POLS 501: Contemporary Political Thought

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POLS 501: CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THOUGHT, FALL 2016 Instructor Dr. Ben Jones 504D Blake Hall [email protected] Office Hours: Mondays, 3:00 to 4:30pm Class Time and Location Mondays and Wednesday, 11:00am to 12:15pm, in Blake Hall 114 Course Overview Today in the United States and much of the world, certain features of government are assumed. To be just, a government must be democratic, must tolerate different religious and political groups, must guarantee basic rights (such as freedom of speech), and must prohibit practices that threaten liberty (such as slavery). But even among those accepting these basic principles, there is debate over their exact meaning and implications. What institutions and laws are most just in a democratic state? What are the limits of toleration? What are the limits of liberty and when do competing principles—such as equality or preserving community—justify curtailing it? Which rights are most basic, and are there any circumstances in which they can be overridden? These are some of the questions at the heart of contemporary political thought. This course examines the principal ideologies that comprise contemporary political thought, such as anarchism, communitarianism, liberalism, libertarianism, and Marxism. In addition to studying the key principles at the foundation of these ideologies, the course looks at the implications of these principles for policy issues that are hotly debated today, such as economic inequality, religious liberty, immigration, and reparations for past injustice. The required readings for the course are texts by Michael Huemer, John Rawls, and Michael Walzer. Class Goals and Expectations In this course, students will gain familiarity with the major debates in contemporary political thought. Students will learn what distinguishes the major ideologies in contemporary political thought, and how these ideologies take different approaches to the political challenges that arise today. Some of these ideologies may be familiar while others new. By the end of the course, students will have an understanding of these ideologies’ strengths and weaknesses. To succeed in this course, it is important to regularly attend class and keep up with the assigned readings. This is not a course where you can get by without doing the readings. Reaction papers of 1.5 pages are required in response to the readings. These assignments are designed as regular exercises for reflecting on the readings and identifying which themes merit further analysis. Some of the readings are dense, so set aside extra time for them—going through a political

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theory text rarely is as easy as a novel. To keep the coursework from being overly burdensome, weekly reading assignments usually are less than 100 pages (and never over 150 pages). The primary method of assessing students is through writing assignments—specifically, weekly reaction papers, a short paper (blog), and a term paper. Though a writing intensive course, it is designed so that smaller assignments come first and provide preparation for a longer assignment due at the end of the semester. The aim of these assignments is to make students better readers and writers—both generally and of political theory specifically. Though this course focuses on theory, the texts and themes discussed in it often pertain to policies being debated today. Lectures and guided discussions will touch on these debates. Students in the course will have different political views, and inevitably you will not always share them. The class is a place for lively discussion, so you always are encouraged to raise objections when someone makes a point you disagree with, as long as you do so in a respectful and civil manner. Berating and personal attacks during discussions will not be tolerated. Assignments Weekly Reaction Papers (10): These papers should be 1.5 pages with the following structure: one paragraph summarizing the readings from the week, one paragraph explaining a concept from the readings that you found interesting, and one paragraph elaborating or critiquing this concept. Each reaction paper should be submitted in class on the day indicated in the syllabus. These assignments are graded satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Late reaction papers will not be accepted, except in cases of an excused absence. The reflections in these reaction papers can generate ideas for the short and long papers required in the course, so please save them. Blog (Short Paper): This short assignment simulates writing an academic blog post. The post should be 800-1,000 words. The topic should be based on one of the themes from the course readings that you identify in a reaction paper. A well-written post will explain the following: (1) the relevance of the political theory topic selected to current political debates, (2) the basic argument of Huemer, Rawls, or Walzer for the topic selected, and (3) why the author’s argument is compelling, weak, or more complex than he implies. Be sure to write a title and opening that catches the reader’s attention. Though you only need to cite one of the course readings, it is important to give specific page numbers of the text that you reference or quote. Attendance/Participation: Attendance and participation are an important part of your grade (10%). If you regularly attend class and participate, this is the easiest way to help your grade. If you attend less than 70% of classes, you automatically receive 0% for attendance and participation. For those that miss a class for an excused reason, there will be an opportunity to receive attendance/participation credit for the class missed in the form of a short written assignment due at the start of the next class. Unless it is absolutely impossible to do so, let me know about excused absences—e.g., sickness, doctor’s appointment, scholarship interview, sports event (for student athletes)—beforehand, and I will give you the make-up assignment. Paper Proposal: For the term paper, you are required to turn in a paper proposal. The proposal should consist of four parts: (1) the title of your paper; (2) an abstract of 150-250 words that

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contains a thesis statement in bold; (3) an outline of the major sections of your paper, with a one-sentence description of each section; and (4) a list of references that you plan to consult (at least three references are required; sources other than course readings are permissible but not required). This proposal is due midway through the semester, so that the instructor can provide feedback on your topic and research plan well before the paper’s due date. Term Paper: The major assignment for this course is a 12-15-page paper (double-spaced) on a topic selected from the course readings. You have a great deal of discretion in choosing what to write on. Papers can provide an extended critique of an argument from an assigned text, or they can compare how different authors studied in the course approach an issue (e.g., equality). Regardless of your approach, it is important that the paper draw significantly on at least one of the books assigned for the course. If you are interested in writing on one of the books assigned later in the course, it is advisable to read it early in the semester. Do not hesitate to contact the instructor and/or come to office hours if you would like feedback on a paper topic. Papers are graded according to the rubric found on the last page of the syllabus. Draft Paper: Several weeks before the term paper’s due date, a rough draft is due. The rough draft should be a minimum of 10 pages, and contain the basic argument of all the major sections of your paper. The rough draft does not need to be a completely finished paper, but it is important to write out your arguments so that your peers have sufficient material to provide feedback. Make the most of this opportunity to get valuable feedback by putting time into your draft. The stronger the draft, the stronger position you’ll be in to submit a quality term paper. Partner Feedback on Draft: You will be assigned a partner, and will read his/her draft term paper and provide constructive criticism on it. Your feedback should identify the strengths of the paper and areas for improvement. Be charitable in your comments, but also do not be afraid to point out how your peer’s paper could be better. The instructor will distribute a form, based on the grading rubric for the papers, to guide your written feedback (approximately 1 page). Grading Attendance/Participation Reaction Papers (10) Short Paper Term Paper Proposal Term Paper (Draft) Partner Feedback on Draft Term Paper (Final)

10% 20% 10% 10% 10% 10% 30%

It is 10% off your grade for each day an assignment is late, unless there is an excused reason. Note: late reaction papers will not be accepted, unless there is an excused reason. Reading material The required readings for this course are the following three books:

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• • •

Michael Huemer. 2013. The Problem of Political Authority: An Examination of the Right to Coerce and the Duty to Obey. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. John Rawls. 2005. Political Liberalism, expanded edition. New York: Columbia University Press. Michael Walzer. 1983. Spheres of Justice: A Defense of Pluralism and Equality. New York: Basic Books.

Other texts discussed during the lectures (i.e., articles and book chapters) will be available on Blackboard, but are not required reading. On the schedule below, these texts are listed under the lecture in which they are discussed as “additional resources.” For general background on contemporary political thought, the following resources are helpful though not required reading: • •

Will Kymlicka. 2002. Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Introduction, 2nd edition. New York: Oxford University Press. David Miller. 2003. Political Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press.

Lastly, a valuable internet resource with entries on a variety of issues covered in the course— communitarianism, libertarianism, liberalism, equality, toleration, justice, etc.—is the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato.stanford.edu/index.html. SCHEDULE (complete assignments BY class time on the dates for which they are listed) Week 1:

August 22: Overview of Contemporary Political Thought • No Required Readings • Additional Readings: Isaiah Berlin, “The Hedgehog and the Fox”; Laura Valentini, “Ideal v. Non-ideal Theory: a Conceptual Map” August 24: The Problem of Political Authority • Required Reading: Huemer chs. 1-2 (pp. 3-35) • Additional Reading: A. John Simmons, “Justification and Legitimacy”

Week 2:

August 29: Objections to Social Contract Theory and Democracy • Required Reading: Huemer chs. 3-4 (pp. 36-80) • Additional Reading: Robert Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia (ch. 2) August 31: Consequentialist and Fairness Justifications for Government • Required Reading: Huemer chs. 5-6 (pp. 81-136) • Additional Reading: Lawrie Balfour, “Unreconstructed Democracy: W.E.B. Du Bois and the Case for Reparations” • DUE: Reaction Paper 1 on Huemer chs. 1-6

Week 3:

September 5: NO CLASS (Labor Day) September 7: Does the State Have Obligations to the Poor? • Required Reading: Huemer ch. 7 (pp. 137-179) 4

• • Week 4:

Additional Readings: Peter Singer, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality”; G.A. Cohen, “If You’re an Egalitarian, How Come You’re So Rich?” DUE: Reaction Paper 2 on Huemer chs. 7

September 12: The Case for Anarchism • Required Reading: Huemer chs. 8-9 (pp. 183-229) • Additional Reading: G.A. Cohen, “Marxism and Contemporary Philosophy” September 14: Security without the State • Required Reading: Huemer ch. 10 (pp. 230-264) • DUE: Reaction Paper 3 on Huemer chs. 8-10

Week 5:

September 19: Criminal Justice without the State • Required Reading: Huemer ch. 11 (pp. 265-289) September 21: Societal Defense without the State • Required Reading: Huemer chs. 12-13 (pp. 288-338) • Additional Reading: Robert Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia (ch. 10) • DUE: Reaction Paper 4 on Huemer chs. 11-13

Week 6:

September 26: Political Liberalism • Required Reading: Rawls lecture 1 (pp. 3-46) • Additional Reading: Rawls, A Theory of Justice (ch. 3) September 28: Citizens in a Liberal State • Required Reading: Rawls lecture 2 (pp. 47-88) • Additional Readings: Amartya Sen, “What Do We Want from a Theory of Justice?”; Charles Mills, “ ‘Ideal Theory’ as Ideology” • DUE: Short Paper (submit in class); no reaction paper due

Week 7:

October 3: Political Constructivism • Required Reading: Rawls lecture 3 (pp. 89-130) October 5: Overlapping Consensus • Required Reading: Rawls lecture 4 (pp. 131-172) • Additional Reading: Iris Marion Young, “Activist Challenges to Deliberative Democracy” • DUE: Reaction Paper 5 on Rawls lectures 1-4

Week 8:

October 10: NO CLASS (Fall Break) October 12: Priority of Right • Required Reading: Rawls lecture 5 (pp. 173-211) • DUE: Paper Proposal (submit in class); no reaction paper due

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Week 9:

October 17: Public Reason • Required Reading: Rawls lecture 6 (pp. 212-254) • Additional Reading: Rawls, “The Idea of Public Reason Revisited” (pp. 435-490 in Political Liberalism) October 19: Justice • Required Reading: Rawls lecture 7 (pp. 255-288) • Additional Reading: Robert Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia (ch. 7) • DUE: Reaction Paper 6 on Rawls lectures 6-7

Week 10:

October 24: The Priority of Liberties • Required Reading: Rawls lecture 8 (pp. 289-371) • Additional Reading: Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue (ch. 16) October 26: Rawls v. Habermas • Required Reading: Rawls lecture 9 (pp. 372-434) • Additional Reading: Jürgen Habermas, “Reconciliation through the Public Use of Reason: Remarks on John Rawls’s Political Liberalism” • DUE: Reaction Paper 7 on Rawls lectures 8-9

Week 11:

October 31: Walzer on Equality • Required Readings: Walzer ch. 1 (pp. 3-30) • Additional Reading: Harry Frankfurt, “Equality as a Moral Ideal” November 2: Membership in a State • Required Reading: Walzer ch. 2 (pp. 31-63) • Additional Reading: Will Kymlicka, “Liberalism and Communitarianism” • DUE: Reaction Paper 8 on Walzer chapters 1-2

Week 12:

November 7: The Welfare State • Required Reading: Walzer ch. 3 (pp. 64-94) • Additional Reading: G.A. Cohen, “On the Currency of Egalitarian Justice” November 9: Role of Money in a Just Society • Required Reading: Walzer ch. 4 (pp. 95-128) • Additional Reading: Jason Brennan and Peter Jaworski, “Markets without Symbolic Limits” • DUE: Reaction Paper 9 on Walzer chapters 3-4

Week 13:

November 14: Ethics of Serving in Office • Required Reading: Walzer ch. 5 (pp. 129-164) November 16: Work and Leisure • Required Reading: Walzer ch. 6-7 (pp. 165-196) • DUE: Term Paper Draft (submit on Blackboard and to group); no reaction paper due

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Week 14:

November 21: Education • Required Reading: Walzer ch. 8 (pp. 197-226) November 23: NO CLASS (Thanksgiving Break)

Week 15:

November 28: Church and State • Required Reading: Walzer ch. 9-10 (pp. 227-248) • Additional Reading: Vincent Muñoz, “Two Concepts of Religious Liberty” • DUE: Partner Feedback on Draft (submit 2 copies of each feedback form in class) November 30: Honor and Punishment • Required Reading: Walzer ch. 11 (pp. 249-280)

Week 16:

December 5: State Power and its Dangers • Required Reading: Walzer ch. 12-13 (pp. 281-321) • Additional Reading: Mary Katzenstein and Maureen Waller, “Taxing the Poor: Incarceration, Poverty Governance, and the Seizure of Family Resources” • DUE: Reaction Paper 10 on Walzer chapters 5-13 December 7: NO CLASS (Canceled)

DECEMBER 15 (THURS.) – TERM PAPER DUE AT 9PM (SUBMIT ON BLACKBOARD)

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Grading Rubric for Papers* Guidelines (10 points)

Paper follows specified guidelines regarding its topic, length, number of works cited, and manner of citing outside resources

Clarity (5 points)

Paper is written in clear and concise language, without spelling or grammar errors

Argument (15 points)

Paper advances a clear, non-trivial thesis, and uses evidence and logic to argue for this thesis

Understanding (10 points)

Paper demonstrates a strong grasp of the course readings and themes that it discusses

Counterarguments (10 points)

Paper addresses counterarguments to the thesis advanced, without reducing them to straw man arguments—that is, it avoids mischaracterizing counterarguments to weaken them Comments:

Grade:

*Note: plagiarism is never acceptable and will result automatically in a failing grade.

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