SYLLABUS

CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THEORIES

PHILOSOPHY/GOVERNMENT 327: Fall 2002

INSTRUCTOR: PROFESSOR ROGER PADEN
OFFICE: ROBINSON HALL B, ROOM 451
OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY AND TUESDAY 9:00-11:00, and by appointment
OFFICE PHONE: (703) 993-1265
E-MAIL ADDRESS: rpaden@gmu.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

In this course students will explore the development of the Western tradition in political thought from approximately the middle of the nineteenth century until today. This semester, the course will focus on various developments and permutations of Liberal political theory in the Anglo-American world. In particular we will focus on four branches of liberal political theory, utilitarian political theories (Bentham and Mill), modern social contract theories (both egalitarian (Rawls) and libertarian (Nozick)), and various types of communitarian political theories (communitarianism proper, republicanism, and multiculturalism). Throughout the semester, we focus on such questions as, the nature of political theory and justification, the nature and measurement of value and its role in the good life, the value of freedom and the limits of political authority, the nature and justification of human rights, the promise and problems of social contract theory, the relationship of the Right and the Good, the nature of the self and its relationship to communities, rights and responsibilities, the status of minority cultures, and the value of traditions. The course will emphasize close readings of primary texts.

COURSE GOALS:

1) Understand and explain the arguments and positions of the central texts of the Western political tradition from this period.

2) Understand and explain how the complex relationships between these texts constitute the Western tradition during this period.

3) Critically evaluate the arguments and positions advanced in the texts.

4) Apply these positions and arguments to both then contemporary and now existing political structures and actions

5) Appreciate the heterogeneity of the Western tradition.

6) Participate in the further elaboration of that tradition.

BOOKS:

Mill, Utilitarianism and On Liberty (Bantam Classics)

Rawls, A Theory of Justice (Harvard University Press)

Nozick, Anarchy, State, Utopia (Basic Books)

Course Packet

SCHEDULE: 

Week 1 (Aug. 27-28): Introduction,
                                   The Life and Times of Liberalism: (Mill, Utilitarianism (Chapters 1-2))

Week 2 (Sept. 3-5): Early Social Contract Theory (Mill, Utilitarianism (Chapter 3))
                                Utilitarian Theory (Mill, Utilitarianism (Chapter 4))

Week 3 (Sept.10-12): Utilitarian Theory (Mill, Utilitarianism (Chapter 5))
                                   Contemporary Social Contract Theory (Rawls, A Theory of Justice
                                   (Sections 1-13))

(Sept. 10: Last Day to Add a Class.)

Week 4 (Sept. 17-19): The Original Position (Rawls, A Theory of Justice (Sections 14-19))
                                    The Original Position (Rawls, A Theory of Justice (Sections 20-30))

Week 5 (Sept. 24-26): Liberty (Rawls, A Theory of Justice (Sections 31-40))

(Sept. 27: Last Day to Drop a Class.)

Week 6 (Oct. 1-3): Liberty (Mill, On Liberty (Chapters 4-5)) 
                               Equality (Rawls, A Theory of Justice (Sections 40-50))

Week 7 (Oct. 8-10): Equality (Rawls, A Theory of Justice (Sections 51-59))
                                 Conclusions (Rawls, A Theory of Justice (Sections 60-68))

Week 8 (Oct. 15-17): Columbus Day Break, NO CLASS
                                   MIDTERM EXAM – In Class

Week 9 (Oct. 22-24): Method (Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia (Part 1))
                                   The Minimal State (Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia (Part 1))

Week 10 (Oct. 29-31): The Minimal State (Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia (Part 1))
                                     Justice (Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia (Part 2))

Week 11 (Nov. 5-7): Justice (Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia (Part 2))
                                 Conclusions (Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia (Parts 2 and 3))

Week 12 (Nov. 12-14): Communitarianism (Course Packet: Sandel, "Justice and the Good")
                                      Virtue Theory (Course Packet: MacIntyre, "The Virtues ...")

Week 13 (Nov. 19-21): Democracy (Course Packet: Seligman, "Civil Society ")
                                      Thanksgiving Day Break (NO CLASS)

Week 14 (Dec. 3-5): Multiculturalism (Course Packet: Kymlicka,  Minority Rights.")
                                   Summing up

FINAL EXAM

Grades:

Class participation and in-class assignments – 20%
Midterm Exam – 30%
Research Paper – 20%
Final Exam – 30%

Research Paper: Students will complete a 2500 – 3000 word research paper (10-12 typed, double-spaced pages) on an approved topic of their choice. The final grade will be based on the overall performance of the student on all portions of the assignment: topic, outline/bibliography, and final draft.

1) Students should submit their topic to me in writing by the end of the fifth week of class.

2) Students must submit a detailed outline and bibliography by the end of the seventh week of class. I will provide comments on this outline.

3) A completed working draft of the paper may be submitted by the end of the tenth week of class. I will provide comments on this draft.

4) Students will do revisions in light of my comments and submit the final paper (as well as a copy of the outline or working draft with my comments) on the last day of class.