Democracy and Power
PLSC 307, Section 1
Spring 2014
Tuesday-Thursday 12:30-1:45pm
222 Strong
Bradley R. Jackson
bjacks53@emich.edu
601H Pray-Harrold Hall
Department of Political Science
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Plato, The Republic, Second Edition, translated by Allan Bloom, University of Chicago
Press (available online at http://archive.org/details/PlatosRepublicallanBloomTranslation)
Aristotle, The Politics, Second Edition, translated by Carnes Lord, University of Chicago
Press
Modern Political Thought: Readings from Machiavelli to Nietzsche, edited by David
Wootton, Hackett Press
Critical Theory: The Essential Readings, edited by David Ingram and Julia SimonIngram, Paragon House
OVERVIEW: Perhaps the primary political question is how power is to be organized.
Should only one person have power and rule as a monarch, or should everyone have an
equal share of political power, as in a pure democracy? What are the intermediate states
between these two extremes? How do different distributions of power affect the lives of
citizens within the state? Are there any powers which must necessarily be given up by
citizens? Are there any powers that citizens should not, or even cannot, renounce? How
much power does the government need to function? Must governmental power be strictly
limited to protect the rights of individual citizens, and if so, what are the proper limits?
How do governments display and wield their power? Do media and science play any role
in supporting state power? How might the people display and wield their own power
against an oppressive state?
In this class, we consider these and other questions by reading classic works of political
thought. These works represent a variety of perspectives and historical periods, from the
ancient city, to the English, American, and French Revolutions; from the conflict
between liberalism and Marxism, to the technical, bureaucratic state of today. Questions
about the proper organization of political power have been asked repeatedly throughout
this history, and by surveying the various answers that thinkers have provided, we will
enable ourselves to think through these questions again for ourselves with reference to
our own world. The question of how political power should be distributed is a question
that remains alive today, and this class is designed to offer the conceptual resources
necessary for considering these vital problems. Students will be asked to connect the
thoughts and arguments found in the readings to contemporary issues in America and the
rest of the world. It is hoped that this will encourage active, thoughtful engagement with
contemporary events, while simultaneously adding depth to our historical and theoretical
knowledge of politics.
CLASS STRUCTURE: This class will have a lecture format. Primarily, we will spend
class time discussing the readings. It is therefore imperative that you come to class
having done the reading. If you have not done the reading, the lecture will be less useful
for you. Doing the reading is necessary for another reason: classes like this are better if
students come to them with questions and concerns about the material. Political
philosophy is about principled discussion and debate. We will all get more out of the
class if everyone comes prepared to engage in the discussion.
Be sure to give yourself enough time to complete the readings. These are difficult,
complicated books and what an author means will not always be immediately clear. It is
important that you take time to read these works carefully, since you will be evaluated
primarily on your understanding of these texts.
ASSIGNMENTS: Grades in this class will be determined based on the following:
(1) Six short (500 words) papers in which you relate the concepts in class to some event
in the current news. These papers can be turned in at any point during the semester.
However, no more than one paper may be turned per week. Each paper should be about a
different news story. You should not, for example, write two papers on the same event,
even if you can find two news stories about it. Together, these papers are worth 12% of
the final grade.
(2) Two short (1500 words) essays on topics assigned in class or agreed upon by the
student and instructor. These will be distributed one week before they are due. The first is
due Tuesday 2/11; the second is due Thursday 3/20. Please bring a paper copy to class
the day the assignment is due. Together, these papers are worth 40% of the final grade.
(3) One long (3000 word) essay on a topic assigned in class or agreed upon by the
student and the instructor. Topics will be distributed after the Thanksgiving break. This
paper is due on Thursday 4/17, the last day of class. Please bring a paper copy to class.
This essay is worth 40% of the final grade.
(4) Participation. This sort of class is improved by student participation. Questions and
comments are not only encouraged, they are also required and worth 8% of the final
grade.
GRADING SCALE:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
96-100
91-95
85-90
80-84
76-79
72-75
68-71
64-68
60-63
55-59
50-54
<50
4
3.7
3.3
3
2.7
2.3
2
1.7
1.3
1
0.7
0
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY: Plagiarism of any kind will not be
tolerated. This includes using direct quotes or close paraphrases without
attribution. Use of Wikipedia is unacceptable, even if cited. Failure to comply with
the academic honesty policy will result in a failing grade on the assignment in
question as well as referral to appropriate university authorities for disciplinary
action.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Students with disabilities should contact the
Disability Resource Center to establish reasonable accommodations. For an appointment
with a disability specialist, visit http://www.emich.edu/drc/.
SCHEDULE:
Th 1/9
Tu 1/14
Th 1/16
Tu 1/21
Introduction
Plato Republic Book VIII
Plato Republic Book VIII (cont)
Aristotle, Politics Book III
Th 1/23
Aristotle, Politics IV
Tu 1/28
Th 1/30
Tu 2/4
Aristotle, Politics V
Aristotle, Politics VI
Hobbes, Leviathan X-XIII
Th 2/6
Tu 2/11
Th 2/13
Tu 2/18
Th 2/20
Hobbes, Leviathan XIV-XVII
Hobbes, Leviathan XVIII-XXI,
XXIV, XXIX
Locke, Second Treatise I-V
Locke, Second Treatise VI-IX
Locke, Second Treatise X-XIV
Tu 3/4
Th 3/6
Locke, Second Treatise XV-XIX
Rousseau, Second Discourse
Assignment 1
Due
Tu 3/11
Th 3/13
Tu 3/18
Rousseau, Second Discourse
(cont.)
Rousseau, Second Discourse
(cont.)
Tu 3/25
Th 3.27
Marx, The Communist Manifesto
Marx, The Communist Manifesto
(cont.)
Marx, The Communist Manifesto
(cont.)
Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals
Tu 4/1
Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals
(cont.)
Th 3/20
Th 4/3
Tu 4/8
Th 4/10
Tu 4/15
Th 4/17
Nietzsche, Genealogy of Morals
(cont.)
Critical Theory:
Marcuse, "Philosophy and Critical
Theory"
Horkheimer, “Traditional and
Critical Theory”
Critical Theory:
Horkheimer, “Means and Ends”
Adorno and Horkheimer, "The
Concept of Enlightment"
Critical Theory:
Adorno, “Society”
Adorno, “How to Look at
Television”
Adorno, “Freudian Theory and the
Pattern of Fascist Propaganda”
Critical Theory:
Marcuse, “The Catastrophe of
Liberation”
Habermas, "Technology and
Science as Ideology"
Assignment 2
Due
Long Essay Due