School of Arts and Sciences 2017-18
COURSE
SYLLABUS
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Course Number POL 210-A |
Course
Title
Western Political Concepts I |
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Fall Semester
XXX |
Spring
Semester |
Summer
Semester |
Credit
Hours 3 |
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Name
of Instructor William Miller |
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Meeting
Day, Time, and Room Number |
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Final
Exam Day, Time, and Room Number Friday, December 15, 3:00pm, Gailhac G114
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Office
Hours, Location, Phone Always email ahead of
time! Tuesdays and Fridays, 12:00 to 2:00pm;
Wednesdays by appointment; Ireton G107; 703-284-1687 |
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E-mail and Web Site wmiller@marymount.edu
Email is always the best way to reach me! www.millerpolitics.com All
announcements and assignments are posted on this web site, never on Canvas. |
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Course
Description An introduction to political theory focusing on political thought
from ancient to early modern times and on the fundamental conceptions of
political theory. |
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UNIVERSITY
STATEMENTS
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
By accepting this
syllabus, you pledge to uphold the principles of Academic Integrity expressed by
the Marymount University Community. You agree to observe these principles
yourself and to defend them against abuse by others. Items submitted for this course may be submitted to TurnItIn.com for
analysis.
STUDENT COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
For
the benefit of current and future students, work in this course may be used for
educational critique, demonstrations, samples, presentations, and
verification. Outside of these uses,
work shall not be sold, copied, broadcast, or distributed for profit without
student consent.
ACCOMMODATIONS AND
ACCESSIBILITY CONCERNS
Please address any special challenges or needs with the instructor at
the beginning of the semester. Students seeking accommodations for a disability
must complete the required steps for obtaining a Faculty Contact Sheet from the
Office of Student Access Services (SAS). Students are then responsible for
meeting with their instructors at the beginning of the semester to review and
sign the Faculty Contact Sheet and develop a specific plan for providing the
accommodations listed. Accommodations cannot be granted to students who fail
to follow this process. Appointments with the SAS director can be scheduled
through the Starfish "Success Network" tab in Canvas. For more
information, check the SAS website, e-mail access@marymount.edu, or call 703-284-1538 to reach the SAS
director or an academic support coordinator.
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION POLICY
When
students are absent due to a crisis situation or unexpected, serious illness
and unable to contact their individual instructors directly, the Division of
Student Affairs can send out an Emergency Notification. To initiate an
Emergency Notification, students should contact the Division of Student Affairs 703-284-1615 or student.affairs@marymount.edu. Emergency
Notifications are NOT appropriate for non-emergency situations (e.g. car
problems, planned absences, minor illnesses, or a past absence); are NOT
a request or mandate to excuse an absence, which is at the sole discretion of
the instructor; and are NOT a requirement for student absences. If a
student contacts instructors about an emergency situation directly, it is not
necessary to involve the Division of Student Affairs as arrangements are made
to resolve the absence.
For
non-emergency absences, students should inform
their instructors directly.
ACCESS TO STUDENT WORK
Copies of your work
in this course including copies of any submitted papers and your portfolios may
be kept on file for institutional research, assessment and accreditation
purposes. All work used for these purposes will be submitted
confidentially.
UNIVERSITY POLICY ON WEATHER AND EMERGENCY
CLOSINGS
Weather
and Emergency closings are announced on Marymount’s web site: www.marymount.edu, through MUAlerts, area radio stations, and TV
stations. You may also call the Weather
and Emergency Hotline at (703) 526-6888 for current status. Unless
otherwise advised by local media or by official bulletins listed above,
students are expected to report for class as near normal time as possible on
days when weather conditions are adverse. Decisions as to inclement closing or
delayed opening are not generally made before 6:00 AM and by 3:00 PM for evening classes
of the working day. Emergency closing could occur at any time making MUAlerts the most timely announcement
mechanism. Students are expected to
attend class if the University is not officially closed. If the University
is closed, course content and
assignments will still be covered as directed by the course instructor. Please
look for communication from course instructor (e.g., Canvas) for information on
course work during periods in which the University is closed.
1. BROAD
PURPOSE OF COURSE
This course provides an introduction
to political theory focusing on political thought from ancient to early modern
times and on the fundamental conceptions of political theory. The different
theoretical approaches are presented in classic readings designed
to introduce students to some of the fundamental early literature of several
broad traditions of political theory—the Classical, the Christian, the
esoteric, and the Epicurean-modern traditions—and to provoke inquiry into the
writers' basic ideas about nature, reason, human nature, government, and good
and evil.
