School of

Arts and Sciences

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Number

POL 211

Course Title

Western Political Concepts II

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Summer Semester

Year

2014

Name of Instructor

William Miller

Meeting Day, Time, and Room Number

Tuesdays-Fridays, 11:00-12:15, Gailhac 2011

Final Exam Day, Time, and Room Number

The final exam will be given in our regular classroom at the time listed in the University Final Exam calendar: Tuesday, May 6^th, 12:00pm.

Office Hours, Location, Phone

Tuesdays and Fridays 1:00 to 2:00pm and 3:30 to 4:00pm; Wednesdays 2:00-3:00pm & by appointment. My office in Ireton G107, my telephone number is 703 284 1687, but always email ahead of time!

E-mail & Website

wmiller@marymount.edu (Email is the best way to reach me!) www.millerpolitics.info (All announcements and assignments are posted here, not on Blackboard.)

UNIVERSITY STATEMENTS

Academic Integrity

By accepting this syllabus, you pledge to uphold the principles of Academic Integrity expressed by the Marymount University Community. You agree to observe these principles yourself and to defend them against abuse by others.

Special Needs and Accommodations

Please advise the instructor of any special problems or needs at the beginning of the semester. If you seek accommodation based on disabilities, you should provide a Faculty Contact Sheet obtained through the Office of Student Access Services, located in Rowley Hall.

Access to Student Work

Copies of your work in this course including copies of any submitted papers and your portfolios may be kept on file for institutional research, assessment and accreditation purposes. All work used for these purposes will be submitted anonymously.

Student Copyright Authorization

For the benefit of current and future students, work in this course may be used for educational critique, demonstrations, samples, presentations, and verification. Outside of these uses, work shall not be sold, copied, broadcast, or distributed for profit without student consent.

University Policy on Snow Closings

Snow closings are generally announced on area radio stations. For bulletins concerning Marymount snow or weather closings, call (703) 526-6888. Unless otherwise advised by radio announcement or by official bulletins on the number listed above, students are expected to report for class as near normal time as possible on days when weather conditions are adverse. Decisions as to snow closing or delayed opening are not generally made before 5:00 AM of the working day. Students are expected to attend class if the University is not officially closed.

1. BROAD PURPOSE OF COURSE (Include the catalog description)

This course provides a study of various political theories and ideologies from early modern to contemporary times. Topics include liberalism, conservatism, and political ideologies. The different concepts and topics are presented in classic readings designed to introduce students to some of the most important literature of modern and contemporary political thought and to provoke inquiry into the writers' fundamental conceptions about nature, reason, human nature, good and evil, and government.

2. COURSE OBJECTIVES (For core courses, include writing, critical reasoning, and information literacy as appropriate)

Upon successful completion of this course students will be expected to:

1. be able to analyze political writings and determine the authors' fundamental conceptions regarding (1) "nature" or the structure of reality ("ontology" and "cosmology"), (2) the processes of and capacity for human knowledge ("epistemology"), (3) human nature ("philosophical anthropology" or "philosophical psychology"), (4) the ultimate standards of right and wrong ("ethics"), and (5) the proper functions of government ("politics");

2. have a basic understanding of the political concepts of "authority," "rights," "liberalism," "conservatism," "nationalism," "socialism," "communism," and "positivism";

3. be familiar with important writings by leading figures representing these approaches of modern political theory;

4. demonstrate a basic understanding of the nature of political “ideology” as a distinct form of political thought and action;

5. demonstrate a basic ability to read texts in political theory with critical understanding--i.e., to grasp the author's main points, to identify his supporting arguments and rationales, and to offer cogent internal and external criticism of the readings; and,

6. engage in the practice of writing and critical reasoning by composing well organized, acceptably written, logically argued essays and papers on issues of political theory.

3. TEACHING METHOD (lecture, laboratory, audio-visual, clinical experience, discussion, seminar, tutorial)

The course will consist primarily of guided discussions of the readings and secondarily of lectures and background information by the instructor.

4. GRADING POLICY (i.e., number of graded assignments, weight given to each)

The final grade is based on a possible total of 100 points that includes grades for class assignments (which includes answering questions in class and participating in class discussions) and quizzes, two short graded papers, two mid-term essay exams, and a final essay exam, as follows:

20% = Two papers (each is worth 10%)

15% = Lower mid-term exam

20% = Higher mid-term exam

30% = Final exam

15% = Class assignments, quizzes, constructive contributions to class discussions, and one ungraded practice paper worth 5% for simply turning in a good faith effort

The usual scale of 90-100%=A, 80-89%=B, 70-79%=C, 60-69%=D, and 59% and below=F will be used for all graded work.

