Sample Syllabus: Political Theory

Dr. Federici

POLI 400-01--POLITICAL THEORY DR. MICHAEL P. FEDERICI

TT 12:30-2:25 OFFICE: PRESTON 117

SPRING 2005 OFFICE HOURS : MWF, 1:30-3:00; TT, 11:45-12:30

ROOM: MAIN 206 READING/RESEARCH HOURS : MWF 11:15-1:30; TT, 9:00-11:45

COURSE DESCRIPTION

POLI 400 is a study and analysis of significant political thinkers and political ideas. The course covers the three historical periods of political thought: Ancient, Medieval/Christian, and Modern. Representative thinkers and ideas from each period are used to illustrate important insights that were differentiated in a variety of historical circumstances. Among the major theorists covered are Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Augustine, Aquinas, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, Mill, Marx, Voegelin, and Rawls. These figures have been selected because they are among the seminal thinkers who have shaped civilization and politics for centuries.

The theme for the course is the search for order. Politics has three primary ends: justice, order, and liberty. Political theory is the search for knowledge about these ends. Political ideas develop in concrete historical circumstances and shape political institutions, law, order, liberty, justice, and the quality of life. Human experience provides a common reference against which to measure political theorists = competing claims. In that regard, particular thinkers tend to be either abstract/ahistorical or concrete/historical. Abstractness tends to obfuscate the truth of reality while historical concreteness tends to make it transparent. Order, justice, and liberty are derivatives of truth.

It should be noted that the study of political philosophy begins with the ancients and thus most political thinkers have been compelled to explain why they agree or disagree with Plato and Aristotle. This does not mean, however, that any one historical society captured the truth for all time. The ancients and Christians premised politics on the notion that political order reflects existential order in the individual. This fundamental principle is at the core of the search for order but like other insights it must be rediscovered in changing historical circumstances.

Modern political theory challenges many ancient and Medieval assumptions about politics. Consequently, it is important to compare and contrast political ideas from different historical periods to gain a better understanding of the spirit of each political thinker and epoch.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

In addition to the above objectives, the course will familiarize students with concepts related to political theory, e.g., human nature, human society, community, justice, order, liberty, virtue, equality, rights, natural law, and transcendence. Other course objectives include improving students = writing, research, and analytical (critical thinking) skills.

REQUIRED TEXTS

James L. Wiser. Political Philosophy: A History of the Search for Order (Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1983).

John Locke. Second Treatise of Government . Edited by C.B. Macpherson (Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1980), ISBN: 0-915144-86-7.

Plato. Republic . Trans. G. M. A. Grube. Revised by C.D.C. Reeve (Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1992),ISBN: 0-87220-136-8.

Rousseau. The Basic Political Writings . Trans. Donald A. Cress (Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1987), ISBN: 0-87220-047-7.

Roger Scruton. A Dictionary of Political Thought (New York: Hill & Wang, 1984) ON RESERVE IN THE LIBRARY .

PAPER ASSIGNMENT

One paper requiring limited research will be required. The research paper should be ten typewritten pages and follow the Turabian/Chicago Style Manual. A bibliography of at least five sources is required. The paper is due Tuesday, May 3 .

ESSAY ASSIGNMENT

Three critical thinking essays are required during the term. Details for the assignment are included on separate pages of the syllabus.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Attendance of all classes is required and grade penalties will result for unexcused absences. As a general policy, no make-up examinations will be given (students can petition the instructor if they think an exception is warranted). Work which is incomplete because of absence will be recorded as zero unless the absence is excused. Absences will be excused by the instructor and only for compelling reasons which must be stated in advance of the event (in writing) with obvious exceptions.

EVALUATION PROCEDURE

EXAMS-There will be two exams: one at mid-term ( Thursday, April 7) and one during final exam week ( Tuesday, May 17: 12:30-2:30 ).

GRADING POLICY

Your final grade for the course will be determined on the following basis:

Midterm................25% Final Exam.............25%

Essays.................25% Research Paper.........25%

The grading scale is: Below 60% = F; 60-66 = D; 67-69 = D+; 70-76 = C; 77-79 = C+; 80-86 = B; 87-89 = B+ 90+ = A. *Attendance and class participation will be used to determine final grades. A maximum of 3 points will be added or subtracted to the final average depending on the quality of attendance and class participation. No points will be given for good attendance but points will be deducted for poor attendance. A student who has perfect attendance but very little participation will lose points.

OFFICE HOURS

Office: 117 Preston Hall. My class schedule and office hours are posted near my door. To see me other than during office hours make an appointment. Campus telephone number: 824-2560 . E-mail: mfederici@mercyhurst.edu .

STUDY GUIDES

Study guides are included in the syllabus. They provide a list of terms and essay questions. Five of the terms and all of the essay questions will appear on each exam. The essay questions will be split into two sections and students are required to do two essays, one from each section. Because the terms and essays are provided in advance of the exam, it is expected that students will be thorough and complete in providing definitions and writing essays. It is especially important to provide concrete examples and texts to support arguments in essays and demonstrate an understanding of the concepts in the definition section. It is recommended that students practice both definitions and essays before taking the exam.

Below is a list of the reading assignments for the term. Changes may be made if the instructor feels they are necessary. Additional assignments may be added throughout the term. Selections from the assigned primary sources can be found on reserve and on the World Wide Web at: http://dir.yahoo.com/Social_Science/Political_Science/Political_Theory/Theorists/.

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY: THE ANCIENT AND CHRISTIAN IMAGINATIONS

Week 1-2    Why Study Political Theory? Plato : Wiser, Chapter 1; The Republic , Books I, II, VII, VIII.

Week 3    Aristotle : Wiser, Chapter 2; Selections from the Nicomachean Ethics Book I and The Politics Book I.

Week 4    The Romans: Cicero : Wiser, Chapter 3.

Week 5    Christian Political Thought : Wiser, Chapters 4-5; Selections from The City of God (see reserve reading), and Treatise on Law ( Summa Theologica , Questions 90-97).

MIDTERM EXAM (Thursday, April 7)

THE MODERN EXPERIMENT AND THE AGE OF REVOLUTION

Week 6    Modernity and the New Political Order : Wiser, Chapters 6-8; Machiavelli, The Prince .

Week 7    Social Contract Theory and the Birth of Liberalism (Hobbes and Locke) : Wiser, Chapters 9-10; Selections from the Leviathan (Part I, Chapters XIII-XIV; Part II, Chapters XVII-XVIII) and Locke, Second Treatise of Government .

Week 8    The Enlightenment and the Romantic Reaction (Rousseau) : Wiser, Chapters 11-12; Rousseau, The Social Contract , pp. 139-227; Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality, pp. 37-81.

Week 9    Conservatism (Burke) : Wiser, Chapter 13; Selections from the Reflections on the Revolution in France (see reserve reading).

Week 10    From Utilitarianism to Marx (Mill and Marx) : Wiser, Chapters 14-16; The Communist Manifesto ; ( Utilitarianism Chapter II). Contemporary political theory: Voegelin and Rawls.

FINAL EXAM (Tuesday, May 17: 12:30-2:30)