POLS 285-3: Introduction to = International Relations

POLS 251-3: Introduction to Political Philosophy

Northern Illinois University

Department of Political Science

Fall 2010

Instructor

Dr.=20 Andrea Radasanu

Office

Zulauf=20 408

Phone=20 Number

753-7052=20

Email=20 Address

aradasanu@niu.edu=20

Office=20 Hours

Tuesdays 2:00pm-3:00pm; Thursdays = 11am-1pm, or by appointment =

Classroom

DU=20 246

Class=20 Time

T=20 & Th 9:30am-10:45am =

Course = Description:

This course will = introduce=20 students to some of the most important classical texts in political = philosophy,=20 beginning with Plato and ending with Locke. We will concentrate on the = varying=20 accounts given by these philosophers on the role of political community = in=20 living a good and just life. We will look at the differences between = ancient and=20 modern ways of understanding the nature of human beings and of human = excellence=20 and happiness. The question of the best regime and the best way of life = as=20 presented by these philosophers will be our most crucial theme. This = course=20 endeavors to bring enduring questions and problems to life; while we = embark on=20 an historical journey that takes us from ancient Athens to seventeenth = century=20 England, it ought to become clear that the ideas discussed by our = authors are=20 just as important to us now as ever.

Readings:

The=20 following are REQUIRED texts. They can be purchased at either of the = campus=20 bookstores.

v = Aristotle.=20 Politics, translated by Carnes Lord (Univ. of Chicago = Press)

v = Hobbes.=20 Leviathan, ed. E.M. Curley (Hackett)

v = Locke.=20 Second Treatise on Government, ed. R.H. Cox (AHM Croft's=20 Classics) &nbs= p;

v = Locke.=20 Letter on Toleration, ed. James H. Tully = (Hackett)

v = Machiavelli.=20 The Prince, translated by H.C. Mansfield, Jr. (Univ. of Chicago=20 Press)

v = Plato=20 & Aristophanes. Texts on Socrates, translated and with notes = by=20 Thomas G. West and Grace Starry West (Cornell University = Press)

Course = Requirements:

1. Attendance and = Participation:

Your attendance = and class=20 participation are important components of the course. 5% of your course = grade=20 will depend on your attendance and participation. Attendance will not be = recorded, but your regular and active attendance and participation will = be=20 noted. You will receive an A on this component of the course evaluation = if you=20 come very consistently and participate very actively. If you miss more = than two=20 or three classes, and you participate very rarely, this will result in a = low=20 attendance and participation grade.

You are expected = to=20 participate in a lively manner, by answering questions about the text, = asking=20 questions about the text, and, generally, by offering insightful = comments that=20 will enrich your experience as well as that of your fellow students. =

2. Reading:

All reading = assignments must=20 be completed BEFORE the beginning of the relevant class. Please keep in = mind=20 that your ability to participate effectively will depend on your = diligence in=20 completing the readings as assigned. Where it is not clear what readings = will be=20 assigned for a particular class (where =93con=92d=94 is indicated on the = syllabus),=20 readings will be specified by the end of the prior class. All readings = as well=20 as all lecture material are fair game for tests and examinations. You = must study=20 your readings and take good notes in lectures in order to do well = on the=20 tests and examinations.

Since particular = passages of=20 the text will be referred to and read in class, please bring the = appropriate=20 texts to class.

3. Tests and = Assignments:

For due dates, = please see the=20 schedule below.

i) Quizzes. Three quizzes will be = administered throughout the term. Each counts for 10%, for a total of = 30% of=20 your grade. The quizzes will contain short-answer identification = questions as=20 well as more analytical and longer ones, on occasion comparative in = nature. They=20 are always administered at the beginning of the classes on the days they = are=20 scheduled.

ii) Midterm Test. This test will = be=20 comparative and analytical in nature. It is worth 15% of your grade.

iii). Term Paper. You are required = to write=20 one paper, of no less than 1000 words and no more than 1500 words. = Further=20 specifications will be given when the essay topics are handed out within = the=20 first couple of weeks of class. The essay will be graded according to = command of=20 the material demonstrated, logic of the arguments, grammar, style, and=20 organization. It will rely on the primary material assigned and will not = require=20 you to do secondary research. It is worth 25% of your grade.

The essay will be = handed in=20 at the beginning of class in which it is due, or it will be = deemed late.=20 Late assignments will be penalized 5% per day, including weekends. All = papers=20 must be submitted through the Safe Assign process on Blackboard and in = hard copy=20 in class.

iii) Final Exam. This exam, worth = 25% of the=20 final grade, will be given in the officially scheduled slot. It will = cover=20 all the material in the course. A study guide will be provided, = which=20 will let you the content that will be covered.

Honors Students. Please note = that your=20 work will be graded in a more rigorous manner than students not in this = program.=20 Higher standards will apply to your work.

Grading Scheme: =

Attendance and = Participation:=20 5%

Three Quizzes: = 30% (Each=20 counts for 10%)

Midterm Test: = 15%

Term Paper: = 25%

Final Exam: = 25%

Grading=20 Scale:

93%-100%=20 =3D

90%-92.9%=20 =3D

A-

87.5%-89.9%=20 =3D

B+

83%-87.4%=20 =3D

80%-82.9%=20 =3D

B-

77.5%-79.9%=20 =3D

C+

60%-69.9%=20 =3D

Less=20 than 60% =3D

Lateness = Policy:

IF there are = extraordinary=20 circumstances that make it impossible for the student to complete work = or come=20 to class, the professor must be notified as soon as possible. Let it be = clear=20 that only EXTRAORDINARY and unexpected circumstances will be considered. = For=20 example, a heavy workload within or without the university does not = count as=20 extraordinary =96and neither does a common cold. If there is a serious = medical=20 problem that has impeded the student=92s ability to do his or her work, = then=20 please let the professor know and bring supporting documentation. NO=20 consideration will be given to those students who do not alert the = professor of=20 a problem prior to the due date of an assignment or the date of a = quiz or=20 exam.

