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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PL 210"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Political Theory"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Summer Session II 2022
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Karl Friedrich Walling
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MTWTH 9:00 AM 10:50 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
Immediately after class
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An introduction to the history of political thought, from Ancient Greece to the 19th century. Through a close reading of selected canonical texts, students will examine the evolution of ideas about democracy, liberty, equality, justice, political authority, the social contract, different conceptions of human nature and the role of the individual in society. The theorists examined may include Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, de Tocqueville and John Stuart Mill.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course seeks to introduce students to some of the fundamental questions of political life: What is the relationship of the individual to the political community? What is the purpose of political life? Virtue? Freedom? Glory? What is virtue? How does the classical understanding of virtue differ from the modern view? What is the significance of human nature for politics? What is the relationship of property to justice and liberty? Of religion and politics? How should we live and what may we hope for?
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
• Read ancient and modern political texts with care and insight
• Articulate the opposing theoretical positions and arguments contained in these texts
• Analyze issues in the light of these competing positions and arguments
• Develop your own reasoned views on the theoretical and political issues involved
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TEXTBOOK:
Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
Plato’s Republic | Plato, translator Bloom | Basic Books | 0-465-0693-7 | | Please use the editions listed, as translations can vary. We all need to be on the same page, literally and figuratively. (Since we will be reading these texts closely, it is also essential that students can readily locate the passages under discussion.) The below are [i.e., should be] available for purchase at the Almost Corner bookstore or on-line: | | | |
On the Advantages and Disadvantages of History for Life | Nietzsche, translator Preuss | Hackett | 978-0915144945 | | | | | |
The Major Political Writings of Jean Jacques Rousseau | Rousseau, translator Scott | University of Chicago Press | 978-0226151311 | | | | | |
Locke’s Second Treatise of Government | Locke | Wiley-Blackwell | 978-0882951256 | | | | | |
Machiavelli’s The Prince | Machiavelli, translator Mansfield (second edition) | University of Chicago Press | 978-0226500447 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
2 Papers | | 15% each x 2 = 30% |
Final exam | | 35% |
Class participation | | 15% |
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| COURSE SCHEDULE
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NOTE: I reserve the right to modify the reading assignments, and on occasion, I will add a reading (and more rarely, subtract one).
1. Tues, 5 July
Introductory remarks, syllabus review, course expectations
2. Weds, 6 July
The Grandeur that was Greece! “Pericles’ Funeral Oration” and chap. 3 of D. Kagan’s Pericles of Athens (Prof. Walling will furnish).
3. Thurs, 7 July
Plato’s Republic, Book I
4. Fri, 8 July
Plato’s Republic, Books II-III
5. Mon, 11 July
Plato’s Republic, Books IV-V
6. Tues, 12 July
Plato’s Republic, Books VI-VII
7. Weds, 13 July
Plato’s Republic, Books VIII- IX
8. Thurs, 14 July
Plato’s Republic, Book X
Socrates paper prompt one assigned. Paper due at beginning of class on 18 July.
9. Mon, 18 July
Machiavelli, The Prince, Dedicatory Letter + chs. 1-9, pp. 3-42.
10. Tues, 19 July
Machiavelli, The Prince, chs. 10-15, pp. 42-62.
11, Weds, 20 July
Machiavelli, The Prince, chs. 16-21 AND chs. 25-26; pp. 62-91; 98-105.
Machiavelli paper prompt two assigned. Paper due at beginning of class on 25 July.
12. Thurs, 21 July
Locke, Second Treatise of Government, chs. 1-5, pp. 1-31.
13. Mon, 25 July
Locke, Second Treatise, chs. 7-9, pp. 47-78.
14. Tues, 26 July
Locke, Second Treatise, chs. 10-12, 14, 19, pp. 79-91; 99-104; 130-148.
Locke paper prompt three assigned Paper due at beginning of class on 1 August.
15. Weds, 27 July
Rousseau, First Discourse, pp. 1-37 plus notes.
16. Thurs, 28 July
Rousseau, Second Discourse, pp. 51-64 plus notes.
17. Mon, 1 August
Rousseau, Second Discourse, pp. 65-90 plus notes.
18. Tues, 2 August
Rousseau, Second Discourse, pp. 91-117 plus notes.
Rousseau paper prompt four assigned. Paper due at beginning of class on 4 August.
19 Weds, 3 August
Nietzsche, On the Advantage and Disadvantage of History for Life, pp. 7-64.
20. Thurs, 4 August
Marx, “The Communist Manifesto” (Prof. Walling will furnish)
Final exam period (TBD)
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-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course. BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments. CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings. DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail. FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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NOTE: I reserve the right to modify the reading assignments, and on occasion, I will add a reading (and more rarely, subtract one).
1. Tues, 5 July
Introductory remarks, syllabus review, course expectations
2. Weds, 6 July
The Grandeur that was Greece! “Pericles’ Funeral Oration” and chap. 3 of D. Kagan’s Pericles of Athens (Prof. Walling will furnish).
3. Thurs, 7 July
Plato’s Republic, Book I
4. Fri, 8 July
Plato’s Republic, Books II-III
5. Mon, 11 July
Plato’s Republic, Books IV-V
6. Tues, 12 July
Plato’s Republic, Books VI-VII
7. Weds, 13 July
Plato’s Republic, Books VIII- IX
8. Thurs, 14 July
Plato’s Republic, Book X
Socrates paper prompt one assigned. Paper due at beginning of class on 18 July.
9. Mon, 18 July
Machiavelli, The Prince, Dedicatory Letter + chs. 1-9, pp. 3-42.
10. Tues, 19 July
Machiavelli, The Prince, chs. 10-15, pp. 42-62.
11, Weds, 20 July
Machiavelli, The Prince, chs. 16-21 AND chs. 25-26; pp. 62-91; 98-105.
Machiavelli paper prompt two assigned. Paper due at beginning of class on 25 July.
12. Thurs, 21 July
Locke, Second Treatise of Government, chs. 1-5, pp. 1-31.
13. Mon, 25 July
Locke, Second Treatise, chs. 7-9, pp. 47-78.
14. Tues, 26 July
Locke, Second Treatise, chs. 10-12, 14, 19, pp. 79-91; 99-104; 130-148.
Locke paper prompt three assigned Paper due at beginning of class on 1 August.
15. Weds, 27 July
Rousseau, First Discourse, pp. 1-37 plus notes.
16. Thurs, 28 July
Rousseau, Second Discourse, pp. 51-64 plus notes.
17. Mon, 1 August
Rousseau, Second Discourse, pp. 65-90 plus notes.
18. Tues, 2 August
Rousseau, Second Discourse, pp. 91-117 plus notes.
Rousseau paper prompt four assigned. Paper due at beginning of class on 4 August.
19 Weds, 3 August
Nietzsche, On the Advantage and Disadvantage of History for Life, pp. 7-64.
20. Thurs, 4 August
Marx, “The Communist Manifesto” (Prof. Walling will furnish)
Final exam period (TBD)
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