SOSC 6348:
2006
THE CHANGINNG LANDSCAPE
of POLITICAL THOUGHT
Thinking About Politics
Spring 2006
SOSC 6348
Mr.Carter
THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF POLITICAL
THOUGHT
Political theory gives us ways of seeing, describing, and altering the political
world. This course is an introduction to the way political thinkers- and the rest of
us- do these things in the process of creating political theory. It will examine the
questions raised by theorists and how those questions are answered. The course is
an invitation to think about thinking as well as an invitation to enter a
conversation about politics that has gone on a very long time. This will be done
through examination of the work of those thinkers and doers who have responded
to the changing political landscape or who have helped create some of that
change.
A.
ASSIGNED TEXTS
Goldman, Anarchism, Dover
Locke, Second Treatise of Government, Hackett
Mill, On Liberty, Harlan-Davidson
Rand, For the New Intellectual, Signet
Tinder, Political Thinking, 6th ed., Longman
It is important that you have the assigned edition of these texts.
In addition we will read an excerpt from Spencer’s a Plea for
Liberty, Federalist Ten, The 1945 Manifesto of the Labour
Party, The Doctrine of Fascism, and a major portion of the
Communist Manifesto- all of which will be put on line or e-mailed
to you.
B.
COURSE EXPECTATIONS
1. It is assumed that you will make every effort to attend all classes.
2. Contribution to discussion will be noted. Worthwhile contribution is
always remembered kindly at the time when final grades are set.
3. You will be asked to write two take-home essays. Topics for these
essays will be set. Your response will be based on assigned readings
and lecture. There will also be an in-class mid-term and final
examination. The final examination will be administered from
6:30-9:30 on Tuesday, 9 May.
4. The essays and exams will be weighed: 20% for each of the essays,
20% for the mid-term, and 40% for the final exam. Essays are due on
the day announced.
5. My telephone number is 214.768.2522. My e-mail address is bkcarter
@smu.edu . My web cite is at http.//faculty.smu.edu/bkcarter/ .
C.
THE SCHEDULE
The course outline is inspired by, and largely follows, the core text of
the course: Glenn Tinder, Political Thinking: The Perennial Questions.
Week One: Engaging in Political Thought
Key Questions: why engage in political thought? Is it of use to examine
values?
January 17
1.
2.
3.
4.
Introduction to the Course
Defining Politics
The Craft of Political Theory
Examining Values
Assignment: Tinder, v-9; Political Questions; Defining Politics; The
1945 Manifesto of the Labour Party (skim)
Weeks Two & Three: Estrangement and Unity
Key Questions: are humans estranged in essence? if not, what causes
estrangement? can estrangement be overcome through reasoning?
January 24
1. The Question of Epistemology (from last week)
2. Estrangement and Unity
3. Goldman’s Answer to Estrangement
Assignment: Tinder, 23-59; Goldman, v-144
January 31
1. Goldman and Freedom
2. Another Perspective: Triumph of the Will
Assignment: Goldman, 145-239
FIRST ESSAY ASSIGNMENT DISTRIBUTED
Weeks Four & Five: Inequality and Equality
Key Questions: are human beings unequal in essence? if all conventional
inequalities were abolished could liberty survive?
February 7
1. Elitism and Egalitarianism
2. The Politics of Elitism
Assignment: Tinder, 61-101; Rand, vii-86
February 14
1. The individual and Society
2. Elitism and Theory Y
3. Review for Essay
Assignment: Rand, 88-192; Theory Y (a one page document available on
my web site)
Weeks Six & Seven: Power & Those With Power
Key Questions: can order be maintained without power? who should
rule? why obey?
February 21
1. Tinder on Power
2. Locke and Power
3. Politics as Contract
Assignment: Tinder, 103-132; Locke, 7-30
FIRST ESSAY DUE
February 28
1. The Social Contract
2. Liberalism
3. Review for Mid-term Examination
Assignment: Locke, 30-124
Week Eight: Mid-Term Examination
March 7
Test administered from 6:30 to 8:30.
Weeks Nine & Ten: Limits on Power
Key questions: should governments be under the same moral limits as
individuals? Should governments always be under constitutional limits?
Should property be in private hands?
March 21
1. Limits on Power
2. Publius, Power, and Human Nature
3. Publius and American Attitudes toward Power
Assignment: Tinder, 133-166; Federalist Ten (available on web site)
SECOND ESSAY TOPIC DISTRIBUTED
March 28
1. Spencer and Freedom
2. The SDS and Freedom
3. Spencer v. Socialism
Assignment: Spencer, A Plea for Liberty; The 1945 Manifesto of the
Labour Party (both available on web site)
Weeks Eleven & Twelve: The Ends of Power
Key questions: does every government serve the interests of stronger?
is the goal of government to enable individuals to live as they choose?
should governments fulfill all needs and desires?
April 4
1. The Question of Power
2. John Stuart Mill and Power
3. Review for Second Essay
Assignment: Tinder, 167-204; Mill; Liberalism (one page handout on
web site)
April 11
1. Mussolini and Power
2. Power and Elitism
3. Fascism v Liberalism
Assignment: The Principles of Fascism (on web site)
SECOND ESSAY DUE
Weeks Thirteen & Fourteen: The Control of History
Key questions: can humans control the course of history? Can we guide
history without using violence? does history lead inevitably to “the good
society”?
April 18
1. Can We Control History?
2. Marx’s New Perspectives
3. Marx’s New World
Assignment: Tinder, 207-235; The Communist Manifesto (on web site)
April 25
1. Marx and History
2. Creating the Good Society
3. Brave New Worlds?
No Assignment
Week Fifteen: Humane Uncertainty and Final Exams
Key question: how can we avoid despair?
May 2
1. Tinder and Uncertainty
2. Pondering Political Questions
3. Review for Final Examination
Assignment: Tinder, 237-250