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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PH 230"
COURSE NAME: "Evil Philosophers: Controversial Books in Modern Philosophy"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2015
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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:
Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan (1651) and Benedict Spinoza’s Theological-Political Treatise (1670) were widely condemned (not entirely without reason) as irreligious and immoral by the first generations of readers. Nevertheless, these books had a profound influence on subsequent philosophers, on society and politics, and on religion itself. For example, the Leviathan laid the groundwork for modern notions of individual rights and government by consent, while the Theological-Political Treatise made one of the first philosophical arguments for freedom of speech. Both books helped originate what became known as the historical-critical study of the Bible. Because these books are the ultimate source of many of our modern beliefs, studying them can help us understand ourselves.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
We will read as carefully as possible selections from Hobbes' Leviathan and Spinoza's Theological-Political Treatise, supplemented by readings designed to illuminate the historical context (political and religious). We will read these books carefully because they were written carefully. We will study the context in order to understand not so much how these authors were men of their time, as how they were critics of their time.
The format of the course will be a mixture of lecture and discussion. Students are expected to come to every class prepared to discuss the assigned reading, of which they should bring with them a printed copy. (Please note that no electronic devices may be used in the classroom.)
Various editions of the Leviathan and the Theological-Politial Treatise are available, but not all are acceptable for this course. For the Leviathan, acceptable editions include those edited by Gaskin (Oxford World Classics) and Curley (Hackett). For the Theological-Political Treatise, students should use the translation by Samuel Shirley (Hackett, 2nd ed.) Check with the instructor before using other editions. For help with difficult passages, students may wish to consult the versions of these texts available at www.earlymoderntexts.com.
Students should also have a copy of the Bible at hand, since both Hobbes and Spinoza refer to it frequently, and since their sometimes unorthodox interpretations of the Bible are essential to their political teachings.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Acquire a basic understanding of the controversial arguments of these two thinkers, and be able to assess the 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 |
| Leviathan | Thomas Hobbes | Oxford | 0-19-282392-2 (pbk) | | | | | |
| Theological-Political Treatise | Benedict Spinoza (tr. Samuel Shirley) | Hackett | 0-87220-607-6 (pbk) | | 2nd. edition, 2001 | | | |
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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 | All absences from class should be justified (for example: illness, travelling) - and preferably in advance.
Punctuality is important.
Short written comments (handwritten is fine) on the assigned readings are due every class, except for five times during the semester (at the student's discretion). In addition, no comment is required on days when a paper is due. If you miss a class, you may turn in two comments the following class. Although comments are not graded individually, they should be thoughtful and well-written.
Pop quizzes will be graded Pass / Fail.
Students are strongly encouraged to participate actively in class discussions; those who do not, however, can still receive a good class participation grade by performing well in other respects.
The individual elements of class participation do not have fixed percentage weights; rather, in determining your final class participation grade I take into account each element and make an overall evaluation. | 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 a very 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. (Appropriate allowances are made for those for whom English is not a first language.)
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. This grade is also given for any act of plagiarism or other form of academic dishonesty.
-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. If you will have to miss a class, please let the instructor know in advance.
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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 1-7: Hobbes' Leviathan
Weeks 8-14: Spinoza's Theological-Political Treatise
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