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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PH 230"
COURSE NAME: "Evil Philosophers: Controversial Books in Modern Philosophy"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2014
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
David Levy
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
after class or by appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Works by Machiavelli, Hobbes and Mandeville scandalized many readers and fascinated many others in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Properly read, they can provoke similar responses even today. In this course we will try to recapture the dangerousness and excitement of these books, and to become acquainted with the enduring questions to which their authors direct our attention.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
In the Prince, Machiavelli announces his break with traditional morality and declares that a prince must "learn to be able not to be good." In order to understand this break, we will begin by reading the traditional text which Machiavelli seems to have respected the most: Xenophon’s Education of Cyrus. We will then turn to the Prince itself, followed by selections from Hobbes’ Leviathan and Mandeville’s Fable of the Bees.
For the Education of Cyrus, students are required to use the translation by Wayne Ambler, and for the Prince, that by Harvey Mansfield. (See below in the "Textbook" section.) Students who know Greek or Italian should consult the original texts as well.
For the Leviathan and the Fable of the Bees, any edition is acceptable, including texts found online. (In the case of online texts, however, students are required to print out the relevant pages and bring them to class. No electronic devices are permitted in the classroom.)
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Acquire a basic understanding of the controversial arguments of these thinkers, and be able to assess the possible relevance of those arguments today.
Gain experience in the art of reading carefully a philosophic text.
Improve one’s ability to speak, think and write clearly and correctly.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Education of Cyrus | Xenophon (translator Wayne Ambler) | Cornell | 0-8014-8750-1 (pbk) | | | | | |
| Leviathan | Thomas Hobbes | Hackett | 978-0872201774 (pbk) | | | | | |
| The Prince | Niccolò Machiavelli (translator Harvey Mansfield) | University of Chicago Press | 978-0226500447 (pbk) | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| attendance, participation, short written comments, pop quizzes | | 20 |
| 3-4 short papers | | 60 |
| final exam (essay questions on the readings) | | 20 |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
A Work of this quality provides a coherent, orderly argument based on an extremely careful reading of the relevant texts and a solid understanding of the relevant issues. The student displays superior reasoning skills, and has done a good deal of original thinking about the material. He or she knows how to raise important questions about the text and to evaluate possible answers to them. The student writes very clearly and has a near-perfect command of English usage and grammar.
B This is a good level of performance. The student displays a capacity for careful reading and good reasoning. The work reflects some original thinking and is not simply a repetition of lecture material and readings. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions. The student writes clearly and has a good command of English usage and grammar.
C This is an acceptable, or fair, level of performance. The student provides answers that are clear but limited, consisting mainly in a repetition of the text or lectures. The student has some ability to write clearly and correctly.
D This level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material. Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included. The paper is poorly organized, and the student shows limited ability to write clearly and correctly.
F This work fails to show any significant knowledge of the texts and the issues. Most of the material is irrelevant or inaccurate. There is no coherent argument and the student shows little ability to write clearly and correctly.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Students are expected to attend class regularly and on time. Unexcused absences and lack of punctuality will negatively affect a student's 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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Weeks 1-5: Xenophon, Education of Cyrus
Weeks 6-10: Machiavelli, the Prince
Weeks 11-13: Hobbes, Leviathan
Week 14: Mandeville, Fable of the Bees
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