SYC 501 Political Philosophy
Spring 2015-2016 Wednesday 9:30-12:30 FEB ITB Seminar Hall B4-317
Office: # B4-320 Dept. Humanities and Social Sciences, FEB
Office Hours: Thursday 09.00-1300 Phone: 285 7277, email: kocan@itu.edu.tr
Course Description
The course provides a comprehensive survey and analysis of the greatest works of political philosophy
in the Western tradition. It focuses on the explication, analysis and comparison of key texts. It explores
the meaning of some basic theoretical concepts of politics and it traces how those concepts of politics
have been understood in philosophical and historical contexts. It also investigates some questions central
to political philosophy using the ideas and arguments of political thinkers. Typical questions are: Who
are we and how shall we live together? What are nature of justice, freedom, and equality? What is meant
by the term “state”? What is the justification for an authority of state? What should the relationship be
between the individual and the state? How should we envision the relationship between ethics and
politics? What is a just society? What constitutes a good citizen? What is the relationship between order,
authority and freedom? What rules should govern the political community?
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course students will:
 demonstrate knowledge of key political philosophers and concepts over time
 able to read and interpret carefully, write and speak clearly, and think analytically
 gain a critical understanding of some of the most important issues and theories
 able to think more critically and reflectively about the nature of political concepts
 understand the changing meaning, nature and scope of political concepts
Course Requirements
Attendance:
The course is a graduate seminar. Therefore, it is expected students to attend each meeting, do the
reading thoroughly and in advance, and participate actively in class. Students are also urged to be in
class by the scheduled time. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. It is the
responsibility of student to be sure that his/her attendance has been recorded. You are allowed maximum
2 unexcused absences; but, please note that every absence will have a negative effect on your grade.
Students with 3 or more unexcused absences will receive an FAIL. In the case of illness or an
emergency situation, official documentation must be provided to grant an excused absence. However, in
the case of chronic illness or personal emergencies which require prolonged or frequent absences, the
student should withdraw from this course and repeat it when circumstances allow for the fulfillment of
course requirements.
Participation:
Students are expected to complete required readings by the class session indicated on the course
schedule. Students should come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings such that class time is
not wasted, and we can engage a discussion of the reading material together. Each student is expected to
contribute to the discussion, and thus each student is expected to be prepared to ask questions and
discuss main ideas of the assigned readings on each day, and whether or not the student is presenting
that day. In this context, the role of instructor is to catalyze the discussions, try to explain the political
themes to students, and help them see specific relations between what they are reading and their own
rising research interests.
Oral Presentation:
Students will also be responsible for doing presentations of the readings at least one time during the
semester. Presentations should briefly summarize and analyze conceptual positions and main
philosophical arguments of the assigned readings. Nevertheless, the main part of presentation will be
critical discussion of the viewpoints raised by the assigned readings
Book Review:
The book review must be no longer than 2000 words, double-spaced with a 12-point font, and conform
to APA style. The choice of book for your book review should not be in required reading list of the
course. The book review provides the opportunity to examine and explicate a philosopher’s specific
work. It contains combination of both summary and analysis of the text. It should not consult any
sources other than the text student is reviewing. Here is suggested structure of book review:
 First part should provide a brief description of content and purpose of the work.
 Second part identify main thesis and arguments of the work
 Third part should summarize the major ideas, themes, concepts and arguments of the text.
 Fourth part should critically evaluate and assess strengths and weaknesses main arguments of the
text
 Final part should state main political insights that emerge from writings of the text
Term Paper:
Each student is required to write a research paper on examining a specific topic area related to political
philosophy. Student can tailor the paper to your own research needs; it may address any themes or topics
we deal with in class or critical exposition of any other subject that falls under the field of political
philosophy. Term paper should be 5000-6000 words long, double-spaced with a 12-point font, and
conform to APA style. The paper must consult philosophical journals and books for scholarly writing
relevant to research subject.
Plagiarism in ITU, as in many educational institutions around the world, is treated as a serious
academic offence. According to the definition given in the Oxford Compact English Dictionary,
plagiarism is "to take the work or idea of someone else and pass it off as one’s own” To copy
sentences, phrases or even expression of an idea without acknowledgement of the source is plagiarism;
to paraphrase without reference and copying other students' work is the same plagiarism. Therefore, no
student shall, with intent to deceive, submit the words, sentences, phrases of another person as his or her
own in any assignment submitted in the course.
Grading:
Student performance will be evaluated as follows
Term Paper 40%
Presentation 15%
Review 30%
Class Participation 15%
Main Texts:
Cahn, Steven M. (eds.) (2006) Classics of Political and Moral Philosophy. New York: Oxford
University Press
Morgan, Michael L. (eds.) (2006) Classics of Moral and Political Theory New York: Hackett Publishing
Company
The following are also useful introductions
Boucher D. and Paul Kelly (2009) Political Thinkers from Socrates to the Present. (Oxford, Oxford
University Press.)
Dryzek, J., Honig, B. and Phillips, A. (eds.) (2006) The Oxford Handbook of Political Theory (Oxford,
Oxford University Press).
Farrelly, C. (2004) Introduction to Contemporary Political Theory (London, Sage).
Gaus, G. (2000) Political Concepts and Political Theories (Boulder: Westview press).
Gaus, G. and Kukathas, C. (eds.) (2004) Handbook of Political Theory (London, Sage).
Goodin, R. and Pettit, P.(eds.) (1993) A Companion to Contemporary Political Philosophy (Blackwell,
Oxford).
Kymlicka, W. (2001) Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Introduction (Oxford, Oxford University
Press).
McKinnon, C. (2008) Issues in Political Theory (Oxford, Oxford University Press)
Swift, A. (2006) Political Philosophy: a beginners' guide for students and politicians (Cambridge,
Polity)
Wolff, J. (2006) Introduction to Political Philosophy (Oxford, Oxford University Press)
Course Mechanics
Week One
Introduction: What is Political Philosophy?
Week Two
PLATO
Introduction, Richard Kraut
Crito
Republic
Week Three
ARISTOTLE
Nicomachean Ethics
Politics
EPICURUS
Letter to Menoeceus
Principal Doctrines
Week Four
AUGUSTINE
The City of God
THOMAS AQUINAS
Summa Theologiae
Week Five
CICERO
On the Republic
On the Laws
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI
The Prince
Discourses
Week Six
THOMAS HOBBES
Leviathan
BARUCH SPINOZA
Theologico-Political Treatise
Week Seven
JOHN LOCKE
Second Treatise of Government
Letter Concerning Toleration
JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU
Discourse on the Origin of Inequality
Of the Social Contract
EDMUND BURKE
Speech to the Electors of Bristol
Review paper due
Week Eight
DAVID HUME
A Treatise of Human Nature
Of Parties in General
Of the Original Contract
ADAM SMITH
The Theory of Moral Sentiments
The Wealth of Nations
Week Nine
ALEXANDER HAMILTON and JAMES MADISON
The Federalist Papers
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Gettysburg Address
Second Inaugural Address
IMMANUEL KANT
Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals
Week Ten
JEREMY BENTHAM
Principles of Legislation
JOHN STUART MILL
Utilitarianism
On Liberty
The Subjection of Women
Week Eleven
G.W.F. HEGEL
The Philosophy of Right
The Philosophy of History
KARL MARX and FRIEDRICH ENGELS
Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844
The German Ideology
Manifesto of the Communist Party
A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy
Socialism: Utopian and Scientific
Week Twelve
JOHN RAWLS
A Theory of Justice
ROBERT NOZICK
Anarchy, State, and Utopia
Week Thirteen
MICHEL FOUCAULT
Power/Knowledge
VIRGINIA HELD
Non-Contractual Society: A Feminist View
MARTHA C. NUSSBAUM
The Feminist Critique of Liberalism
ELIZABETH CADY STANTON
The Solitude of Self
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Letter from a Birmingham City Jail
The March on Washington Address
Week Fourteen
JOHN DEWEY
Democracy
JÜRGEN HABERMAS
Three Normative Models of Democracy
On the Internal Relation Between the Rule of Law and Democracy
CHARLES TAYLOR
Atomism
Term paper due
Extra Readings: Documents and Addresses
PERICLES: Funeral Oration
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
THE DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN AND OF THE CITIZEN
THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS