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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PL 210-1"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Political Theory"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring Semester 2012
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Harris Pamela
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 13:00-14:15
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
MW 10-12, Dean's Office
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course aims to introduce you to the history of political thought, from Ancient Greece to the 19th century. Through a close reading of selected canonical texts, we will engage with different ideas about the good human life, and the political structures best suited to realize it. We will pay special attention to the evolution of ideas about democracy, liberty, equality, political freedom and justice, in light of different conceptions of human nature and the role of the individual in society. Through lecture, discussion and written work, we will grapple with basic texts in the history of political theory, and in so doing, learn to think more rigorously and profoundly about contemporary political questions, and examine our own basic beliefs and aspirations.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
1. Introduction: What is Political Theory?
2. Plato
3. Aristotle
4. Romans and Christians: Cicero and St. Augustine
5. Machiavelli
6. Social Contract Theory: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau
7. American political thought: Madison and Jefferson
8. de Tocqueville
9. John Stuart Mill
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
•Understanding of the evolution of ideas about democracy, liberty, equality and the role of the state, in light of different views of human nature and the role of the individual in society.
•Ability to make a cogent written argument interpreting and comparing basic texts in the history of political theory.•Ability to apply basic arguments in the history of political theory to analyze contemporary political issues.
•Ability to perform the critical reading, interpretation and analytical comparison of key texts in the history of political theory.
•Ability to evaluate and assess contemporary political debates in light of historical, theoretical texts.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| The Republic | Plato | Penguin | PAPERBACK,9780140455113 | | | | | |
| The Politics | Aristotle | Oxford | PAPERBACK,9780199538737 | | | | | |
| The Prince | Machiavelli | Oxford | PAPERBACK, 9780199535699 | | | | | |
| On Liberty and Other Essays | John Stuart Mill | Oxford | PAPERBACK, 9780199535736 | | | | | |
| The Basic Political Writings | Jean-Jacques Rousseau | Hackett Publishing | 9780872200470 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Plato/Aristotle paper | 5-page (double-spaced) paper, evaluating Plato and Aristotle's respective views of a given topic. Due Feb. 9. | 20% |
| Class Participation | Attendance, coming to class prepared, preparation of study questions, active listening, participation in review sessions and other assignments | 20% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
•Pass: basic familiarity with the assigned texts
•Good: solid understanding of the assigned texts
•Excellent: ability to think deeply, passionately and analytically about the assigned texts
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
CLASS PARTICIPATION, FOR WHICH ATTENDANCE IS FUNDAMENTAL, IS 20% OF FINAL GRADE
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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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| Session | Session Focus | Reading Assignment | Other Assignment | Meeting Place/Exam Dates |
| Week 1: Jan 16, 18 | Introduction, Plato | The Apology (handout) | | |
| Week 2: Jan 23, 25 | Plato | The Republic | | |
| Week 3: Jan 30, Feb 1 | Aristotle | The Politics | | |
| Make-up class: Friday, Feb 3 | Plato/Aristotle debate | | | |
| Week 4: Feb 6, 8 | Romans and Christians | | Plato/Aristotle paper due - Feb. 9 | |
| Week 5: Feb. 13, 15 | Machiavelli | The Prince | | |
| Week 6: Feb 20, 22, 24 | Machiavelli; Social Contract theory | Hobbes, Leviathan | | |
| Week 7: Feb 27, 29 | Social Contract Theory | Locke, Second Treatist of Government | | |
| Week 8: March 5, 7, 9 | Rousseau | Discourse on Inequality, Social Contract | | |
| Week 9: March 12, 14 | Midterm Review and exam | | | March 14 |
| Spring Break: March 19-23 | | | | |
| Week 10: March 26, 28 | American Political Theory | Madison and Jefferson handout | | |
| Week 11: April 2, 4 | John Stuart Mill | On Liberty | | |
| Week 12: April 11 | Mill | On the Subjection of Women | | |
| Week 13: April 16, 18 | de Tocqueville | Democracy in America | | |
| Week 14: April 23 | Final review | | prepare answers to review questions | |
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