The Pennsylvania State University
Phil 02 Section 1:
Tues.-Thurs. 9:05 am-10:20 am
Willard Building 370
Instructor: Peter Wolf, Ph.D.
Email: pmw117@psu.edu
Required Text
Social and Political Philosophy: Classic and Contemporary Readings ed. Andrea Veltman (Oxford 2008)--[The text can be purchased at the Big Blue Bookstore on College Avenue.]
Course Overview
We begin with a quote from the Politics of Aristotle: “Observation shows us that every city [polis] is a species of association, and, secondly, that all associations come into being for the sake of some good---for all men do all their acts with a view to achieving something which is, in their view, a good (Veltman, 2008).” We must consider the way human beings live within ‘associations’---further we too must consider how these associations act toward the ‘good’ as it is best understood within specific experiences that are historically, and culturally situated.
Our course will interpret important readings selected from Veltman’s anthology. The instructor will also present additional readings and supplemental materials that are relevant to this subject. Students are expected to enlarge their understanding of this subject matter and to demonstrate their understanding in courseroom discussions, lecture notes, reading assignments, quizzes, tests, group assignments and student presentations to the class.
The main theme of our course is reflected in Aristotle’s quote above----politics still aims at some good. It is the students’ task to discover what ‘good’ political associations aim at, and to see if the contemporary social and political arrangements that they experience---within their own historical and cultural views---are successful in any way in achieving these goals.
Course Description (from Schedule) PHIL 002 Philosophy, Politics, and Social Theory (3) (GH)(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. This course provides an introduction to central political and social theories as well as assumptions which underlie contemporary political and social structures and which shape the contemporary cultural environment. The course will discuss the ideas of central social and political philosophers, the broader historical and cultural context in which they work and worked, and the nature of the relations and influences between the two. Students will develop an appreciation of the nature of political and social values in the context of conflicting political visions as well as the critical skills with which to examine them. PHIL 002 satisfies the GH requirement and is geared towards non-Philosophy majors. It may be used to fulfill minor requirements in philosophy. This course is offered once a year with an enrollment of 150 to 200 students.
Course Calendar (16 Weeks)
Week One: Beginnings and Introductions: 1+1=1 or 2+2=5
January 10 (tues): Introductory Lecture (Preliminary Lecture Note due Thursday, Jan. 12.)
Introductory Considerations: (Text, Syllabus, Historical Timeline, Lexicon, form class groups, behavioral expectations).
Jan. 12 (thurs.): Groupwork: Lecture Note Due/ Team Presentations
Week Two: Plato and Socrates-4th Century B.C. (Athens)
jan. 17(tues): Lecture #1: Going for the One: Socrates and Plato
jan.19(thurs.): Lecture note #1 due. Readings: Veltman pp.2-43 Team presentations #1
Week Three: Plato and Aristotle-4th Cent. B.C. (Athens)
jan. 24 (tues.) Lecture #2: The Perfect is the Enemy of the Good
jan. 26 (thurs.) Lecture note #2 Due Reading Assignment: Veltman pp.42-75 Team presentation #2
Week Four: Medieval Political Philosophy: St. Augustine; St. Thomas Aquinas-4th Century A.D.-15th cent. A.D. : Ad maiorem Gloriam Dei
jan. 31 (tues.) Lecture #3: From Aristotle to Aquinas. A Tale of Two Cities
feb. 2 (thurs.) L.N. 3
Week Five: Machiavelli's Prince- The Renaissance: 15th and 16th cent. A.D.
feb.7 (tues.) Lecture #4: Realpolitik: For the Good of the Order
feb. 9 (thurs.) L.N. 4 Team Presentation #3
Week Six:Mid-term Exam
feb. 14 Review for Mid-term
feb.16 Mid-term Test
Week Seven: Guest Lecturer
feb.21 Lecture #5: Michael Vicario on Spinoza’s Tractatus Theologico-Politicus
feb. 23 L.N. 5
Week Eight: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau: 17th and 18th Centuries
feb. 28 Lecture #6: Travails of Modernity: As Good as it Gets
mar. 2 L.N. 6
Week Nine: No classes: Spring Break
Week Ten: American Political Thought - 18th century
mar. 14 Lecture #7: Franklin and the Enlightenment View of Perfectible Man
mar. 16 L.N. 7
Week Eleven: The Declaration of Independence: Franklin and Jefferson
mar. 21 Lecture #8: Founding Fathers’ View of Inalienable Rights
mar.23 L.N. 8
Week Twelve: The Lost World of Thomas Jefferson
mar. 28 Lecture #9: In a New World: Jefferson’s View of Man: "You Will only be as Good as You Are."
mar. 30 L.N. 9
Week Thirteen: Marxism- 19th Century
apr. 4 Lecture #10: Marx/Engels:"Take the Bitter with the Better"
apr. 6 L.N. 10
Week Fourteen: Final Exam
apr. 11 Review
apr. 13 full period exam
Week Fifteen: The End Innocence: The Meaning of the 20th Century
apr.18 Lecture #11: Men of Peace and Masters of War
apr.20 lecture note 11 due
Week Sixteen: The Present Global Malaise: 21st Century
apr.25: Lecture #12 Lost in a Lost World: Utopia and Dystopia in the So-called Smart Age
apr.27 final Class Celebration
*Film Reflection-2 pp double space Reaction to Terry Gilliam's Film: Brazil
Grading Rubric**********************************************************
Attendance/Participation- By far the largest percentage of the semester grade. 4 Points x 28 class sessions= 112 possible points
Attendance: pass/fail; 2 points//Participation: 2 points
Lateness policy: After being late once student will receive half of attendance/participation points. After two latenesses student will not receive attendance/participation points.
Participation points: 2 points for each class meeting. Expectations of student participation: TBD
Graded Assignments and Weighting
*Attendance/Participation: 40 per cent of grade (4 points x 28 class sessions)=112 points
*11 Typed lecture notes: 15 per cent of grade (11 x 10 points per note)= 110 points
(One page typed, double-space reflection on Dr. Wolf’s lectures and guest lecture due each thursday)
*Spot quizzes-half period based upon readings, and lecture notes-10 per cent
*Cumulative tests-based upon readings and lectures-20 per cent
*Film Reaction-2pp typed double space Asignment:TBA-5 per cent
*Group Project-10 per cent of grade (5% in class presentations; 5% individual written paper)
Total per cent.: 100
Letter Grades
A: 94-100, A-: 90-93.9
B+: 87-89.9, B: 83-86.9, B-: 80-82.9
C+: 77-79.9, C: 70-76.9
D: 60-69.9, F: 0-59.9
Assignments are due on the teacher’s desk at the beginning of each class session. Late work will not be accepted.
Academic Integrity
Students who cheat, plagiarize, commit fraud, etc…will suffer harshly. Consequences in light cases may include failing grade on an exam, essay or course. In serious cases, academic dishonesty may result in permanent expulsion from the university. For details see The Student Guide to University Policies and Rules. http://www.la.psu.edu/CLA-LAUS/integrity/student_resources.shtml
Class Cancellation
In the event of snow or other inclement weather forcing a delay or closing on campus, class may be cancelled. If this happens, I will inform you about the cancellation via e-mail.
Attendance Policy
Excused absence includes serious illness of student, death in the immediate family, or some extracurricular activity or sport (I need to be notified up front with the schedule).
Disclaimer
Please be advised that we will encounter material in this course that may seem offensive to some students in terms of strong language or subject matter.
Cell Phones/ Texting Policy
Students will refrain from using cell phones, blackberries, palm pilots, laptops, etc. in class. Turn off ringers during class sessions. Their presence and use during class time is considered a breach of etiquette. Students caught texting, ringing phones, etc. will lose grade points.
Papers
All papers must be typed, double-spaced and follow MLA guidelines as outlined in the 6th ed. of the MLA Handbook. You are responsible for completing all assignments in this course in order to receive a passing grade.
Quizzes are not intended to be difficult; their primary purpose is to ensure that everyone is keeping up with the material. There will be no make-up quizzes.
Oral presentation: Students will be assigned a topic for their in-class presentation, and assigned to a group for the team presentation.
Class discussion is very important in an issues-oriented class, so your participation is counted toward your final grade.
Course Link: http://introsocialpolitical.blogspot.com/
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