Socratic Seminar: Political Philosophy

E2, 2005-2006

Syllabus

 

Introduction

Since the earliest days of philosophy, thinkers have examined society and the ways that people interact. Plato seeks to solve the question of a good 'state', because he believes an analogous approach will be successful in answering the question of a good 'person'. As Christianity gained power and prominence in the Western World, the relationship between God and King became the central focus of political philosophy. With the rise of the middle class and dawn of nation states, much attention was given to the philosophical justification of nations, and to the objectives of the state. With modern times, we see a dispersion of ideas into different camps, along with a growing emphasis given on the economic role of the state.

 

In this course we will examine many of the great works of political philosophy through seminar discussion. In addition students will view films, interview guest speakers, and participate in activities.

 

Essential Question

What is the proper role of the state in the life of the individual.

 

Activities

The central activity of this course is seminar discussion. We will be discussing a variety of texts and media, as given below. In addition, we will participate in in-class activities and have speakers joining us. Students will present some short debates as a method of demonstrating their mastery of the readings and ideas.

 

Assessment

The grade in this course will be determined by a combination of assignments as follows:

 

Seminar Discussion

Every seminar is evaluated using our discussion rubric (enclosed with this syllabus). The total and average of your discussion grades from each seminar gives your total seminar grade.

 

Debates

Each student will participate in two mini-debates around a specific topic. One will be an abstract debate on a philosophical issue. The other will be more topical, and dealing with modern issues, but will nevertheless require reference to the classics we will be studying.

 

In summary, the assignments and values of the assignments in this class are as follows:

 

Seminar (16)                                                                  70%

            Referencing Text                             25%

            Understanding Perspectives                 25%

            Making Connections                             25%

            Participation                                         25%

Debates                                                                                   30%

Philosophical Debate                         15%

                        Topical Debate                         15%_______

TOTAL                                                                      100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule

 

November                     Thu            10            Class Introduction

Fri            11            Plato's Crito           

 

Mon            14            Plato's Republic, Books I -III

Tue            15            Mr Smith Goes to Washington

                                    Thu            17            Mr Smith Goes to Washington

                                    Fri            18            Plato's Republic, Book IV up to 435b, Book VIII - IX

 

Mon            20            Aristotle's Politics, Book I - III

Tue            21            Dr. Strangelove

 

                                    Mon             28            Dr. Strangelove

                                    Tue            29            Aristotle's Politics, Books IV-V

December                     Thu            1            Bob Roberts

                                    Fri            2            Bob Roberts

 

                                    Mon            5            Plutarch's Lives: Lycurgus and Solon

                                    Tue            6            Guest Speaker

                                    Thu            8            St. Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologica (pgs 400-418)

                                    Fri             9          Niccolo, Machiavelli, The Prince (selections)

 

                                    Mon             12            Wag the Dog

                                    Tue            13            Wag the Dog

                                    Thu            15            Niccolo Machiavelli, Discourses on Livy (selections)

                                    Fri            16            Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (selections)

           

January                         Tue            3             John Locke, Second Treatise on Government (selections)

                                    Thu            5            Guest Speaker

                                    Fri            6             Jean Jacques Rousseau, "On the Social Contract"

 

                                    Mon            9             Karl Marx, Communist Manifesto

                                    Tue             10            Debates

                                    Thu            12             TBD

                                    Fri            13             Karl Marx, Economic Documents

 

                                    Tue            17            Adam Smith, On the Wealth of Nations (selections)

                                    Thu            19            Debates

                                    Fri            20             Hans Morgenthau, Politics Among Nations (selections)

                                   

                                    Mon            23            TBD

                                    Tue            24            Wrap-up