The exams and the papers are all based on the primary readings of the course: not on the class lectures, which are intended to help you understand the readings and not to substitute for the readings. No grade of "I" or "Incomplete" will be given. If possible, papers and exams will be graded and returned within two weeks. No late papers will be accepted. Papers emailed to me by the due date and time will be accepted as long as you give me a hard copy by the next class. Students must retain a copy of each paper on their hard drive, thumb drive, or the cloud.

ATTENDANCE AND MAKE-UP EXAM POLICY

Attendance: Beginning with the second week of classes, students are allowed a total of nine absences, excused and/or unexcused. Students who miss ten classes or more will receive an “F” in the course.

Each unexcused absence beyond three—up to the absolute limit of nine—will result in a lowering of the final grade by one percentage point. To be excused, an absence must be explained to and approved by me, preferably before it occurs. Excused absences are typically those that are documented, such as medical-, legal-, or job-related excuses. Note: Occasionally coming to class late—even real late once or twice—is not considered an absence. Coming to class without hard copies of the text for the day or leaving class after taking an announced quiz without the prior permission of the instructor, however, is considered an absence.

Merely informing me ahead of time that you will be absent from class does not mean I excuse the absence, though I appreciate your courtesy. I will not excuse your absence because you are simply not feeling well or because you choose to do something worthwhile other than come to class even if you inform me ahead of time. If you are coughing and sneezing and coming down with a cold or the flu, and you don't want to spread your virus to your classmates, your fellow students and I salute you! Staying home may be the right thing to do, but it is not an excused absence. You all get three unexcused absences to use as you see fit, and it is your decision to use them to stay home when you don't feel well or want to attend some other event or need to prepare for another class instead of going to my class. Use them for good reasons: that's what they are for.

The limit of nine total absences recognizes that excessive excused absences may also be a problem. You should discuss such situations with me well before the last month of the semester. This is not a distance learning class. Any absence prevents you from participating in the class, but if your job or an illness keeps you away from class, it will significantly affect the class participation component of your grade and may be a good reason to drop the course and take it another time. All of us find ourselves in these situations from time to time and have to deal with them appropriately. You also have an obligation to report this to a University office (see the section on “Absenteeism in the 2013-2014 University Catalogue).

When in doubt about any of these policies, please come and talk to me. They have been formulated with our substantial commuter and working student population in mind and are intended to be fair to everyone. You should also review the University's policies on “Absenteeism” in the 2013-2014 University Catalogue.

Make-up Exams: The same basic rules about excused absences apply to taking mid-terms. My policy of giving makeup exams on the same day as the final does NOT mean that you may choose to take the mid-term exam on that day rather than on the regularly scheduled day: it is not an alternative test date. To be eligible for a makeup, you must qualify for an excused absence, and this you should do a reasonable time before the day of the mid-term, if that is at all possible. You may be excused from taking a mid-term if you are certifiably sick or your job prevents you from attending class or you have a serious family or personal or employment emergency on the day of the test. If one of these applies and I am informed in a reasonable time before the exam and you have written documentation to support your request, you may take the exam on the same day as the final exam. If none of these reasons apply, you may not take the exam at another time, and you will get a zero for the exam. If you are late for the exam because of events outside of your control, let me know immediately or as soon as possible that day, and I will let you take the exam later that same day if possible.

5. CLASS SCHEDULE (List topics likely to be covered with approximate dates of presentation)

This schedule is subject to changes because of weather and other factors: see the link to "Western Political Concepts II (Spring 2014)" in the Weekly Assignments section of the <millerpolitics.info> webpage before each class for an updated schedule and specific assignments.

Week I (1/14-17): Introduction to the course: the problem of authority and the liberal-Epicurean solution. Introductory essays by Miller & Lippmann (handouts and web links).

Week II (1/21-24): Classical and Classical-Christian solutions; Aristotle and St. Thomas; "Modern Philosophers' Rejections of Classical Philosophy;" Machiavelli, Prince, ch. 15; Hobbes, Leviathan, ch. 13; Locke, Second Treatise of Government, sections 1-8.

Week III (1/28-31): Social contracts and bills of rights: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau; English, American, French bills of rights. Ungraded Paper Due Tuesday, January 31^st.

Week IV (2/4-7): Mill, Utilitarianism.

February 7 - Last day to withdraw from a class without academic record!

Week V (2/11-14): Mill, Utilitarianism. MID-TERM EXAM: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14^th.

Week VI (2/18-21): Mill, On Liberty.

Week VII (2/25-28): Mill, On Liberty; Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Discourses.

Week VIII (3/4-7): Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Discourses. Graded Paper Due Friday, March 7^th.

Week IX (3/18-21): Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract.

March 21 - Last day to withdraw from a class with a grade of W!

