Paik, 1 GVPT 241: Introduction to Political Theory Summer Session II (7/13/08-8/22/08) Class Hours: Tues. & Thurs. 9:00am-12:20pm Classroom: 1101 Tydings Hall Instructor: Sung-Wook Paik Office: 1135A Tydings Hall Office Hours: Tues. & Thurs. 2:00pm-3:00pm and by appointment E-mail: [email protected] Course Description This is a course designed to provide students with a survey of the history of western political thought. Specifically, the course will focus on the writings of Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, and Mill and how they each understood the concept of justice as manifested in their understanding of the relationships between the moral and the political, between the private and the public, and between soulcraft and statecraft. Whereas ancients have often regarded the caring of the soul as having a crucial importance in devising a well-ordered political regime, moderns have strongly advocated a rigid distinction between the two realms, arguing that questions of ‘good life’ ought to be decoupled from questions of politics. What is the significance of this difference? Does it relate to how we understand politics, freedom, or human nature? Was this change historically inevitable? If so, what are its effects on how we think of political life today? If not, what are the alternatives? The objective of this course is three-fold: (1) to critically engage in the writings of philosophical texts; (2) to provide students with the necessary skills in expressing and defending one’s thoughts coherently both in writing and discussion; and, last but certainly not least, (3) to foster the capacity of public reasoning as citizens in a democratic regime. Required Texts There are six required texts for the course, which are available for purchase at the University bookstore. These texts will also be made available on course reserve in the library. Although you may choose to use a different edition/publisher for each of the texts listed below, I insist that you use the Lee edition (Penguin Classics) for Plato’s Republic. Plato, The Republic (Penguin Classics) Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (Penguin Classics) John Locke, Second Treatise of Government (Hackett Publishing Company) Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Basic Political Writings (Hackett Publishing Company) Immanuel Kant, Perpetual Peace, and Other Essays (Hackett Publishing Company) John Stuart Mill, On Liberty and The Subjection of Women (Penguin Classics)Paik, 2 There are also recommended books listed below. Although these extra materials will not be referenced directly in class, they overlap with some of the main themes of the course. Students, however, are NOT required to purchase these books for this class. Benjamin Constant, Political Writings (Cambridge University Press) Isaiah Berlin, Liberty: Incorporating Four Essays on Liberty (Oxford University Press) Quentin Skinner, Liberty before Liberalism (Cambridge University Press) Course Requirements and Grading Standards The final grade will be determined by the following distribution: Class participation and Attendance 20% Quizzes 20% (5% each) Midterm exam (Take-home) 30% Final exam (In-class) 30% Class participation and Attendance (20%): Students will be expected to come to class well prepared. You should have read the assigned material carefully, preferably more than once, taken notes, and formulated your own thoughts and questions. In addition, you should participate frequently and thoughtfully to the class discussion. Since class only convenes twice a week, attendance is absolutely crucial. Unexcused absences will detract from your ability to actively participate in class, and will be assessed accordingly. Three or more unexcused absences will result in a failing grade. Quizzes (20%): There will be five, unannounced quizzes to test your comprehension of the reading material for the week. The questions for the quizzes will be straightforward and factual. Your responses will be evaluated on the basis of whether you provide an accurate description of the text with a degree of detail. It is not sufficient to simply get the general idea. Each quiz is worth 5% of your final grade for a total of 20%. (Quizzes will be graded according to the following formula: A=5, B=4.2, C=3.8, D=3.2, F=0; No plus or minus on the quizzes.) Students who have taken all five quizzes will be able to drop their lowest quiz grade. Or, you may choose to take a ‘free pass’ on one of the five quizzes in case of an absence. Midterm exam—Take-home (30%): The midterm will be a take-home, open-book exam. The questions will be distributed in class on Thursday, July 31; that is, one week prior to due date. All responses must be typed, double-spaced, using normal point type (12 point Times New Roman font preferred). Further instructions and guidelines will be distributed along with the questions. Your midterm exam is due at the beginning of lecture on Thursday, August 7. Electronic submissions will NOT be accepted. Late submission will result in a penalty of 1/3 letter grade per day late. Final exam—In-class (30%): The final exam will assess your understanding of and ability to analyze material from the books and lectures. They will consist of short answers and essay questions. It will be cumulative and closed-book. Be prepared to recall what youPaik, 3 have learned and to write clear, thoughtful, and well-supported answers to challenging questions. The final exam will be held during the last day of class; Thursday, August 21. Your course grade will be assessed on an absolute scale according to which: 90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, 0-59=F. There will be NO CURVE. Other Issues and Policies 1. Academic Integrity: UMCP has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at UMCP 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, or plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student