2. COURSE
OBJECTIVES: Upon
successful completion of this course students will be expected to:
1. demonstrate understanding of the
teleological world view of the Classical, the Gnostic, Hermetic, and the
Christian traditions and the non-teleological view of Epicurean and modern
theorists ("cosmology" and "ontology");
2. demonstrate familiarity
with Classical, Christian, esoteric, and Epicurean-modern theories of the
objects and the processes of knowing ("epistemology");
3. demonstrate understanding
of the Classical and Christian concepts of human nature as distinct from Gnostic,
Hermetic, and Epicurean-modern concepts ("anthropology");
4. demonstrate understanding
of several of the different Classical, Christian, and Epicurean-modern views of
the nature and function of political society and government
("politics");
5.demonstrate understanding of the
concepts of good and evil, right and wrong, as presented in Classical and
medieval Christian thought, in Gnostic thought, and in the writings of
Lucretius and Hobbes ("ethics");
6. demonstrate a basic
ability to read texts in political theory with critical understanding—i.e., to
grasp the author's main points, to identify his supporting arguments and
rationales, and to offer cogent internal and external criticism of the
readings; and,
7. engage in the practice
of writing and critical reasoning by composing well organized, acceptably
written, logically argued essays and papers on issues of political theory.
3. TEACHING
METHOD
The course
will consist primarily of guided discussions of the readings and secondarily of
lectures and background information by the instructor.
4. GRADING POLICY
Friday,
September 29, 2017, is the last day to withdraw from a class without academic
record.
Friday,
November 3, 2017, is the last day to withdraw from a class with a grade of W.
The final grade is based on components that include graded class
assignments (which cover answering questions in class and participating in
class discussions) and quizzes, two short graded papers, two
mid-term essay exams, and a final essay exam, as follows:
25% = Three papers (the first is worth 5%, the second and third
are worth 10% each)
15% = Lower mid-term exam
20% = Higher mid-term exam
30% = Final exam
10% = Class assignments, quizzes, constructive contributions to
class discussions.
The usual scale of 90-100%=A, 80-89%=B, 70-79%=C, 60-69%=D, and
59% and below=F will be used for all graded work.
The exams and the papers are all based on the primary readings of
the course: not on the class lectures, which are intended to help you
understand the readings and not to substitute for the readings. No grade of
"I" or "Incomplete" will be given. If possible, papers
and exams will be graded and returned within two weeks. Papers handed
in late will receive an F.
ATTENDANCE AND MAKE-UP EXAM POLICY
Attendance: Beginning with the second week of classes, students are
allowed a total of nine absences, excused and/or unexcused. Students who miss
ten or more classes for any reason whatever will receive an “F” in the
course.
Each unexcused absence beyond three—up to the
absolute limit of nine—will result in a lowering of the final grade by one
percentage point. To be excused, an absence must be documented,
unless I indicate otherwise. Excused absences are typically medical-, legal-,
or job-related excuses. Acceptable documentation typically consists of a
statement or form on official stationery (1) signed by a third party (doctor,
police, judge, supervisor—not a parent or family member!) that (2) refers
specifically to the day of absence from class and (3) the reason for the
absence.
Occasionally coming to class late—even really late once or
twice—is not considered an absence. Coming to class without hard copies of
the text for the day, leaving the classroom for most of the class-time, or
leaving class early without the prior permission of the instructor, however, is
considered an unexcused absence.
Merely informing me ahead of time that you will be absent from
class does not mean I excuse the absence, though I appreciate your courtesy. I
will not excuse your absence because you are simply not feeling well or because
you choose to do something worthwhile other than come to class even if you
inform me ahead of time. If you are coughing and sneezing and coming down with
a cold or the flu, and you don't want to spread your virus to your classmates,
your fellow students and I salute you! Staying home may be the right thing to
do, but it is not an excused absence. You all get three unexcused absences to
use as you see fit, and it is your decision to use them to stay home when you
don't feel well or want to attend some other event or need to prepare for
another class instead of going to my class. Use them for good reasons: that's
what they are for.
The limit of nine total absences recognizes that excessive excused absences
may also be a problem. You should discuss such situations with me well before
the last month of the semester. This is not a distance learning class. Any
absence prevents you from participating in the class, but if your job or an
illness keeps you away from class, it will significantly affect the class
participation component of your grade and may be a good reason to drop the
course and take it another time. All of us find ourselves in these situations
from time to time and have to deal with them appropriately. You also have an
obligation to report this to a University office (see the section titled
“Attendance” in the University Catalogue).
When in doubt about any of these policies, please come and talk to
me. They have been formulated with our substantial commuter and working student
population in mind and are intended to be fair to everyone. You should also
review the University's policies on absenteeism in the section titled
“Attendance” in the University Catalogue.
Make-up Exams: The same basic rules about excused absences apply to taking
mid-terms. My policy of giving makeup exams on the same day as the final does
NOT mean that you may choose to take the mid-term exam on that day rather than
on the regularly scheduled day: it is not an alternative test date. To be
eligible for a makeup, you must qualify for an excused absence, and this you
should do a reasonable time before the day of the mid-term, if that is at all
possible. You may be excused from taking a mid-term if you are certifiably sick
or your job prevents you from attending class or you have a legal or employment
emergency on the day of the test. If one of these applies, and I am informed in
a reasonable time before the exam, and you have written documentation to
support your request, you may take the exam on the same day as the final
exam. If none of these reasons apply, you may not take the exam at
another time, and you will get a zero for the exam. Travel plans will never
excuse an absence. Parental or family notes do not constitute proper documentation. If you are late for the exam
because of events outside of your control, let me know immediately or as soon
as possible that day, and I will let you take the exam later
that same day if possible.
5. CLASS
SCHEDULE
As stated, this schedule is approximate and subject to revisions,
though I shall try to keep the dates for papers and exams the same as listed
herein. In the Weekly Assignments section of the webpage, check the link to
"Western Political Concepts I (Fall 2017)" for the particular
assignments for each class and the link to “Readings for Western Political
Concepts I (Fall 2017)” for many of the assigned readings. Revised Paper
deadlines and Midterm dates may be announced in class and on the Weekly
Assignments link, but I will try to stick to the dates below. You will have to
have the designated Lucretius text by the second week of class.
Week I (8/29-9/1) Tuesday: Introduction to
course; Friday: The fundamental conceptions of political theory.
Week II (9/5-8) TOPIC I: Ontology and Cosmology Readings.
Week III (9/12-15) Ontology and Cosmology Readings. Friday:
First paper due.
Week IV (9/19-22) Ontology and. Cosmology Readings
Week V (9/26-29) Ontology and. Cosmology Readings. Friday: Mid-term Exam.
Friday,
September 29, 2017, is the last day to withdraw from a class without academic
record.
Week VI (10/3-6) TOPIC II: Epistemology
Readings.
Week VII (10/13) Epistemology Readings.
Week VIII (10/17-20). Epistemology
Readings. Friday: Second Paper Due.
Week IX (10/24-27) TOPICS III & IV: Anthropology and Ethics Readings
Week X (10/31-11/3) Anthropology
and Ethics Readings.
Friday, November
3, 2017, is the last day to withdraw from a class with a grade of “W”.
Week XI (11/7-10) Anthropology and Ethics Readings. Friday: Mid-Term Exam.
Week XII (11/14-17) Anthropology
and Ethics Readings.
Week XIII (11/21) TOPIC V: Politics Readings.
Week XIV (11/28-12/1) Politics
Readings. Third Paper Due.
Week XV (12/5-8) Politics Readings.
The final exam will be given only at
the date and time prescribed by the University Final Exam Schedule: Friday,
December 12th, 3:00pm. All mid-term exam make-ups will be given only
on the same day before or after the final exam. If this final exam time
conflicts with another final exam on your schedule, talk with me immediately.
Make your travel plans accordingly!
6. REQUIRED
TEXT
The only positively, absolutely
necessary hard-copy, paper text is:
Lucretius. On the Nature of
the Universe. Trans. R.E. Latham and John Godwin. New York:
Penguin Classics, 1951, 1994. ISBN 9780140446104
All other texts are available either
as handouts or on the Internet. See next entry. If you do not purchase these
other texts, get a couple of three-ring binders in which to store the
downloaded or handout copies of the readings.
Except for the texts of Frankfort, Niemeyer, and Jonas, which are
on reserve, all the texts are available on the internet via links on the
webpage or at Reinsch library as well as at the bookstore.
Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. Ross or
Ostwald translations.
________. Politics, Barker translation.
Frankfort, Henri, et al. Intellectual Adventure of
Ancient Man. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1946. (Also
published for many years as a Penguin paperback entitled Before
Philosophy, which is still available in many used book stores.) On
Reserve.
Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan.
Jonas, Hans. The Gnostic Religion. Boston: Beacon
Press, 2001.
Niemeyer, Gerhart. Aftersight and Foresight. Lanham,
MD: ISI, UPA, 1988. On Reserve.
________. Within and Above Ourselves. Wilmington:
Intercollegiate Studies Institute, 1996.
Plato. Gorgias. Helmbold translation is
preferred.
Plato. The Republic of Plato. Bloom translation is
best, but Grube/Reeve and Shorey translations are also OK.
St. Augustine. The City of God. Trans. Bettenson.
New York: Penguin Classics, 2004. Dods translation is fine, too.
Voegelin, Eric. Modernity without Restraint. On
Reserve.
A FEW FURTHER
RULES
For the benefit of the class and your
classmates, the following rules regarding electronic devices also apply to this
course:
1. Turn your cell phones off during
the class. If you are expecting an important call, put your phone on “Vibrate,”
sit near the door, and, when the call comes, answer it outside the classroom.
2. It follows from the foregoing
rule, but it must be separately stated: no talking and no texting on cell
phones during class. If you do not follow this rule, I will publicly ask you to
leave the room for the remainder of the class and will do my best to have you
removed from the course for the rest of the semester.
3. No open lap-top or other computers
are allowed in class without my prior permission. Devices such as
tablets, Ipads, Kindles, and Nooks that lie flat on the desk and on to
which the readings can be loaded are permitted if approved by me, but hard
copies of the readings are better. You can mark them up and take notes on them
in class.
4. Be sure to check your Marymount email
address regularly! This is Marymount’s and my principal way of
contacting you with important information. Perhaps you rely mostly on Yahoo,
gmail, or some other provider, but check your @marymount.edu mail daily to make
sure you do not miss school information.
These rules are necessary to foster a
suitable learning environment in the classroom during class. There are enough
distractions with lawnmowers, air conditioners, and other outside forces to
combat during lectures and discussions