The Indiana Academy
SOC 200 (Fall 2015)
Foundations of the American Experience (MWF 10, 11, 3)
Instructor: Dr. Mark Myers (msmyers@bsu.edu)
Office Location: Faculty House 1st Floor
Office Hours: MWF 1-3, T 2-4, and by appointment
Course Description:
This course explores political and economic theory and practice from the ancient Mediterranean world into
the twentieth century to prepare students for American History 1 and 2. Students will build their
knowledge of key historical concepts and events, as well as their analytical abilities, to enhance their
understanding of the politics and economics or the present.
Note: This class will primarily focus on the analysis of documents and essays in political philosophy and
theory.
Required Texts:
Sterba, Social and Political Philosophy: Classical Western Texts in Feminist and Multicultural
Perspectives, 3rd Edition (S)
Curtis, The Great Political Theories, Vol. 1 (C-I)
Curtis, The Great Political Theories, Vol. 2 (C-II)
Recommended Texts:
Tannenbaum, Inventors of Ideas: An Introduction to Western Political Philosophy, 3rd Edition (T)
*This text is a basic text that is extremely useful in helping you understand the difficult primary sources we
will discuss in class. I highly recommend that you look through the readings from this text that are listed
on the class schedule.
Goals for and Obligations of Students:
1. The first goal of the class is for students to gain an interpretive awareness of the major themes in
political thought. All students are obligated to complete all assigned readings before class. This is
imperative because this is a seminar course. Class meetings will only succeed if you put in the
time to read the assignments.
2. The second goal of the class is for students to become comfortable participating in class. Students
are obligated to participate in all class sessions.
3. The third goal of the class is for students to gain research and writing experience. Therefore,
students are obligated to complete four essays and an annotated bibliography.
4. Each of the first three goals is designed to meet the overall, and most important, goal of the
course, improving students’ critical thinking skills.
Course Requirements:
1. Essays: Each student will complete four (4) essays during the semester. For the first three essays,
you are to consider some of the major themes in political philosophy and compare at least three
philosophers. The philosophers and topics you choose are up to you and you may submit the
essays at any time, but you are required to have at least one completed at designated checkpoints
during the semester (9/4, 10/2, 11/13). For the final essay, you will use what you have learned to
construct your own political philosophy. The final paper is due by December 14 at 5:00 p.m.
Outside of dire circumstances, late essays will not be accepted. Each essay should be about 5
pages long and is worth 100 points.
2. Participation: This course is a seminar course, therefore, I hope to convey to you the importance
of collegial discussion. I consider a seminar to be a “team activity,” therefore, the class will be
graded as a group. Everyone is expected to be involved in the discussion, and there are multiple
ways to participate (I will provide a list of possible ways to contribute, as well as a brief rubric.).
Although the class will get the same “baseline” grade, there are two exceptions. First, students
who do not participate at all will be marked down significantly. Second, students who perform
3.
exceptional group-benefit feats, such as “saving” a discussion that is struggling, will be eligible
for extra points. Each day of discussion will be worth 10 points.
Annotated Bibliography: Each student will choose one topic or philosopher and conduct extra
research. There will be two steps to this assignment. First, each student will prepare a 1-page
proposal. This will require some preliminary research. The student will discuss their topic in
general and why this would be an important topic to explore. The proposal is due on Friday,
September 11 and is worth 100 points. Once a topic is chose, the student will research some of the
secondary literature on the topic (books and journal articles), choosing at least 5 sources. The
student will then submit an annotated bibliography of the chose sources. The annotated
bibliography is due by Friday, October 30 and is worth 50 points.
Grade Distribution (Percentage of Total Points Earned):
A:
90-100
B:
80-89
C:
70-79
D*:
Below 70
Assignments:
All assignments must be typed in a reasonable font and submitted in hard copy. In most cases, late papers
will not be accepted without prior discussion. If accepted, late papers will accrue a penalty of one letter
grade for every calendar day late.
Academic Dishonesty:
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be subject to the Academy’s policies on academic
dishonesty. For a full discussion of this process and possible sanctions, please refer to the student
handbook.
Behavior:
This class is expected to be a positive learning experience based on open communication and respect. You
are expected to be collegial and to respect the rights of the other seminar participants. On that note, I
expect you to be engaged with the class conversation, with no side conversations, sleeping, or playing on
you cell phones. Doing so can lead to a lowering of your participation grade for the day. Continued
disruptive activity can lead to removal from class (which would be an unexcused absence) and the sending
of an APR.
Computers:
There should be no time when computers will be needed, therefore all computers must be closed during the
seminars.
Blackboard:
As time permits, I will post interesting things on Blackboard. You should check this out regularly.
Disclaimer:
I reserve the right to make changes to this syllabus at my discretion. I will give notice to the class as soon
as possible after making any change.
Academic Calendar:
8/10
Classes Begin
9/5-8
Extended Break
10/2
Quarter 1 Ends
10/9
Conference Day
10/10-13
Extended Break
10/14
PSAT
11/21-29
Extended Break
12/14-17
Finals Week
Course Calendar:
Week 1:
8/10
8/12
8/14
Recommended Reading: (T) Ch. 2
Introduction to the Course
Plato: (S) 4-32
Plato & Confucius: (S) 33-45
8/17
8/19
8/21
Recommended Reading: (T) Ch. 3
Aristotle: (S) 46-67
Rufus, Aristotle, & Ewe Proverbs: (S) 68-83
Stoicism: (C-I) 102-119
8/24
8/26
8/28
Recommended Reading: (T) Ch. 4 & 5
Rome: (C-I) 120-139
Augustine: (S) 85-103
Medieval Life & Thought: (C-I) 157-174
8/31
9/2
9/4
Recommended Reading: (T) Ch. 6 & 8
Aquinas: (S) 104-125
de Gournay & Maimonides: (S) 125-138
The Renaissance: (C-I) 215-233
9/7
9/9
9/11
Recommended Reading: (T) Ch. 7
Extended: No Class
The Reformation: (C-I) 215-233
The Right of Resistance: (C-I) 263-287
9/14
9/16
9/18
Recommended Reading: (T) Ch. 9
Suarez & Bellarmine: (C-I) 287-300
Sovereignty & Divine Right: (C-I) 301-325
Hobbes: (S) 139-167
9/21
9/23
9/25
Recommended Reading: (T) Ch. 10
Pateman & Las Casas: (S) 167-183
Spinoza et. al: (C-I) 350-372
Locke: (S) 184-207
9/28
9/30
10/2
Clark & Tecumseh: (S) 207-223
Vico & Hume: (C-I) 412-440
French Thought: (C-I) 412-440
10/5
10/7
10/9
Recommended Reading: (T) Ch. 11 & 12
Rousseau: (S) 225-250
Wollstonecraft & Churchill: (S) 263-285
Kant: (S) 287-316
10/12
10/14
10/16
Recommended Reading: (T) Ch. 13
Extended: No Class
PSAT/TBA
Revolution & Counterrevolution: (C-II) 48-75
10/19
10/21
10/23
Recommended Reading: (T) Ch. 14
Romanticism & Idealism: (C-II) 76-104
Mill: (S) 318-339
Mill on Women, Taylor, Mao Tzu: (S) 340-371
Week 2:
Week 3:
Week 4:
Week 5:
Week 6:
Week 7:
Week 8:
Week 9:
Week 10:
Week 11:
Week 12:
Recommended Reading: (T) Ch. 15
10/26 Early Socialism & Positivism: (C-II) 130-154
10/28 Marx & Engels: (S) 372-392
10/30 Hartmann & Schumacher: (S) 392-408
Week 13:
11/2
11/4
11/6
Classical Liberalism & Aristocratic Conservatism: (C-II) 181-186, 204-233
Nationalism: (C-II) 234-253
Social Darwinism, History, Neo-Idealism: (C-II) 254-284
Week 14:
11/9
11/11
11/13
Irrationalism & Psychology: (C-II) 285-319
Rawls & Hospers: (S) 409-437
Okin & Mawdudi: (S) 438-457
Week 15:
11/16
11/18
11/20
Habermas & Foucault: (S) 459-477
Bartley & West: (S) 477-497
MacIntyre & Taylor: (S) 499-520
Week 16:
11/30
12/2
12/4
Friedman & Nordberg-Hodge: (S) 520-537
West & Nussbaum: (S)
Wrap-Up: What Does This Mean?
Week 17:
12/7
12/9
12/11
Projects
Projects
Projects