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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PH/PL 312 H"
COURSE NAME: "Freedom, Equality, and Democracy- HONORS (This course carries 4 semester hours of credits. A minimum CUM GPA of 3.5 is required)"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2024
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Tom Bailey
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 3:00-4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
One previous philosophy course or Junior Standing Co-requisites: EN 110; Recommended Junior Standing
OFFICE HOURS:
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8-10 a.m. and 4.15-6 p.m., Tiber faculty offices
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course introduces students to current philosophical debates over what makes a ‘just’ society, relating these debates to controversial issues in contemporary politics. In particular, students will develop their understanding of such crucial political ideas as ‘freedom,’ ‘equality’ and ‘democracy’ and of how these ideas can be interpreted and argued over in debates about issues such as healthcare, terrorism, poverty, immigration, and climate change.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
In this course we will study and engage in the vibrant contemporary debates over what makes a “just” or “good” society. We will examine both general principles and concrete political issues, and consider how each can illuminate the other. So, for instance, we will examine libertarian ideas of freedom and property, liberal ideas of harm and fairness, socialist ideas of equality and solidarity, democratic ideas of deliberation and competition, and cosmopolitan ideas of international and global justice, and we will consider how these ideas relate to issues such as healthcare reform, gender discrimination, religious freedom, climate change, and drone strikes. Throughout, the aim will be not only to familiarize you with the ideas, issues, and debates, but also to develop your own views about them and your ability to explain, reflect on, and defend them, through extensive discussions in class, online, and in written assignments.
The course is divided into two main parts. The first part focuses on the general principles of a “just” society, providing you with a “toolbox” of ideas about “freedom,” “equality,” “democracy,” and “cosmopolitanism.” In considering the relative merits of these ideas, here we will also hold two structured debates, the topics of which we will choose together. You will then prepare your first written assignment. In the second part of the course, we will explore some more specific topics in domestic and global politics: the meaning and problems of gender (in)justice, the purpose of punishment and prisons, the place of religion in politics, the challenges of climate change, and the possible justifications for war and anti-terrorism policies. At the end of this part of the course you will prepare a research paper on one of these topics. Then, at the end of the course, there will be a cumulative final exam.
If you take this course for an extra Honors credit, you will prepare a further research paper on a topic agreed with the professor.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
More specifically, by the end of the course you will be able to:
• explain and analyze the positions and arguments involved in contemporary philosophical debates over the ideas of freedom, equality, democracy, and cosmopolitanism and over other ideas and issues in domestic and global politics;
• analyze contemporary political issues and arguments in the light of these debates;
• reflectively develop your own reasoned views about these things;
• understand and interpret primary texts in philosophy, make appropriate use of secondary resources, and do guided research work;
• do all this in appropriately academic oral and written forms, individually and in groups.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Class participation | I will give you a percentage grade for each class, and the average of these grades will constitute your final participation grade. Your grades will be based on how sophisticated an understanding and analysis of the relevant materials you display, how clearly and attentively you respond to what I and others say and how critically and thoroughly you show that you reflect on the issues raised. So, if you show that you have analyzed the materials well before class, contribute to class activities in thoughtful, relevant and collaborative ways and develop your own ideas about the issues raised, then you will receive an ‘A’ grade for the class. If you show some understanding and analysis of the materials, contribute actively to class activities and attend reflectively to the issues raised, then you will receive a ‘B’ grade. You will receive a ‘C’ grade if you show an understanding only of the basics of the materials, while contributing rarely or only when called upon and providing little thoughtful analysis. | 20% |
| Online forum contributions | Since the class forum is intended to allow for free discussion, I will not assess the content of your posts. Your grade for this assessment will be simply the percentage of times that you post on time, out of the possible total posts. You may also miss up to two posts unexcused without this affecting your grade – I will just reduce the number of possible total posts accordingly when calculating your grade. | 10% |
| Two written assignments | You will prepare a written assignment of 1800-2000 words at the end of each of the two main parts of the course. In each case, I will give you a set of questions from which to choose in the penultimate week of the relevant part of the course, although you may agree an alternative question with me. The assignment will be due a week later, after the review class.
The grade for each assignment will be based on how well you explain the relevant ideas and arguments, how thoughtfully you discuss them and how clearly and logically you present your answer to the question. So, an assignment that accurately and thoroughly explains the relevant ideas and arguments, discusses them in reflective and analytical ways, and presents all of this precisely and as part of a clear answer to the question will receive an ‘A’ grade. If the assignment explains some of the relevant ideas and arguments accurately, provides some thoughtful discussion, and is generally clearly expressed and organized, it will receive a ‘B’ grade. A ‘C’ grade assignment will be one that attempts to answer the question and provides some account of some relevant ideas and arguments, but fails to explain others, gives little discussion and/or is unclearly expressed and organized. | 25% for the best one and 20% for the other |
| End of course written examination | The examination will consist of an essay written over an hour and a half under examination conditions. The examination questions will be distributed on Thursday of week 13. At the examination in week 15, each of you will be given two of these questions to choose from, both on topics other than those of your written assignments. | 25% |
-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:
A maximum of two unexcused absences from class will be accepted. Beyond this, a zero grade will be given for each unexcused absence, bringing your average grade down. It is your responsibility to inform me if you miss or cannot participate fully in a class for a good reason. Good reasons include illness, unavoidable appointments and transport strikes, but not trips, guests and malfunctioning alarm clocks. Note that arriving late to class, leaving for lengthy ‘toilet breaks’ and using a laptop or mobile phone in class also count as ‘unexcused absences’.
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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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Week 1: Introduction
I. A toolbox of ideas
Week 2: Freedom
Tuesday: Libertarians against government
Thursday: What are the limits of freedom?
Week 3: Equality
Tuesday: How equal should we be? Opportunities and wealth
Thursday: Socialism vs. capitalism
Week 4: Democracy
Tuesday: Deliberation and consensus
Thursday: Democracy as competition?
Week 5: Cosmopolitanism
Tuesday: Citizens of the world?
Thursday: Duties to compatriots
Week 6: Debates
Tuesday: Hate speech / Healthcare / Lockdowns
Thursday: Voting / Migration / Vaccines
Week 7: Preparation of first written assignment
II. Topics
Week 8: Feminism
Tuesday: Misogyny
Thursday: Gender
Week 9: Punishment
Tuesday: What is the point of punishment?
Thursday: Race and prison abolition
Week 10: Religion
Tuesday: Should religious ideas be allowed in democratic debate?
Thursday: Christians against liberal democracy
Week 11: Climate
Tuesday: Climate equality
Thursday: Future generations and compensation
Week 12: War and terrorism
Tuesday: Preventive and protective wars
Thursday: How to respond to terrorism
Week 13: Preparation of research assignment
Week 14: Preparation for final exam
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