COURSE SYLLABUS

Spring, 2004

Western Political Heritage PS 205 W. Wesley McDonald, instructor

4 credits; 2-3:30 Office: N 223

Email Address: mcdonaldw@etown.edu. Phone: 361-1306

Homepage: http://users.etown.edu/m/mcdonaldw/ Office Hours: T-Th 2-3:30, MW 3:30-5:00

TEXTBOOKS:

Donald G. Tannenbaum and David Schultz, Inventors of Ideas: An Introduction to Western Political Philosophy

(St. Martin's Press, 1997)

Michael Curtis, editor, The Great Political Theories, Vols. 1 and 2 (N.Y.: Avon/Discus Books, 1981)

Other study materials can be found at: http://politicalscience.wadsworth.com/tannenbaum2

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

A critical assessment of the ideas and selected original works of leading Western social and political thinkers since Plato. Justice, equality, war and peace, rights, freedom, order and community are among some of the ideas to be examined from a variety of critical and historical perspectives. Environmentalism, gay rights, abortion, war and peace, political correctness, and feminism are some of the topical issues to be discussed, examined and debated.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. To gain a general overview of the competing ideas on human nature, justice, rights, freedom, moral ontology, happiness that shaped the Western political tradition.

2. To challenge students to demonstrate how every conception of government implies a view of human nature and destiny and that no adequate understanding of politics and its goals is possible without a systematic consideration of the essence of the human condition.

3. To encourage students to think independently and critically. This objective will be achieved by the use of the Socratic dialogue and participation in class discussions. Through the question-and-answer process, students will develop their critical thinking skills by evaluating rationally the strengths and weaknesses of various competing moral systems and political options.

4. To appreciate better the enduring significance of the ideas of the great political thinkers.

5. To develop reading comprehension skills through a close textual analysis of selected works of the great political thinkers.

QUIZZES AND REWRITE ASSIGNMENTS

There will be several pop quizzes during the semester. The format of the quizzes will be:

1. The quiz will be composed of several essay questions taken from the course outline to be answered in a paragraph or less.

2. A maximum of 15 minutes will be allowed to complete the quiz.

3. The quiz will test knowledge of material covered in class and the assigned readings during the previous week.

4. The quiz will be graded and returned.

5. Select one of your quiz or unit examination essay answers to rewrite as a 5-10 (typewritten) page or more research paper using the Curtis volumes as a primary reference source and at least 5 library sources. Links to web sites with additional commentary, original sources and scholarly references are provided in the hypertext version of syllabus found in my public files folder on the College network. The revised essay along with a bibliography of sources will be due within two weeks following the return of the quiz.

6. If you would like help with your essays, you are encouraged to schedule a consultation session with the instruction. Please email a draft copy of the essay to the instructor prior to the meeting.

7. The following standards will be applied in determining the grade for this essay assignment:

GRADE

A. well written and organized, shows outstanding mastery of the materials, makes a logical and coherent argument, synthesizes ideas, and shows interrelationships and evidence of reading beyond the class texts.

B. well written and competently organized. Shows good understanding of the textbook material.

C. only an adequate understanding of the material. The writing and format is adequate and without major deficiency.

D. limited mastery of the subject matter. Format and writing falls below acceptable standards.

F. inadequate or unsatisfactory attainment. Student is either not capable of doing the assignment or made no effort to do so.

8. If the student has an unexcused absence on the day of a quiz ,“0” grade will be given

9. The grade for the writing assignment will be the average of the grades for the quizzes and essay.

GRADING

The final grade for the course will be based upon:

Two examinations @ 20 points each 40 points

Class participation including attendance 5 points

Quizzes and writing component 30 points

Comprehensive final examination 25 points

Examinations are a mixture of essay, short-answer, and objective questions.

There will be no make-up quizzes and examinations. If a student misses an examination because of a legitimate excuse, a double grade on the next test will be given. Otherwise, a grade of “0” will be given for the missed test. If I have not heard from you before leaving my office to give an exam, I will assume you have decided to sit for the examination. Final examination make-ups will be given only in the most extraordinary circumstances that, in the instructor’s opinion, have prevented the student from attending the regularly scheduled examination period. All reading assignments are to be completed before class. Class participation is important and the professor will make a note of those who contribute to class discussions. Textbooks containing daily assignments are to be brought to class.

ATTENDANCE

Every student will be held responsible on the examination for all lecture and classroom discussions. Classes begin promptly on the hour. Late arrivals will be counted as absent. It is the student’s responsibility to see that legitimate excuses for absences are brought to the instructor’s attention. Students will not wear hats or other inappropriate attire in class. Please refrain from eating in class.

CODE OF INTEGRITY

This course abides by the college’s Code of Integrity. On all material submitted for a grade, students are requested to sign the pledge stating, “I support the Elizabethtown code; I will uphold honesty in our community.”

COURSE OUTLINE

I. Introduction (Curtis, Vol. I, pp. 13-21, T&S, Chap 1)

a. Objectives of course

b. What is political theory?

c. Why study political philosophy?

d. Origins of Western political thought

e. What is the task of the genuine political philosopher

Terms: philia, sophia, theoria, descriptive, prescriptive

The Founding of Political Philosophy: Greeks and the Polis

II. Plato, The Republic: The Rule of the Philosopher-King (T&S Ch. 3, Curtis, Vol. I pp. 23-25, 26-30,

34-64).

a. Describe the three definitions of justice found in Bk. I of The Republic Analyze the problems with each.

b. What are the roles of the three classes of citizens in Plato’s Republic? What are the 3 parts of the soul?

c. Describe Socrates’ proposal for communism of wives and children.

d. How are the rulers selected in Plato’s Republic? Will this process guarantee that only the wisest and most virtuous will rule?

e. How would Plato’s utopian regime be established? Why are laws unnecessary in the ideal state?

f. What is Socrates’ definition of justice?

g. In what ways does Plato’s Laws differ from his earlier work, The Republic?

Terms: Hellenic, Sophists, rhetoric, polis, ontology, “Myth of the Metals,” philodoxer, philosopher,

doxa, “Allegory of the Cave,” Nocturnal Council, metics, dialogue, communism, guardians, auxilliaries, philosopher-King.

Web Links: Plato Web Site; The Internet Classics Archive | The Republic by Plato

III. Aristotle and the Mixed Polity (T&S Ch. 4; Curtis, Vol. I, pp 64-96)

a. What are Aristotle’s criticisms of Plato?

b. Why is man a social animal? What is the purpose of the polis? What is distributive justice?

c. Explain Aristotle’s scheme for classifying constitutions?

d. Why is friendship necessary in order to bind people together into a genuine community?

e. What is the most practical state?

f. What are the causes of sedition in a polis?

Terms: telos, teleology, Golden Mean, asceticism, oligarchy, Peloponnesian War, hubris, nomos, King Philip of Macedonia, timocracy.

Web Links: Aristotle;The Internet Classics Archive | Politics by Aristotle

The Legacy of Rome

IV. Roman Law, Polybius and Cicero (T&S Ch. 5, Curtis Vol. 1, pp 123 - 125)

a. Roman Law

1. How was Roman law developed?

2. Distinguish between jus civile, jus gentium and jus naturale.

3. What is the significance of the Justinian code?

Web Links: Roman Law: Homepage; Justinian Code

b. Polybius and the cycle of constitutions. (Curtis Vol 1, pp 120 - 122, 125 - 131)

1. What were the advantages of the mixed constitution of Rome?

2. What was the pattern of consitutional change for unmixed forms of government? Could

stability ever be maintained in a regime?

Web Links: Selections from Polybius' "History", Polybius and the Founding Fathers: the separation of powers, The Republic Strikes Back - Polybius

c. Cicero on natural law, mixed constitution and the causes of constitutional change. (T&S, pp 66-71, Curtis, Vol. 1, pp. 122 - 123, 131 - 139)

1. Define natural law.

2. Why was the state formed? What binds a people together into a community?

3. How does Cicero classify constitutions and what is his theory of constitutional change?

4. Describe his theory of the best possible regime.

5. Why is widespread respect for tradition necessary for political stability?

Terms: praetors, consuls, comitia, patricians, plebians, pax romana, Cynics, Epicureans, Stoics, and right reason.

Web Links: Marcus Tullius Cicero, The Internet Classics Archive | Works by Cicero

FIRST EXAMINATION

Medieval and Renaissance Europe

V. St. Augustine and the City of God (T&S, pp 74-87, Curtis, Vol 1, pp 141 - 143, 146 - 156)

a. The City of God was written to respond to what accusations made against Christianity?

b. Why had Rome fallen according to St. Augustine?

c. What are the two cities of St. Åugustine?

d. What is the origin of the state? Is justice possible in the state?

Terms: Alaric, Manichaeanism, original sin, free will, Visigoths, sacred love, profane love, pagan, Gnostic

Web Links: Augustine of Hippo, St. Augustine (354-430)

VI. Thomas Aquinas and the Natural Law Tradition (T&S, pp. 96-103, Curtis, Vol 1, pp 177 - 178, 196 - 207)

a. What is the best possible state?

b. Four types of law.

c. Define natural law. How is natural law discovered?

