PS 208: <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <o:p></o:p>Introduction to the Tradition of Political Theory

Spring 2002<o:p></o:p> MWF 3-4

Instructor: Robin Jacobson

Office: PLC 831

346-4130

Office hours: M 4-5; F 12-12:50 and 2- 2:50

rjacobso@darkwing.uoregon.edu

<![if !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]>GTF: Jason Arnold (PLC 823, 346-4890)

jarnold2@darkwing.uoregon.edu

<![if !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]><o:p></o:p>This course introduces you to the study of political philosophy. We look at the works of classical, modern and contemporary political theorists and examine different views on government and society. Specifically, we will focus on the concept of citizenship. What is the connection between the individual and society? What makes a good citizen? What are the obligations, limitations and rewards of citizenship? We will examine how theorists arrive at, and argue for, their views. We will also explore the connections between politics and political theory.

<![if !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p>Reading:<o:p></o:p>

The <![if !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]><o:p></o:p>material for this course comes from Princeton Readings in Political Thought edited by Mitchell Cohen and Nicole Fermon or is available on the web. This book is available for purchase at the U of O bookstore. Two copies are also on reserve.

<![if !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]><o:p></o:p>Grading:<o:p></o:p>

Participation/group work: 15%

Journal: 40%

Paper: 30%

Reading Quizzes: 15% <o:p></o:p>

Participation: Your participation grade will include evaluation of group activities as well as individual contributions to the class. Active participation involves raising questions to generate class discussion, active or reflective listening, as well as sharing critical ideas and perspectives. Approximately once a week, class time will be devoted to group activities where you will be asked to apply the theorists we have been studying to a hypothetical situation. Your group will be expected to record the discussion and occasionally to present your ideas to the class as a whole. I will assign groups for you to work with throughout the term.

Journal: Every Friday a journal entry is due. You can miss turning in one journal entry without penalty. The journal entry should be approximately 2 double-spaced pages and should discuss the course material from that week. These should be critical journal entries; they should not just summarize ideas from the class or from reading. Since they are very short, you need to select a particular issue or concept that you want to explore further. You will receive a check, check minus or check plus on each entry. You need to collect all the entries in a folder (not a binder) and turn them on the last day of class. Your completed journal will receive a letter grade which will count as 40% of your final grade.

Paper: A paper topic and guidelines will be distributed during the second week of classes. The four to six page paper will be due May 24^th.

Quizzes: There will be eight unannounced quizzes throughout the term that will cover material from the readings. The two lowest scores will be dropped. The remaining six scores will be averaged and will count as 15% of your final grade. There will be no make-up quizzes given.

April 1<![if !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]><o:p></o:p>AAA

<![if !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p>Introduction to Political Theory: What is political theory? How does it relate to political science? How does it relate to politics? Overview of the class<![if !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p>

Classical Political Thought<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p>April 3 - Plato

Reading: p. 65-84

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April 5 -<![if !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p>Plato

Reading: p. 84-94<![if !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p>

Film

April 8 – Plato

Reading: p. 94-106

<![if !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]>April 10 – Plato

Reading: “Crito” found at http://www-philosophy.ucdavis.edu/phi001/crito.htm

“Letters from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King, Jr. p. 623-635

April 12 – Hypothetical

April 15 - Aristotle

Reading: p. 107-113

April 17 - Aristotle

Reading: p. 113-123

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Modern Political Thought<o:p></o:p>

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April 19 -<o:p></o:p> Hypothetical

April 22 - Hobbes<![if !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p>

Reading: p. 205-219

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April 24 - Hobbes

Reading: p. 219 - 235

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April 26 -Hobbes

Reading: p. 235-242

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April 29 - Locke

Reading: p. 243-258

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May 1 - Locke

Reading: p. 258-279

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May 3 - Hypothetical

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May 6 – Rousseau

Reading: p. 293-313

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May 8 - Rousseau

Reading: p. 280-286

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May 10 - Rousseau

<![if !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> Reading: p. 286-292

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May 13 - Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill

Reading: p. 371-388

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May 15 - Mill

Reading: p. 388-397

May 17 – Hypothetical

May 20 – Marx

Reading: http://www.marxists.org/glossary/terms/d/i.htm (Read entry in glossary on Dialectic Materialism and follow to the links on Dialectics and Historical Materialism )

p. 438-448

May 22- Marx

Reading: p. 448-464

May 24 - Marx<o:p></o:p>

Reading: p. 464-465

Papers Due

May 27 – No Class!

Contemporary Theorists

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May 29 - Rawls

Reading: p. 669-687

May 31 - Rawls

Reading: p. 687-697

June 2 - Simone De Beauvior

Reading: p. 601-614

June 4 – Hypothetical

June 6 – Final Group Discussion

Journals Due<o:p></o:p>

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