Syllabus
| PHIL 307 | Thomas Nail |
| Social & Political Philosophy | 333 PLC: 485-8899 |
| MTWR 9:00 9:50, 204 CHA | Office Hours:
M 4-5, F 4-5 |
| tnail@uoregon.edu |
This course will
introduce students to some basic texts and concepts in social and political
philosophy by engaging primary texts and supporting them with secondary
readings on the topics of race, class, gender, and environment.
This course
focuses on major social and political theorists in the history of philosophy
from Plato through Marx. The course will
ask students to think about ideas such as justice, natural law, natural rights,
and the social contract.
| 1. participation & attendance | 5% |
| 2. three take-home essays (4-6 pages, @ 25% ) | 75% |
| 3. In class writing assignments | 20% |
You are expected to participate
actively in this class, which includes attending the lectures, reading all
assigned material prior to class, and participating actively and productively
in class. Missing FOUR classes,
either discussion sections or lectures, FOR
ANY REASON will result in a full grade reduction. An additional full grade
reduction will be made for each additional missed class after the third. Three
late arrivals for class will count as one absence.
Critical Reflections (Maximum of 8 20%)
Each week there will be in class writing assignments in which you will reflect upon the material. The days of the writings will not be announced, and late assignments will not be accepted.
The texts will
be available at Blacksun Books ((2455 Hilyard, 484-3777), on the east side of Hilyard
Street, just south of 24th and Hilyard (behind
Sundance Grocery near Taste of India).
1) Thomas
Hobbes, Leviathan (New York: Penguin
Books, 1982)
2) John Locke, Second Treatise of Government (Indiana:
Hackett, 1980)
3) Jean-Jacques
Rousseau, The Basic Political Writings (Indiana:
Hackett, 1987)
4) Karl Marx, Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844
and the Communist Manifesto, trans., Martin Milligan (New York: Prometheus
Books, 1988)
5) J.S. Mill, On Liberty (New York: Penguin Books,
1975)
6) Course Reader
Important Things to Note
If you have a
documented disability and need any special accommodations please see me right
away.
Academic Dishonesty:
Academic dishonesty of any kind will
not be tolerated. Please review the university policy available at http://studentlife.uoregon.edu/programs/student_judi_affairs/academic-dishonesty.htm
for an explanation of what constitutes academic dishonesty and how it will be
dealt with in this course.
Plagiarism includes:
·
Using paraphrased ideas or direct
citations from sources without acknowledging the source in a parenthetical reference,
footnote, or in the text itself
o source
includes
§
other people (their words in conversation
or writing)
§
books, journals, newspapers, texts of any
kind whether published or not
§
websites,
t.v. shows, radio programs, recorded music, etc.
·
presenting someone elses work as your
own even it that person
o is
your roommate, friend, or twin sister
o has
been paid a lot of money for their work
Course Calendar
(Any additional assignments will be announced in class.
The instructor reserves the right to modify this calendar.)
Week one
September 25 Introduction
September 26 Plato, Crito
September 27 Plato, Republic: Book 1 (3-15)
September 28 Plato, Republic: Book 1 (16-34)
Week two
October 2 Plato, Republic: Book 2 (35-48)
October 3 Plato, Republic: Book 2 (49-61)
October 4 Aristotle, Nich. Eth., I.1-4,
13, X.8-9
October 5 Aristotle, Nich Ethics (Discussion TBA)
Week three
October 9
Aristotle, Politics: I. 1-10
October 10 Aristotle, Politics: II. 1-5 III.1-2, 4-5
October 11 Aristotle, Politics: VII.1-3, 13-15, VIII.1-2
October 12 Hobbes, Leviathan
Week four
October 16 (essay one due) Hobbes, Leviathan
October 17 Hobbes, Leviathan
October 18 Hobbes, Leviathan
October 19 Hobbes, Leviathan
Week five
October 23
Pateman, Hobbes, Patriarchy and Conjugal Right
October 24 Locke, Second Treatise on Government
October 25 Locke, Second Treatise on Government
October 26 Locke, Second Treatise on Government
Week six
October 30 Locke, Second Treatise on Government
October 31 Locke,
Second Treatise on Government (essay
two due)
November 1
Clark, Women and John Locke; Or Who Owns the Apples
in the Garden of Eden
November 2 Rousseau, Second Discourse
Week seven
November 6 Rousseau, Second Discourse
November 7 Rousseau, The Social Contract
November 8 Rousseau, The Social Contract
November 9 Rousseau, The Social Contract
Week eight
November 13 Michel Serres, The Natural Contract
(chap.2)
November 14 J.S Mill, On Liberty
November 15 J.S Mill, On Liberty
November 16 J.S Mill, On Liberty
Week nine
November
20 Marx, 1844 Manuscripts
November 21 Marx, 1844 Manuscripts
November 22 Marx, 1844 Manuscripts
November 23 NO CLASS (Thanksgiving)
Week ten
November 27 Marx, Communist Manifesto
November 38 Marx, Communist Manifesto
November 29 Emma Goldman, The Traffic
in Women and Simone de Beauvoir, The Point of view of Historical Materialism
(short selection)
November 30 (Review)
Final Exam - December 4-8 (Third final essay due)