Academic IntegrityWESTMONT COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCEPOLITICAL THEORY AND IDEOLOGY (POL 030-1)FALL 2008--MWF 8:00-9:05AMInstructor: Jesse CovingtonClassroom: Clark A Classroom 1Office Hours: *** or by appointment (Deane Hall 201)Email: [email protected]: x6784Course DescriptionWelcome to Political Theory and Ideology! This course introduces students to the project of political theory, locating this study within a broader intellectual framework of the Christian thought and the liberal arts. It introduces political theory primarily by critically engaging major political ideologies, exploring the key features and philosophical underpinnings of ideological approaches to politics. The course begins by introducing the scope and methods of political philosophy in relation to the liberal arts and a Christian understanding of the world. The second segment of the course considers major ideologies of liberalism, conservatism, socialism, anarchism, fascism, nationalism, and democracy. Section three turns to further developments in ideological thinking, treating ideologies related to gender and sexuality, race, the environment, and Islam. The fourth section (like the first) devotes particular attention to developing a Christian perspective on political ideologies. GoalsThis course has three primary goals:- To introduce students to the project of political theory, addressing what it is, why it is important, how it is done, how it relates to political science, its place in the liberal arts, and how much fun it can be. This will involve several components, including:o Develop students’ abilities to read diverse texts, identifying and distilling their basic assumptions about reality. Metaphysical questions of essence are central here, engagingstudents in core definitional questions relating to humanity, God, politics, and nature.o Engage students in the perennial ethical questions driving political thought, includingwho should rule, how they should rule, what goals and scope are appropriate to government, what role coercion should play in politics, what is the nature of political obligation, and how these relate to ethical questions more broadly. o Introduce students to the liberal arts, with special focus on the interrelation of political theory with other disciplines.o Develop students’ skills for doing political philosophy, including critical and evaluative thinking. Special attention is given to students’ ability to communicate analytical thought through writing and by participating in philosophical dialogue.o Lay groundwork for those who will pursue further study in political theory.- To orient students to major recent and contemporary ideologies, particularly how each treats core concepts in political theory, including, equality, liberty, human nature, happiness, virtue, citizenship, law, religion, and others.1- To explore the far-reaching implications of Christian faith, with particular attention to developing students’ abilities to thoughtfully and consistently apply Christian belief to political thought and action.Role in the General Education Curriculum: Under the General Education (GE) curriculum, this course satisfies the requirement for Common Contexts: Introduction to the Christian Liberal Arts: Philosophical Reflections on Truth and Value.- This aspect of the GE curriculum seeks to orient students to foundational questions of philosophy as part of a distinctively Christian approach to the liberal arts and all of life. - Political theory requires engaging a wide range of philosophical and theological concerns—even those that do not obviously pertain directly to politics. In order to answer questions about who should govern, why, to what end, and with what methods, answers to many fundamental questions must first be established or assumed. Questions about human nature (social or solitary; selfish or giving; moral or amoral; etc.), ethics (what is to be pursued/avoided and why—with political power, for example) and, to a lesser extent epistemology (how you know what you know—reason, revelation, experience, etc.), constitute some of the basic building blocks of political philosophies. This course examines political ideologies with the goal of distilling and analyzing their fundamental assumptions about reality and bases for making ethical judgments. Once these are identified and explored, we will critically assess them in relation to Christian perspectiveson these same questions. - Westmont College’s liberal arts curriculum “is designed to foster intellectual vitality, Christian character, and commitment to service that will last a lifetime.”1 Whether students aspire to full-time involvement with politics or will go no further than the basic responsibilities of citizenship, we all live in and relate to a political world. As our conductshould be well-considered, careful thinking about politics is important. “It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way” (Proverbs 19:2). Cultivating a philosophical understanding of politics will promote students’ development into thinking and serving people who understand politics within a comprehensive Christian understanding of the world. FormatThis course will combine lecture and seminar-style discussions. Since these discussions are central tothe learning of the entire class, each member must be well prepared for every class session. As described below under “Requirements,” participation is factored into each student’s grade.Classroom Policies- Turn cellular telephones off. If your phone rings during class, I reserve the right to answer it.- Please come to class properly attired. We will engage in serious intellectual dialogue, so dressas someone who wishes to be taken seriously.- Avoid anything that tends to distract you or others from full participation. Examples include arriving late, noisy snacks, private conversations during class, text-messaging, surfing the internet, etc. Such practices are likely to disrupt your own learning and that of your peers.Late Papers & Exam Make-Ups: Short papers are due at the beginning of class on the day they are due;these cannot be turned in late or made up. Exams must be taken at the assigned times. At the instructor’s 1 “The Purpose of General Education,” College Catalog 2007-2008.2sole discretion, exceptions may be granted for situations of real emergency or necessity (travel plans do not qualify for either