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Political Science 080: Justice and Power

Fall 2003

Dr. Ruth Groff

Office: WWP 448

Office hours: MWF 2:15-4:15, or by appt.

E-mail: ruth.groff@marquette.edu

Course description

It’s easy to assume that contemporary beliefs about social and political life are just clear-headed, accurate statements of the way things are. While earlier views appear to us to be questionable in various ways, the ideas that we hold today seem to be self-evident. This course is designed to challenge such an assumption. Readings and discussion will provide you with an intellectual context, so that you will be able to critically assess certain basic ideas about politics that might otherwise seem to you to need no explanation or defense. We will look at questions ranging from “Who should rule, and why?” to “What makes a society be just?” to “Is there such a thing as human nature, and if so, what does it have to do with politics?” You will read works by Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau and Marx. In accordance with requirements set by the State of Wisconsin, the course covers the basic problems and principles and the major themes, theories and concepts of political science in the subfield of political theory.

Requirements

You will be asked to engage very seriously with the five thinkers whose works we will read and discuss. This means that you will be expected to read very closely and to come to class prepared with questions, observations and insights related to the material. Attendance is mandatory. You will be required to write one essay (with a thesis statement and outline submitted in advance) and to respond in writing to questions designed to test your reading and comprehension the assigned material. The reading questions will be completed in class, following the discussion of each thinker. There will also be a final exam. Outstanding participation in class may add up to one grade increment (e.g., B raised to A/B) to your final grade. The grading breakdown will be as follows:

Essay: 25%

In-class reading questions: 10% each, for a total of 50%

Exam: 25%

Please let me know at the start of the semester if you are entitled to special accommodations for a learning disability. (If you think you might be, but don’t know for sure, please come see me.) You should expect to spend a minimum of 2 hours outside of class preparing for each class meeting (6 hours per week), not counting time spent on the essay and exam preparation. I am available and happy to help you with any difficulty that you are having with the course material or assignments.

Academic Policies

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. All written work must be yours and yours alone. I will review the rules regarding citation with you before the first essay is due. If you have ANY questions about the ethics governing any academic work that you do for this or any other class, please feel free to come talk to me.

Assigned Works

The Republic, Plato

The Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes

The Second Treatise on Government, John Locke

A Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, The Social Contract, Jean Rousseau

The Marx-Engels Reader (ed., Tucker)

Marx for Beginners (Ruis)

Schedule

NOTE: The reading schedule within the allotted time for each thinker will be somewhat flexible as we move through the semester. I will announce more detailed reading instructions in class.

Week 1: Introduction

Week 2-5: Plat Republic

In-class reading questions on Plato

Week 6-7: Hobbes: The Leviathan, selections

In-class reading questions on Hobbes

Week 8-10: Locke: The Second Treatise

In-class reading questions on Locke

Week 11: Rousseau: A Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, The Social Contract, selections

In-class reading questions on Rousseau

Essay due

Week 12-14: Marx-Engels Reader, selected early writings

In-class reading questions on Marx

Week 15: Reflections, review