Terms: two swords doctrine, Summa Theologica, Thomism, Pope Gelasius I, Pope Gregory VII,

Albert the Great

Web Links: The Summa Theologica, Great Books Index - St Thomas Aquinas

VII. Machiavelli: The Founder of Modern Power Politics (T&S Ch. 9, Curtis, Vol 1, pp 215-217,

219-229)

FILM: “Man and the State: Machiavelli on Political Power”

a. What was Machiavelli’s purpose for writing The Prince?

b. How does his political thought represent a significant break from that of the Middle Ages?

c. Explain Machiavelli’s realpolitik principles.

d. Will ability and strength always guarantee success to the statesman?

e. What is the best possible regime?

f. What is the role of religion and morality in Machiavelli’s politics?

Terms: secular, de Medici family, Florence, Savonarola, realpolitik, “fox and the lion,” fortuna, virtu, Cesare Borgia, raison d’etat, Discourses, “unarmed prophets,” Pope Alexander VI, civil religion

Web Links: Nicolo Machiavelli [Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy], Niccolo Machiavelli | Italian Statesman and Political Philosopher

The Enlightenment: The Foundations of Modern Politics

VIII. Thomas Hobbes: Reason and Power Politics (T&S Ch. 12, Curtis, Vol 1, pp. 326 - 328, 329 - 349)

a. English Civil Wars -- Why was the old aristocratic order declining? What was Hobbes’ response?

b. What is the nature of man? What determines man’s nature?

c. Explain Hobbes’ theory of the state of nature.

d. How is the social contract formed? Why is the citizen obligated to obey the sovereign?

e. How does Hobbes’ political thought represent a break from the Classical and Christian tradition?

Terms: Leviathan, sovereignty, felicity, diffidence, state of nature, social contract, covenant, sommun bonum, tautology, Behemoth, sommum malum

Web Links: Thomas Hobbes [Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy], Thomas Hobbes

IX. John Locke and the Origins of Modern Liberalism (T&S Ch. 13, Curtis, Vol 1, pp 359-360, 372-389)

a. Locke’s theory of ideas.

b. How does Locke’s theory of the state of nature differ from that of Hobbes? Compare and contrast Hobbes and Locke’s description of the nature of man.

c. Why do men come together to form government? What powers do the people give to the sovereign? What constraints does Locke place upon the exercise of majority will?

d. What recourse does the citizen have against tyranny? When are citizens obligated to obey the sovereign?

e. Explain Locke’s theory of the right to private property. Explain his labor theory of value? Why is this theory flawed?

f. Why is Locke considered to be the father of modern democracy? How did he influence the American Founding Fathers?

Terms: On Civil Government, Glorious Revolution of 1688, King James II, William and Mary, Whig, tabula rasa, theory of obligation, laws of nature, consent, popular sovereignty, individualism, natural rights, exchange theory of value, epistemology.

Web Links: John Locke [Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy], John Locke

X. David Hume: Philosophical Skeptic and Çritic of the Social Contract Theory (T&S, pp 226-231, Curtis, Vol 1, pp 391-392, 397-409)

a. What were Hume’s criticisms of the natural rights theory? Did Hume believe that moral truth could be proven by reason? Explain.

b. Describe Hume’s criticisms of the social contract theory.

c. Why did Hume believe that utility and not natural law was the standard by which morality is measured?

Terms: rationalists, utility, convention, immutable law of nature, skepticism, political obligation, philosophes

Web Links: THE HUME ARCHIVES

XI. Rousseau and the Rise of Modern Revolutionary Radicalism (T&S Ch.14, Curtis,

Vol 11, pgs. 14-17, 18-34)

a. What are the basic characteristics of Rousseau’s political thought?

b. Why does Rousseau believe that society has corrupted man? How can society’s corrupting influence be ended?

c. Why did the noble savage leave the state of nature to form a political association?

d. How is the social contract formed? What is the General Will? How is it discovered? Can the General Will ever be legitimately violated?

e. Explain Rousseau’s radical egalitarianism, anti-private property views, and principles of pure democracy.

Terms: egalitarianism, Emile, prejudice, Robinson Crusoe, private will, numerical majority, direct democracy, legislator, collectivism, alienation, General Will, Will of All, civil religion

Web Links: Jean-Jacques Rousseau | Philosopher, Jean Jacques Rousseau [Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy]