POLS 4111
9023215
11:00am, Tu, Th
General Information:
Dr. Hank Edmondson
A & S 206
Phone: 478-445-0943 (wk)
706-796-2874 (hm) / 706-564-6822 (cell) 706-471-2671
hank.edmondson@gcsu.edu
Spring 2008
Office Hours:
3-5, Tue & Thur, or by appointment
Generally, the quickest way to get in touch with me, other than office hours or appointment, is by e-mail.
Course Objectives:
The purpose of this course is to study the important political ideas that have shaped the western world since the Middle Ages. Political Theory I covers the ideas dating from Machiavelli until the contemporary period A course such as this should acquaint you both with great thinkers and great ideas. Many of the great thinkers are represented by your text readings. The great ideas include ideas of justice, legitimacy, statesmanship, tyranny, democracy, law, political change, individual rights, and war. In addition, this course provides the opportunity for you to develop your academic skills of reading, analytical and critical thinking, research, and verbal articulation. These objectives will be assessed by your written work and your in-class discussion.
Required Texts/Readings:
The Prince by Machiavelli
Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
Second Treatise on Government by John Locke
On the Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Selected Political Writings by Montesquieu
Reflections on the Revolution in France by Edmund Burke
Twilight of the Idols by Friedrich Nietzsch
Films:
We will be seeing several films, either the whole film or in part, to help us to understand the principles we are studying. You are responsible for the content of these films just as you are responsible for your reading material. We may see the ones listed or, given the capricious nature of your instructor, others may be substituted instead, often impulsively, with little thought beforehand.
Grading:
Mid-Term: 1/4
Comprehensive Final Exam: 1/4
Research Paper: 1/4
Classroom Discussion, Participation: 1/4
If exams are not taken at the schedule time, you will receive a “0” for that exam unless you have made acceptable arrangements with the instructor at least several days before hand. “Emergency” situations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Prior to mid-semester, you will receive feedback on your academic performance in this course
Essays will be graded on the basis of…
…substance, that is, how well you cover the important material and ideas
…clarity, that is, how well you cover those ideas
…organization, that is, how well you arrange your material
…relevance, that is, how well you can explain why these ideas are meaningful today.
Research Paper:
The research paper should be at least 12 double-spaced, 12 pt font, pages in length and should employ either footnotes or endnotes. Guidelines for formatting are available in the GC&SU library or from Turabian’s Guide or the Chicago Manual of Style. This paper requires you to take some element of the political thought we have studied in this class and to apply that thought to a contemporary world situation. All topics must be approved by the instructor. If you submit your paper to the GC&SU Writing Center, respond to their suggestions, and show evidence that you have done so, your research paper grade will be increased by one half letter grade; e.g. A to A+ or C+ to B, etc. You can contact the Writing Center at:
http://www.gcsu.edu/acad_affairs/coll_artsci/eng/writing/
Additional Reading:
You are strongly encouraged to read one or more quality periodicals of your choosing and bring the results of your reading into our classroom discussions and to use that material in your exams. Those who are willing to do so will see the results in your grade. Possible periodicals/websites/podcasts include The Economist, The New York Times, The Times of London, National Review, the New Republic, the Atlantic Monthly, the Cato Institute, the Jim Lehrer News Hour.
Class Format
This class will be taught as a seminar, meaning that we will read and discuss the material together. You must take an active role in the classroom in order to receive the best grade. If you are uncomfortable with this format, you should reconsider taking the class.
Requests for Modifications:
Any student requiring instructional modifications due to a documented disability should make an appointment to meet with the instructor as soon as possible. An official letter from GC&SU documenting the disability will be required to receive accommodation.
Fire Alarms:
In the event of a fire alarm signal students should exit the building in a quick and orderly manner through the nearest hallway exit. First and second floor classes should exit through ground level exits; third floor classes through nearest stairwell to a ground level exit. Do not use elevator. Third floor stairwells are areas where disabled people may communicate with rescue workers. Be familiar with the floor plan and exits of this building.
Class Participation:
Class discussion, including questions, comments, and disagreements, is welcome, but in order to contribute well to discussions, you need to read the material before hand. That way, when you are called upon to discuss the material, you will be able to do so intelligently. NOTE: Please bring your text to school every day, that is, whatever text we happen to be discussing at the time. In a class such as this—political philosophy—meaningful class participation also means that you keep abreast of national and international events through quality newsmagazines or news journals and that you bring that information to class, ready to apply it to our class discussions. You should also be prepared to integrate current events into your exam questions. Each week, current events articles will be added to the Reserve Reading section of the on-line version of this syllabus; read these articles and be prepared to discuss them in class and on exams. For that reason, if you should miss more than two class meetings, it will be impossible to make an "A" in the class.
Cheating:
Cheating will not be tolerated. It comes in a variety of forms, including plagiarism. If you are unfamiliar with the offence of plagiarism, please ask your instructor. Also, please note that no work done in other classes will be accepted to fulfill requirements in this class.
Each student at GC&SU is supplied with a "Bobcat" e-mail address. Please use it for correspondence in this class. I realize this may be an inconvenience for some of you, but if we don't follow this rule, your instructor is beset with a bewildering array of e-mail addresses that often have nothing to do with your real name (unless your mother really calls you "Ice Princess2243" or "CoolDude9006"). Besides, with the severe security concerns at universities today, sometimes internet accounts will not work.
Week 1 Jan 8, 10 Introduction, Review of Political Theory I, Machiavelli
Week 2 Jan 15, 17 Machiavelli The Prince ("Dedicatory Letter," Chapts. 1-13).
Week 3 Jan 22, 24 Machiavelli The Prince ("Dedicatory Letter," Chapts. 2-26)
Week 4 Jan 29, 31 Hobbes (Dedicatory Letter, Hobbe's (Author's) Introduction
Week 5 Feb 5, 7 Hobbes, Chapters 13, 16) Film: Lord of the Flies (1990)
Week 6 Feb 12, 14 Locke, Second Treatise on Government (Chapts. I, II, III, V), Film: Cromwell (1970)
Week 7 Feb 19, 21 Second Treatise on Government (VII, VIII, IX, XIV, XIX)
Week 8 Feb 26, 28 John Rawls, Robert Nozick
Nozick
FEBRUARY 27: MIDTERM
FEBRUARY 29: LAST DAY TO DROP WITHOUT ACADEMIC PENALTY
Week 9 Mar 4, 6 Rousseau, Book I, Chapts. 1-9 Gattaca (1997))
Week 10 Mar 11, 13 Rousseau, Book II, Chapts. 1-8, Film: (1984)
Week 11 Mar 18, 20 Edmund Burke (reading assignment: follow the lecture notes references as best you can).
Week 12 Mar 25, 27 Montesquieu (reading assignment: follow the lecture notes references as best you can)
MARCH 24-28: SPRING BREAK
Week 13 April 1, 3 Nietzsche (follow the lecture notes references as best you can)
Week 14, April 8, 10 Nietzsche (no essay due); Marx, Facisim
Week 15 April 15, 22 Nietzsche Film: Fight Club (1999) or 2001 Space Odyssey (1968)
Week 16 April 29, May 1 Research Papers Due, Paper Presentations, Review
Week 17 May 2 COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM