Social and Political Philosophy
Phil 152
Winter Quarter 2013
Daily: 10:30-11:20 M-F
Rm. 241
Texts: Political Philosophy The Essential Texts, Steven M. Cahn; An Introduction to
Political Philosophy, Jonathan Wolff
Instructor: Jennifer Lemma
Rm. 111
Office Hour: Mondays, 11:30-12:30 and by appointment
jennifer.baynelemma@wwcc.edu
This course will concentrate upon elements of the social and political philosophies of several key
western thinkers. Students will read original writings and will write about those texts.
Participation in class discussion is expected and required.
Lecture and discussion will focus on an analysis of the various theories and selections of writings
from classic, major, western political philosophers such as Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau,
Mill, Marx and Rawls. In addition, philosophers and feminists such as Martha Nussbaum, Julia
Kristeva, Carol Pateman and Simone DeBeauvoir will be included in the curriculum.
Students will demonstrate a written and verbal understanding of philosophical political theory
and will identify differences and similarities between social contract theories, states of nature and
power relationships. Students will be able to compare and contrast economic ideologies
including but not limited to socialism and capitalism within a context of the individual and the
individual’s place in society. Students will be able to define different theories of justice as they
pertain to individual’s rights and freedoms within a microcosm and macrocosm. Students will
incorporate and apply their knowledge of theories of justice and economics, as well as their
ability to define abstract concepts such as liberty and rights, to discussions of distribution of
property and freedoms/restrictions within the state.
Course Assignments and Exams: This course is built around written responses to lecture or
text-based questions (in-class and take-home assignments). Assignments make up 50% of your
grade. If you want to do well in the class, DO THE ASSIGNMENTS! Late responses to
the study questions WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. You are allowed to drop 3 assignments
throughout the course. There are two, two page papers due during the quarter. These papers
account for 20% of your grade (10% a piece). The mid-term exam is worth 15% of your grade
and the final is also worth 15% of your grade.
Course topics:
 Principle theories of political philosophers (Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mill, Marx,
Rawls, Nussbaum and Kristeva).
 Social Contract Theory, Natural and Civil Rights, Theories of Justice, Power
relationships, Economic Alienation, Feminist Political philosophy.
An Honors Module is available to WWCC Honors Program members only. See the instructor
for details.
Important things for your success:
CELL PHONE AND COMPUTER USE IN CLASS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED

Attend every class session. Do not cut this class, ever. If you are planning on not
coming to class every day, you should drop early and get your money back from the
business office. If you are ill during the quarter, it is your responsibility to contact other
students for lecture notes or other material you missed.

If you know that you will be absent on a particular day, arrange with the instructor to turn
in your work in a timely manner, before it is due.

Do not request “extensions” for any written assignments; turn in written work on time.

Class sessions are work sessions. Arrive on time, be prepared to discuss the study
questions, take notes during the lectures, and focus.

Turn off cell phones and computers. You may use a laptop for notes only if you have
documentation from Disability Support Services. Using a laptop or texting during class
will result in a dramatic decrease of your grade.

Avoid distracting behavior (for example, leaving the room once class has started,
whispering, eating, or making rude comments). The instructor may lower your grade
considerably for any distracting behavior on your part.

Turning in any work that is not your own will result in either failing or dropping the
entire course. If you work on study questions together, but do not turn in your own
unique work, you will receive partial credit for your assignments.

For assistance with concerns about disability support, contact Claudia Angus
Coordinator of Disability Support Services, Office 133D (509) 527-4543
TOPIC
DATE
Introduction of
Course/Syllabus Review
States of Nature—Systems of
Explanation
Plato’s Republic: Allegory of
the Cave, Ring of Gyges
Wednesday 1/2
Plato’s Republic
Monday 1/7
Plato’s Republic
Tuesday 1/8
Plato’s Republic: What does
this mean for contemporary
society?
Theories of Justice
Theories of Justice; Aristotle
Wednesday 1/9
Aristotle
Aristotle and Machiavelli
Monday 1/14
Tuesday 1/15
Machiavelli (microcosm and
macrocosm)
Hobbes and Social Contracts
Wednesday 1/16
Hobbes
Friday 1/18
Locke
Thursday 1/3
Friday 1/4
Thursday 1/10
Friday 1/11
Thursday 1/17
ASSIGNMENTS
Read: (IP) Introduction, p. 15
Read: (PP) Introduction, p. 14
Read: (PP) p. 122-127
In class question assignment
due #1 Read (PP) p. 51-66
Discuss (PP) P. 51-66 Take
home question assigned
Read (IP) 62-68
Take home question due #1
In class question assignment
due #2; Read (PP) 150-158;
175-181
Take home question assigned
Take home question #2 due;
Read (PP) 253-258; 264-265;
271-272
Read (PP) 282-284; 292-297.
In class question assignment
due #3 Read (PP)297-299
Take home question assigned
No class Monday, 1/21 (MLK,
Jr. Day)
Tuesday 1/22
Take home question #3 due
Read (PP) 311-314; 315-318
Locke
Locke v. Hobbes and
contemporary society (Natural
Rights and the State of
Nature).
Paper Review
Wednesday 1/23
Thursday 1/24
Read (PP) 318-327
In class question assignment
due #4 Read (PP) 351-354
Friday 1/25
Paper Review
Social Contracts and power
Monday 1/28
relationships
Rousseau and Social Contracts Tuesday 1/29
Rousseau
Rousseau
Midterm review
Wednesday 1/30
Thursday 1/31
Friday 2/1
Midterm Exam
Marx
Marx
Marx and Adam Smith
Monday 2/4
Tuesday 2/5
Wednesday 2/6
Thursday 2/7
Smith
Friday 2/8
Economics; Economics of
Inequity; Manufactured
Demand
Economics
Utilitarianism—Distribution
of wealth
Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism-Mill
Monday 2/11
Paper #1 Due
Read (IP) 39-46
Take home question assigned
Read (PP) 355-362
Take home question #4 due;
In class assignment due #5
Midterm review
Midterm Exam
Read (PP) 566-569; 583-589
Take home question assigned
Take home question #5 due
Read (PP) 439-442
In class assignment due #6
Read (PP) 452-462
Tuesday 2/12
Wednesday 2/13
Reading TBA (What’s the
Economy For, Anway? Graaf
and Batker)
Take home question assigned
Take home question #6 due
Thursday 2/14
Friday 2/15
Read (PP)596-598; 680-686
Read (IP) 104-114
Mill
Rawls
Rawls
Paper Review
No class, Monday 2/18
(Presidents’ Day)
Tuesday 2/19
Wednesday 2/20
Thursday 2/21
Friday 2/22
In class assignment due #7
Read (PP) 690-696
In class assignment due #8
Paper Review
Rawls
Monday 2/25
Rawls
Tuesday 2/26
No class, Wednesday 2/27,
Advising Day
Thursday 2/28
TBA
Paper #2 Due
Read (PP) 704-708
In class assignment due #9
Take home question assigned
TBA
Friday 3/1
Take home question #7 due
Pateman
DeBeauvior
Kristeva
Nussbaum
TBA
Monday 3/4
Tuesday 3/5
Wednesday 3/6
Thursday 3/7
Friday 3/8
In class assignment due #10
Take home question assigned
Take home question #8 due
In class assignment due #11
Take home question assigned
TBA
TBA
TBA & Final Exam
Preparation
Final Exam Preparation
Final Exam Preparation
Monday 3/11
Tuesday 3/12
Wednesday 3/13
Take home question #9 due
In class assignment due #12
Take home question assigned
Thursday 3/14
Friday 3/15
In class assignment #13 due
FINAL EXAM
Tuesday 3/19
FINAL EXAM
10:30-12:30