Modern Political Thought
Professor Flagg Taylor
GO 205H, Fall 2015
Ladd 306A, x5244
ftaylor@skidmore.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday 2-3, Thursday 2-3
Course Description:
This course will cover major figures in modern political thought, focusing on the theme of
the social contract and the nature of political obligation. We begin with the two thinkers who
laid the foundation for modern social contract theory, Hobbes and Locke. In the second
part of the course we turn to Hume and Rousseau—the former who rejected the idea of a
social contract and the latter who radicalized the concept. The last part of the course will be
devoted to the Burke/Paine debate—a debate prompted by Burke’s pamphlet on the French
Revolution. The writings of these two figures will allow us to explore the relation between
nature and history, justice and order, choice and obligation, reason and prescription, and
revolution and reform. Students will become conversant with the central themes in modern
political philosophy and will appreciate how these themes can be found at the base of our
current political disputes.
Required Texts:
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, E. Curley ed. (Hackett): 978-0-87220-177-4
John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, C.B. Macpherson ed. (Hackett): 978-0-915-14486-0
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Major Political Writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Scott trans.
(Chicago): 978-0-226-15131-1
David Hume, Essays: Moral, Political, Literary, E. Miller ed. (Liberty Fund): 978-0865970564
Thomas Paine, Political Writings, Bruce Kuklick ed. (Cambridge): 978-0521667999
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, JGA Pocock ed. (Hackett): 9780872200203
Course Outline:
Introduction to course (9/10)
I.
Social Contract Theory: Foundations
A. Thomas Hobbes
 Leviathan, Intro, chs. vi, xi, xiii-xiv (9/15)
 Leviathan, chs. xvii-xviii, xxi, xxix (9/17)
B. John Locke
 Second Treatise, chs. i-viii (9/22)
 Second Treatise, chs. ix-xiv (9/24)
 Second Treatise, chs. xv-end (9/29)
NO CLASS ON THURSDAY, 10/1
II.
Social Contract Theory and its Discontents
A. David Hume
 Essays: “That Politics may be reduced to a Science”; “Of the First
Principles of Government”; “Of the Origin of Government” (10/6)
 Essays: “Of Parties in General; “Of Civil Liberty” (10/8)
 Essays: “Of the Original Contract”; “Of Passive Obedience” (10/13)
B. Roger Scruton
 TBA (10/15)
Roger Scruton Lecture: “The Law of the Land: Reflections on the Law and Migration”
October 15, 8pm, Davis Auditorium
C. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
 The Social Contract, Book I; Book II, chs. 1-6 (10/20)
 The Social Contract, Book II, chs. 7-12; Book III, chs. 1-11 (10/22)
 The Social Contract, Book III, chs. 12-18; Book IV, chs. 1-3 (10/27)
III.
Liberty and Political Obligation: The Burke/Paine Debate
A. American Dilemmas
 Thomas Paine, Common Sense (10/29)
 The Declaration of Independence (11/3)
 Burke, Speech on Conciliation with America; Letter to the Sherriffs
of Bristol on the Affairs of America (11/5)
B. Empire and Reform
 Burke, Speech on Reform of Representation (11/10)
 Burke, Speech on Fox’s East India Bill (11/12)
C. France and the Problem of Revolution
 Burke, Letter to Charles-Jean-Francois Depont (Nov. 1789) (11/17)
 Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France (pp. 3-35; 43-55; 59-70)
(11/19)
 Burke, Reflections (pp. 73-85; 96-99; 148-152; 195-199; 216-218)
(11/24)
THANKSGIVING BREAK 11/25-11/29




Paine, The Rights of Man I (pp. 49-100) (12/1)
Paine, The Rights of Man I (pp. 100-143) (12/3)
Burke, An Appeal from the New to the Old Whigs (12/8)
Paine, The Rights of Man II (12/10)
Last Day of Classes: 12/11 (Friday)
Final Exam: Wednesday, December 16, 9:00am-12:00pm
Course Requirements:
Response Papers: 10%
Textual Analysis: 30%
Thematic Essay: 30%
Final Exam: 30%
Response Papers:
These are short papers, 1-2 pages in length. I will ask you to explicate a short portion of a
text or ask you a pointed question about a particular passage. You will also be asked to
respond to the textual analysis submitted for that particular reading assignment. You will
provide one copy of your response to the author and one to me.
Textual Analysis:
This is an essay which will serve as a kind of commentary on the reading assignment for a
particular day. These essays should uncover the logic of the argument of a particular portion
of a text. If the class discussion of the selected text is to take place on a Tuesday, the author
must email his or her paper to the class by Sunday at 6pm. If the class discussion is to take
place on a Thursday, the paper must be received by Tuesday at 6pm.
Essays:
These are formal, thematic essays where you are expected to have an identifiable thesis with
arguments to support it. They should demonstrate a command of the text at hand, and a
thoughtfulness about the claims made therein. I will hand out topics approximately two
weeks before the essays are due. These are not research papers and you are not required to
read any secondary literature. I want you to engage these authors directly.
Final Exam:
This will be a comprehensive, essay exam taken during the exam period. You must take the
exam during the assigned exam period. There are only two exceptions: (1) if you have two
exams scheduled during the same time-period; (2) if you have three exams scheduled for the
same day. Travel conflicts (e.g., “I already have a plane ticket home on December 13”) do
not constitute a legitimate excuse.
General Expectations:
You are expected to read the assignments carefully and reflectively, remaining open
to the possibility that what you are reading is right. Your first duty as an attentive
reader is to understand what is being said. This means grasping the argument of the
author—identifying central claims and seeing how these claims are supported. When you
encounter something you strongly disagree with, make sure you first understand the
argument. You are expected to give reasons for your opinions.
You will be attentive in class and always display the demeanor of one who is interested in the
material and respectful of others. You will take your share of responsibility for the quality of
class time, coming prepared to discuss the assignments thoughtfully.
No laptops are permitted in class unless you have a medical problem that prevents
you from taking notes by hand.
Please mute your cell phones and put them away during class. If your phone rings
during class, you will be responsible for providing donuts for the entire class for the
next meeting.
Attendance:
After two absences, each subsequent absence will bring your final grade down by five points.
Academic Honor:
I take violations of the honor code very seriously. At minimum, plagiarism will merit
a “0” for that assignment, with failure for the course likely. In cases that I deem
particularly egregious, I will seek to have you suspended or expelled from Skidmore
College.