POLI 390

Fall 2010

POLITICAL THEORY I



Instructor: Dr. Lawrence T. Farley


This course will introduce the student to the history of political ideas. Ideas give meaning to facts and events. We will explore together many of the great political ideas that have shaped the political world of today. We won't be in a hurry. We will take our time to get comfortable with great ideas.

COURSE MATERIALS

Required Readings:

G. Tinder, Political Thinking (6th Ed. ISBN: 0-321-00527-9)

Old Testament: The Book of Job (any good annotated Bible)

Plato, The Republic (Cornford or other annotated translation)

S. Yang, Confucius: A Novel (ISBN-13: 9787507101362 ISBN-10: 7507101363)

D. Gardner and M. Carnes,Confucianism and the Succession Crisis of the Wanli Emperor, 1587 (ISBN-10: 032133230X | ISBN-13: 9780321332301)

N. Machiavelli, The Prince

K. Robinson, The Years of Rice and Salt (ISBN-10: 0553109200 ISBN-13: 978-0553109207)

J.S. Mill, Essay on Liberty

Strunk and White, Elements of Style (ISBN: 0-205-30902-X)

The New York Times (daily)

Recommended Readings:

C. Gilman, Herland

A. Huxley, Brave New World

J.S. Mill, On the Subjection of Women

J. Michener, The Source

B.F. Skinner, Beyond Freedom and Dignity

B.F. Skinner, Walden Two

ASSIGNMENTS

Each student will participate in a group research project. For details click on the link in the "Grading" section below.

GRADING

Your final grade will be computed on the following basis:


Seminar Speciality: Each student will "adopt" several of the "big questions" developed in the Tinder book and will be always alert to the need to raise and discuss the questions as we consider the ideas contained in the readings.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Aug 29 - Sept 3
Introduction to Course and Overview; Origins of Empiricism; 100 Word Reaction Papers

Required Readings: Tinder, first half

Sept 4 - 10

The Great Questions

Required Readings: Tinder, second half

Sept 11 - 17

The Great Questions

Required Readings: Book of Job

Sept 18 - 24

Job and his friends

Required Readings: Plato, The Republic, begin

Sept 25 - 30
A dialogue with Socrates

Required Readings: Plato, The Republic, finish

Oct 1 - Oct 8
More dialogue with Socrates

Topics

Required Readings: Yang, Confucius

Oct 9 - 16
Confucianism

Required Readings: Gardener and Carnes, all

Oct 17 - 24
Confucianism

Review

Required Readings: Machiavelli, The Prince

Thinkers as Advisors to Rulers

Oct 25 - 31
Mid-term exam

Required Readings: Hobbes materials

". . .nasty, brutish, and short."

Nov. 1 - Nov 6

Required Readings: Robinson, The Years of Rice and Salt

Nov 7 - 14
Political Islam

Required Readings: Mills, On Liberty

Nov 15 - 21
False Opinion has Value


Marx and his critics


Nov 22 - 28
Review

Required Readings: none



Nov 29 - Dec 10
Review and Final Exam


Simulation exercise on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010 from 8 AM to 4 PM.