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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PL 210"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Political Theory"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Summer Session I 2024
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Emanuele Saccarelli
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MTWTH 1:30 PM 3:20 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
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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 introduction to Political Theory will focus three outstanding authors in the history of political thought and some of their most influential and powerful texts: Plato’s Apology and Crito, Machiavelli’s The Prince, and Marx and Engels’ Communist Manifesto.
The authors and protagonists of these texts are personalities of extraordinary historical interest. Today they are all widely regarded as powerful intellectuals who left a deep imprint in the evolution of political thought through the ages and around the world. Our authors, moreover, were all directly involved in the great struggles and changes of their times, and their ideas as well as actions were the source of explosive political controversies.
For all the significant changes that have of course taken place, the most fundamental political questions of the contemporary world have not escaped the powerful gravitational force exerted by the authors we will study. To study these texts, in other words, is also to trace the footprints leading to our own world and to understand something of ourselves. The texts we will read speak powerfully and directly to many of the questions we are still facing today. These include the relationship between the individual and the state, and particularly the act of disobedience; the relationship between individual ethics and political action, and the problem of means and ends in politics; the rise of democracy as a peculiar and fragile political form, as well as the question of its social foundations; the tense relationship between intellectuals and the masses, as well as the political stakes of education. The texts we will read in this course will give us an opportunity to discuss all of these questions and more.
The actual meaning of the texts we are going to read, however, is far from self-evident. Long before the rise of Political Theory as an academic discipline, they have been interpreted in many, shockingly different and mutually incompatible ways. The surface of these texts often conceals surprises, and even traps. Therefore, our work will also take on the interpretive challenges faced in reading and understanding any rich and complex text. You will be encouraged to read patiently and attentively and to develop your own interpretative arguments and skills.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Become familiar with the basic approaches and techniques used in Political Theory to interpret challenging texts including material of historical, literary, philosophical, and political character
• Become familiar with important authors in the tradition of Western political thought, and their political and intellectual biographies
• Become familiar with important texts in the tradition of Western political thought, and with competing interpretations regarding their meaning and intent
• Understand those important texts in their historical context
• Understand the different ways in which these texts resonate with the political conditions that exist today
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| The Trial and Death of Socrates | Plato | Dover | 0-486-27066-1 | | | Hard Copy | | |
| The Prince | Machiavelli | Hackett | 9780872203167 | | | Hard Copy | | |
| The Marx-Engels Reader (2nd edition) | Robert Tucker | Norton | 9780393090406 | | | Hard Copy | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Attendance and Participation | Reading and discussing together the assigned reading is virtually the entire substance of the class and will thus constitute a significant portion of your final grade | 25% |
| Exam 1 | In-class exam based on Plato's Apology and Crito. | 25 |
| Exam 2 | In-class exam based on Machiavelli's The Prince | 25 |
| Exam 3 | In-class exam based on Marx and Engels' Communist Manifesto | 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:
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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Monday May 20
Welcome and Introduction
Tuesday May 21
Documentary: The Greeks
I. Socrates: the democratic trial and the trial of democracy
Wednesday May 22
Plato, Apology
Thursday May 23
Plato, Apology
Monday May 27
Plato, Crito
Tuesday May 28
Plato, Crito
Wednesday May 29
Exam 1
II. Machiavelli: enemy of the people?
Thursday May 30
Documentary: Who’s Afraid of Machiavelli?
Monday June 3
Machiavelli, The Prince
Tuesday June 4
Machiavelli, The Prince
Wednesday June 5
Machiavelli, The Prince
Thursday June 6
Machiavelli, The Prince
Monday June 10
Machiavelli, The Prince
Tuesday June 11
Exam 2
III. Marx and Engels: the future in the past
Wednesday June 12
Film: The Young Karl Marx
Thursday June 13
Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto
Monday June 17
Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto
Tuesday June 18
Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto
Wednesday June 19
Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto
Thursday June 20
Exam review
Friday June 21
Exam 3
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