Week X (3/25-28): Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract; MID-TERM EXAM: FRIDAY, MARCH 28^th.

Modern Ideologies

Week XI (4/1-4): Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto.

Week XII (4/8-11): Hitler, Mein Kampf, excerpt; Norman Cohn, Pursuit of the Millennium, excerpt.

Week XIII (4/15): Alison Jaggar, “Political Philosophies of Women’s Liberation.”

Week XIV (4/25): Ellis, “Apocalypse and Authoritarianism in the Radical Environmental Movement;” Graded Paper Due Friday, April 25^th.

Week XV (4/29-5/2): Catherine Wessinger, Millennialism, Persecution and Violence, excerpt; August Comte, Positivism, excerpts.

The final exam will be given only at the date and time prescribed by the University Final Exam Schedule: Tuesday, May 6^th, at 12:00pm. Also, any permitted make-ups of mid-term exams will take place on the 6^th. Make your travel plans accordingly!

6. REQUIRED TEXTS

Mill, John Stuart. Utilitarianism, On Liberty, Considerations on Representative Government. Everyman Paperbacks Edition. Edited by Geraint Williams. Boston: Tuttle, 1993.

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. The Social Contract and Discourses. Everyman Paperbacks Edition. Translated by G.D.H. Cole and edited by J.H. Brumfitt and John C. Hall. Boston: Tuttle, 1993. ISBN 978-0460873574

7. RECOMMENDED OR SUGGESTED READINGS OR AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS

All of the assigned readings from the following texts are available in other editions on the Internet. Other assigned materials will be made available either on reserve, on the internet, or, pending copyright permissions, in handouts.

Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan: Parts One and Two. Edited by Herbert W. Schneider. Library of Liberal Arts edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1958.

Lewis, C.S. Abolition of Man. New York: HarperOne, 2001.

Locke, John. Second Treatise of Government. Library of Liberal Arts edition. Edited by Thomas P. Peardon. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1952.

Marx, Karl, and Friedrich Engels. Communist Manifesto. Introduction by Leon Trotsky. New York: Pathfinder Press, 2008.

Assignments may come from the following additional sources:

Crick, Bernard. In Defence of Politics, 2d ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1972.

Ellis, Richard J. Dark Side of the Left: Illiberal Egalitarianism in America.. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas, 1999.

Lippmann, Walter. Public Philosophy. Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Books, 1955, 1989.

Jaggar, Alison. "Political Philosophies of Women's Liberation." In Society and the Individual, ed. Garner and Oldenquist. Belmont, California: Wadsworth, 1990.

Kramnick, Isaac, and Frederick Watkins. The Age of Ideology: Political Thought, 1750 to the Present. 2d ed. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1979.

Niemeyer, Gerhart. Within and Above Ourselves: Essays in Political Analysis. Wilmington, Delaware: Intercollegiate Studies Institute, 1996.

Wessinger, Catherine. Millennialism, Persecution, and Violence: Historical Cases Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2000.

Useful Reference Works:

Nelson, Brian. Western Political Thought: From Socrates to the Age of Ideology. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1982.

Sabine, George H. A History of Political Theory. New York: Holt, Rinehart, Winston. There are four editions; any one is excellent.

Strauss, Leo, and Joseph Cropsey. History of Political Philosophy. New York: Rand McNally and Chicago: University of Chicago, 1963, 1972, 1987. Any of the three editions is excellent.

Stumpf, Samuel E. Socrates to Sartre: A History of Philosophy. 4th (or later) ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 1988.

A FEW FURTHER RULES

For the benefit of the class and your classmates, the following rules regarding electronic devices also apply to this course:

1. Turn your cell phones off during the class. If you are expecting an important call, put your phone on “Vibrate,” sit near the door, and, when the call comes, answer it outside the classroom.

2.It follows from the foregoing rule, but it must be separately stated: no talking and no texting on cell phones during class. If you do not follow this rule, I will publicly ask you to leave the room for the remainder of the class, give you a zero for the class participation component of the final course grade, and do my best to have you removed from the course for the rest of the semester.

3.No open lap-top or other computers are allowed in class without my prior permission. Devices such as tablets, Ipads, Kindles, and Nooks that lie flat on the desk and onto which the readings can be loaded are permitted, but hard copies of the readings are better. You can mark them up and take notes on them in class. Again, if I find you are accessing websites other than those that are displaying the class readings, I will publicly ask you to leave the room for the remainder of the class, give you a zero for the class participation component of the final course grade, and do my best to have you removed from the course for the rest of the semester.

These rules are necessary to foster a suitable learning environment in the classroom during class. There are enough distractions with lawnmowers, air conditioners, and other outside forces to combat during lectures and discussions without these controllable distractions within the room.