GVPT 241 Ancient and Modern Political Philosophy Online Course Summer Session II 2010 Instructor Carmen Deanna cdeanna gvpt umd edu Objective This course is expected to introduce the student to some of the major concepts and figures in the history of political theory Since we cannot cover 2500 years of political philosophy you should consider this a taste of what the instructor considers to be some of the most important texts in the cannon We will begin reading the classical political philosophy of Plato Specifically we will study Plato s Crito and Apology in the context of political obligation and obedience to the law It is possible to and you should look back on these texts later in the course as an ancient version of social contract theory Next we will explore the thought of Machiavelli as representative of a break between classical and modern political thought The bulk of the course consists of the study of three of the central thinkers in the tradition of social contract theory All three of these thinkers Hobbes Locke and Rousseau are critical to understanding the principles that contemporary liberal democracies are founded upon Finally we will read the early writing of Karl Marx and consider how he challenges the liberal vision of the individual and their experience in the polity Students should come away from this course with a general understanding of the basic concepts in political philosophy and the debate surrounding their meanings They should have a grasp of the fundamental moral and ethical problems of liberty and obligation in the context of Western political philosophy The course is also intended to stimulate creative and critical thinking about public values and institutions Texts Plato Apology and Crito Niccolo Machiavelli The Prince Thomas Hobbes Leviathan John Locke The Second Treatise on Government Jean Jacques Rousseau The Second Discourse Karl Marx 1844 Manuscripts Recommended Secondary Sources In the instructor s view two excellent comprehensive sources for interpretations of these thinkers and many others in the history of political thought are Sheldon Wolin Politics and Vision Leo Strauss and Joseph Cropsey History of Political Philosophy Course Requirements Participation 15 Exams 60 30 each Film Journals 25 5 each Participation Since this is an online course to earn credit for participation each student must post at least twice a week to the discussion board reflecting on some questions and concepts the instructor will pose Participation will constitute 15 of the student s final grade Exams There will be two essay exams each constituting 30 of the final grade Exams should be 5 7 pages 1200 1700 words The exam question will be similar to those posted for discussion on Blackboard Exams will be evaluated based on accuracy in style and grammar demonstration of the student s knowledge of the assigned texts and the quality of interpretive analytic treatment of the exam prompt Good writing handbooks include William Strunk and E B White The Elements of Style Kate L Turabian A Manual for Writers of Research Papers Theses and Dissertations Film Reflections Each week there will be a two suggested films Students must view at least one of the films in the context of that week s assigned reading and write a short 5001000 word reflection paper linking the film to that week s reading These will constitute 25 5 each of the student s final grade These films are all available at Amazon com to stream as video on demand of course you may procure the films through any agent Netflix Blockbuster or your library where available Other Polices and Issues You will have access to the course and discussion boards through the university websites at http elms umd edu If you need assistance using the software please contact the Office of Information Technology OIT at http elms umd edu or 301 405 1400 You must have a working email account and check it regularly Course announcements will be posted on ELMS and emailed to the email account on file with the university Please familiarize yourself with the universities Code of Academic Integrity It is important that you are aware of the consequences for cheating and plagiarism For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity please visit http www sch umd edu Reading and Exam Schedule July 12 to July 16 Plato Apology and Crito For this week there will be no films and hence no reflections papers I will post some questions for thought on the discussion board These two classic texts ask us to consider our obligation to the state and our community But be careful Socrates may be telling us something about dissent and civil disobedience as well Suggested reading I F Stone The Trial of Socrates July 19 to July 23 Machiavelli The Prince Films Dangerous Liaisons Directed by Stephen Frears Wild Things Directed by John McNaughton You are required to view one of these films and submit a 500 or so word reflection paper This week we read Machiavelli s in famous work The Prince What does he have to say about the nature of good and evil How should a sovereign exercise their power What is the nature of power and action in the human political community Suggested Reading Sebastian De Grazia Machiavelli in Hell FIRST EXAM PROMPT WILL BE DISTIBUTED JULY 26 July 26 to July 30 Thomas Hobbes Leviathan Ch 1 through 21 Films Lord of the Flies Directed by Harry Hook The Crucible Directed by Nicholas Hytner You are required to view one of these films and submit a 500 or so word reflection paper Pay close attention to Hobbes psychology What is his image of humans in a state of nature Why do humans make the social contract And whom do they make with among Suggested Reading Thomas Hobbes Leviathan Part IV Of the Kingdom of Darkness George Kateb Hobbes and the Irrationality of Politics in Political Theory 17 3 August 1989 pgs 383 388 EXAM ONE DUE AUGUST 2 BY NOON August 2 to August 6 John Locke The Second Treatise on Civil Government Films Wall Street Directed by Oliver Stone American Me Directed by Edward James Olmos You are required to view one of these films and submit a 500 or so word reflection paper This week we encounter another great social contract theorist Think of the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence as you read Locke How is he different from Hobbes What is the nature of civil society for Locke Suggested Reading Leo Strauss and Joseph Cropsey History of Political Philosophy Chapter on John Locke by Robert Goldwin August 9 to August 13