosophy Feb. 14 Seminar 5: What is utilitarianism? Discuss its relationship to Liberal theory and its relevance today. Reading: John Stuart Mill, selections in Porter, pp. 459-472; *John Stuart Mill, essays on Bentham and Coleridge. IV. Developments in The Twentieth Century - Max Weber Week 19, Feb. 25 and 28 Feb. 25 Lecture: unit and method of analysis in Weber Feb. 28 Seminar 6: How are Weber and Marx's concepts of class similar and different? Which do you find more persuasive as a unit of analysis and why? Reading: Max Weber, Selections in Translation, pp. 3-134; 287-340. Week 20, Mar. 4 and 7 Mar. 4 Due date for submission of Second Essay Mar. 4 Mar. 7 Lecture: Ideology and Politics in Weber Seminar 7: Compare the treatment of ideology in Weber's study of protestantism with Marx and Engels The German Ideology. Which do you find more persuasive and why? Reading: Max Weber, Selections in Translation, pp. 135-286.; Week 21, Mar. 11 and 14 Mar. 11 Lecture: from the individual to bureaucracy to elites. Mar. 14 Seminar 8: Is there an iron law of oligarchy? If so, can this be reconciled with the key tenets of Liberalism? Reading: Max Weber, Selections in Translation, pp. 340-356; Robert Michels, Political Parties, pp. 43-80; pp. 333-372; (Historical and social context: Kennedy, The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, pp. 194-274.) V. Some Contemporary Issues Week 22, Mar. 18 and 21 Mar. 18 Lecture. The feminist challenge. Mar. 21 Seminar 9: What elements of classical political theory can be retained in light of the feminist critique? Reading: Juliet Mitchell and Ann Oakley, eds., The Rights and Wrongs of Women (Markham: Penguin Books, 1976), pp. 112-138; 271-287; 304-378; 379-400.
8 Week 23, Mar. 25 and 28 Mar. 25 Lecture: The post-modern challenge. Mar. 28 Seminar 10: What elements of classical political theory can be retained in light of the post-modernist critique? Reading: Callinicos, Against Post-modernism, pp. 9-91 (Historical and social context: Kennedy, The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, pp. 438-540). Week 24, Apr. 1 and 4 Apr. 1 Lecture: Concluding lecture: contemporary lessons of political theory. Apr. 4 Review and exam preparation. Essay Assignments Second Term 1: Compare and contrast the views on state and society in the writings of Hobbes and Locke. What is the relevance of these views today? 2: Outline the views of the young Marx on alienation as developed in the "Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844". Are these views Marx abandoned in his more developed works? 3: Has history ended (as maintained by Fukayama and others)? Discuss with reference to Marx's ideas on the role of classes and class struggle in historical development. 4: Can Mill and Green's ideas of liberty and individuality be reconciled with capitalism? 5: What is utilitarianism? Discuss its relationship to Liberal theory and its relevance today. 6: How are Weber and Marx's concepts of class similar and different? Which do you find more persuasive as a unit of analysis and why? 7: Compare the treatment of ideology in Weber's study of protestantism with Marx and Engels The German Ideology. Which do you find more persuasive and why? 8: Is there an iron law of oligarchy? If so, can this be reconciled with the key tenets of Liberalism? 9: What elements of classical political theory can be retained in light of the feminist critique? 10: What elements of classical political theory can be retained in light of the post-modernist critique?