PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS GVPT 100 (FF) University of Maryland Summer Term, 2010 M-Th: 12:00pm-3:20pm Tydings 2102 Instructor: Benli M. Shechter [email protected] Office Hours: 3:30-4:30 p.m. or by appointment, Tydings 5119 Course Description: As part of the Freshmen First program, this accelerated 3-week course will likely serve as your introduction to what it means to be a collegiate student in the University. Therefore, our focus will not be limited to a mere introduction to the principles of government and politics. It, too, will be a course in reading, writing, and, above all else, critical thinking. Thematically organized, Part I focuses on political power, and the means thereto; Part II, on political morality and the question of means and ends; and Part III, on the role and function of intellectuals in our preeminently political world. Additionally, Part I emphasizes the skill of close reading and exegetical analysis of scholarly texts; Part II, through a combination of political film and polemical text, culminates in what promises to be a thoroughly engaging classroom debate, and thus emphasizes both the skills of speech and critical debate; and Part III combines the best of the two preceding sections, emphasizing discussion-based and student-driven learning, while culminating in the course’s term paper, thus emphasizing the skill and the art of careful, scholarly writing. Required Texts: Niccolo Machiavelli, Mandragola Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto Plato, The Trial and Death of Socrates: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo Edward W. Said, Representations of the Intellectual: The 1993 Reith Lectures David A. Sprintzen and Adrian van den Hovens, editors, Sartre and Camus: A Historic Confrontation Leon Trotsky, Their Morals and Ours: The Class Foundations of Moral Practice, (A debate on ends and means with John Dewey and George Novack) Suggested Texts: Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren, How to Read a Book William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White, The Elements of Style Schedule of Readings: August 2 IntroductionI. Political Power, and the Means Thereto August 3 Machiavelli, Mandragola August 4 Machiavelli, The Prince (chapters 1-14) August 5 Machiavelli, The Prince (chapters 15-26) August 9 Warren Beatty’s “Reds” (film) Meeting place and time TBA. Reading Assignment: Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto II. Debating Means and Ends, or the Soul in Revolt August 10 Roland Joffe’s “The Killing Fields” (film) Meeting place and time TBA. Reading Assignment: Trotsky, Their Morals and Ours Trotsky, “Their Morals and Ours” Dewey, “Means and Ends” Novack, “Liberal Morality” August 11 Paulo Sorrentino’s “Il Divo” (film) Meeting place and time TBA. Reading Assignment: Francis Jeanson, “Albert Camus, or The Soul in Revolt” Albert Camus, “A Letter to the Editor of Les Temps Modernes” August 12 Class Debate: Do ends justify means? Reading Assignment: Jean-Paul Sartre, “Reply to Albert Camus” Albert Camus, “In Defense of the Rebel” III. The Intellectuals’ Vocation: Speaking Truth to Power? August 16 Plato, The Trial and Death of Socrates “Apology” and “Crito” August 17 Said, Representations of the Intellectual Introduction Ch. 1: Representations of the IntellectualCh. 2: Holding Nations and Traditions at Bay Ch. 3: Intellectual Exile: Expatriates and Marginals August 18 Said, Representations of the Intellectual (continued) Ch. 4: Professionals and Amateurs Ch. 5: Speaking Truth to Power Ch. 6: Gods That Always Fail August 19 Final Examination/Review Essay Due Assignments and Grading: Participation/Attendance 20% Review Essay (3-5 pages) 30% Final Examination (in-class) 50% Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Any student needing special accommodations due to a disability should contact the instructor as soon as possible so that efforts can be made to create an effective learning environment. Disability Support Services (http://www.counseling.umd.edu/DSS/) is an additional resource on-campus. Religious and/or Cultural Observances: Some class times may fall on a day of religious or cultural observance. If class dates or assignments create a conflict, please let the instructor know during the first two weeks of the semester so that proper arrangements can be made. Statement on Academic Integrity: All students are expected to adhere to the Code of Academic Integrity. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit