Modern Political Philosophy

Political Science 303

Spring 2000



Prospectus

This courses introduces you to the central concepts of modern political thought. These concepts include obligation, law, property, rights, interest, liberty, parties, and the state. In the first part of the course, we will examine these concepts chronologically, as they develop in the works of Hobbes, Pufendorf, Locke, Hume, Rousseau and Kant. In the second part of this course, we will examine these concepts analytically, reading both contemporary and historical texts on central concepts.

Books

The vast majority of readings of this course will be from Wootton, Modern Political Thought. In addition, the following books on available for sale and on reserve:

Schmitt, The Concept of the Political

Pufendorf, On the Duty of Man and Citizen

Smith, The Wealth of Nations

Hume, Political Writings

Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysic of Morals

We will be using the Wootton Collection for Burke, so we will not be reading Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France. There will be other materials on reserve especially for the second half of the course either as xeroxes or books.

Expectations

Constructive class participation. I may on occasion lecture as well as assign a reading for a particular day. Although my lecture will cover aspects of the texts, I will assume that you have read the full text, including elements I have not discussed. These will be on the midterm and final examinations.

There will be a take home quiz on Hobbes in three weeks. The two main written elements of this course are a midterm and final examination. Examinations will test your knowledge of the texts, focusing on definitions of concepts and understanding of key analytic arguments. There will be in class and essay components of the exams.

Readings

Week I: What is Politics?

1. Carl Schmitt, Concept of the Political, pp. 3-79

2. Thomas Hobbes, "The Leviathan", Book I, Introduction & Chapters 1-6, 13-17

Week II

1. Book II, Chapters 18-26

2. Book II, Chapters 26-31.

Week III

1. Pufendorf, On the Duty of Man and Citizen, Book I

2. Pufendorf, Book II

Week IV

1. Locke, "Second Treatise", Chapters 1-14

2. Locke, Chapters 15-19 and A Letter Concerning Toleration

Week V

1. Hume, Political Writings, pp. 1-46, 164-182.

2. Hume, pp. 47-97, 182-189

Week VI

1. Rousseau, "Discourse Concering Inequality" in Wootton pp. 404-448

2. Kant, Foundations of the Metaphysic of Morals, pp. 3-63

Week VII

1. Kant, 63-82, "What is Enlightenment", pp. 82-90, and Rousseau, "Social Contract," Book I.

2. Rousseau, "Social Contract," Books II, III and IV

Week VIII

1. Scheler, Ressentiment, Books, I, II, ( pp. 27-63) and V ( pp. 110-126 only.)

2. Midterm

Spring Break

Week IX: Obligation

1. Carol Pateman, "Justifying Political Obligation" from The Disorder of Women
Robert Paul Wolff, In Defense of Anarchism, pp. 21-67.

2. HLA Hart, Concept of Law, Chapters 1, 2

Week X: Representation

1. Hannah Pitkin, "The Problem of Thomas Hobbes" in The Concept of Representation

"Representation" in Ball and Farr ed, Political Innovation and Conceptual Change.

Hobbes, "Leviathan", Chapter 17

2. The Federalist Papers, 9, 10, 23, 33, 35, 37, 48,51, 65

Krouse, "Classical Images of Democracy in America: Madison and Tocqueville" from Graeme Duncan ed., Democratic Theory and Practice.

"Corruption" in Ball and Farr ed., Political Innovation and Conceptual Change.

Week XI: Property, Markets and Politics

1. Gopal Sreenivisan, "Introduction" (3-18) and "Mixing and Making" (59-92) in The Limits of Lockean Rights in Property.

Locke, 2nd Treatise, Chapter 8 "Rights" in Ball and Farr ed, Political Innovation and Conceptual Change.

2. Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, Book I, Chapters, 1-3, 8, Book II, Introduction, Chapter 3, Book IV, Chapters 1, 2 (pp. 474-487 only), Book V, Chapters I, Parts 1, 2, 3 (intro only, p. 244).

Week XII

1. Karl Marx, "The Communist Manifesto" in Wootton, pp. 826-847.

"Alienated Labor" in Wootton, pp. 790-797.

"Property" in Ball and Farr ed., Political Innovation and Conceptual Change.

History, Expression, Parties, Sentiment and Society

2. Smith, "Theory of Moral Sentiments" in Wootton, pp. 535-550

Stephen Holmes, "The Secrety History of Self-Interest" in Mansbridge, ed. Beyond Self-Interest

"Parties" in Ball and Farr ed., Political Innovation and Conceptual Change.

"Public Interest" in Ball and Farr ed., Political Innovation and Conceptual Change.

Week XIII

1. Hume, Political Writings,, essay 10

Burke, "Reflections on the Revolution in France" in Wootton, pp. 551-572.

Charles Taylor, "Atomism" from Philosophical Papers: Philosophy and the Human Sciences, Volume II

2. Mill, "On Liberty" in Wootton, pp. 605-659.

Charles Taylor, "What's Wrong with Negative Liberty?" from Philosophical Papers: Philosophy and the Human Sciences, Volume II