The term paper = will be handed=20 in at the beginning of class in which it is due, or it will be = deemed=20 late. Late assignments will be penalized 5% per day, including weekends. = All=20 papers must be submitted through the Safe Assign process on Blackboard = and in=20 hard copy in class. Since the topics for the paper are given early in = the term,=20 you are responsible for budgeting your time, and for meeting this = deadline. No=20 extensions.

Class Decorum:

You are expected = to be=20 courteous and collegial in this class. Here are some of the decorum=20 guidelines:

v = Be on time for class.

v = Do not leave during class. Use the = restroom, get=20 a drink of water, etc. before class begins or after it ends. If you must = leave=20 early or come in late, please provide a reasonable explanation and be as = undisruptive as possible when you are coming or going.

v = Respect your classmates. Do not interrupt = your=20 colleagues, and make sure that your comments are civil. Discussion is = wonderful=20 and encouraged, but it is only possible when we listen to one another = and make=20 comments that are courteous.

v = Do not disrupt lectures. No cell phones, = no=20 private conversations, no snoring. If you wish to interrupt to ask a = question,=20 please put your hand up. Questions are encouraged!

Unannounced = Quizzes:

The professor = reserves the=20 right to give unannounced quizzes if it becomes clear that students are = not=20 doing the assigned reading, and the quality of class participation and=20 discussion is unsatisfactory.

Religious Observance:

If classes or = assignments=20 coincide with your religious observance, please let the professor know = as soon=20 as possible so that you can be accommodated in the best possible way.

Extra Credit:

Extra credit = assignments will=20 not be given on an individual basis to raise final grades.

Accommodations=20 for Students with Disabilities

A=20 student who believes that reasonable accommodations with respect to = course work=20 or other academic requirements may be appropriate in consideration of a=20 disability must (1) provide the required verification of the disability = to the=20 Center for Access-Ability Resources, (2) meet with the Center for = Access-Ability=20 Resources to determine appropriate accommodations, and (3) inform the = faculty in=20 charge of the academic activity of the need for accommodation. Students = are=20 encouraged to inform the faculty of their requests for accommodations as = early=20 as possible in the semester, but must make the requests in a timely = enough=20 manner for accommodations to be appropriately considered and reviewed by = the=20 university. If contacted by the faculty member, the staff of the Center = for=20 Access-Ability Resources will provide advice about accommodations that = may be=20 indicated in the particular case. Students who make requests for = reasonable=20 accommodations are expected to follow the policies and procedures of the = Center=20 for Access-Ability Resources in this process, including but not limited = to the=20 Student Handbook.

A=20 wide range of services can be obtained by students with disabilities, = including=20 housing, transportation, adaptation of printed materials, and advocacy = with=20 faculty and staff. Students with disabilities who need such services or = want=20 more information should contact the Center=20 for Access-Ability Resources at=20 815-753-1303.

Plagiarism = Policy:

According to the = NIU=20 Undergraduate Catalogue =93Students are guilty of plagiarism, = intentional or not,=20 if they copy material from books, magazines, or other sources without=20 identifying and acknowledging them. Students guilty of, or assisting = others in,=20 either cheating or plagiarism on an assignment, quiz, or examination may = receive=20 a grade of F for the course involved and may be suspended or dismissed = from the=20 university.=94 In short, all ideas that are not your own or well known = must be=20 footnoted. A general rule is that if the information cannot be found in = three or=20 more commonly available sources it should be footnoted. All direct = quotations=20 must be placed in quotation marks. These guidelines will be enforced. If = you are=20 unsure as to what should be footnoted either play it safe and footnote, = or ask=20 for assistance. Failure to adhere to the University=92s plagiarism = policy will=20 result in punishments ranging from a failed course grade to suspension = and even=20 expulsion, depending on the egregiousness of the infraction.

Political Science Web=20 Site:

Students are strongly encouraged to = consult=20 the Department of Political Science web site on a regular basis. This=20 up-to-date, central source of information will assist students in = contacting=20 faculty and staff, reviewing course requirements and syllabi, exploring = graduate=20 study, researching career options, tracking department events, and = accessing=20 important details related to undergraduate programs and activities. To = reach=20 this site, go to http://polsci.niu.edu

Undergraduate Writing=20 Awards:

The=20 Department of Political Science recognizes, on an annual basis, = outstanding=20 undergraduate papers written in conjunction with 300-400 level political = science=20 courses or directed studies, such as independent studies or honors = theses.=20 Winners are expected to attend the Department=92s spring graduation = ceremony where=20 they will receive a certificate and a check for $50.00. No more than two = papers=20 may be submitted by a student. There is no requirement as to the = length of=20 papers submitted for the award. Often the Department awards prizes for = both an=20 outstanding short paper and an outstanding long paper. The number and = types of=20 award is dependent upon the papers submitted for consideration in any = given=20 year. Authors do not have to be political science majors or have a = particular=20 class standing. Only papers written in the previous calendar year are = considered=20 for the award. However, papers completed in the current spring semester = are=20 eligible for the following year=92s competition even if the student has=20 graduated. Papers can be = submitted=20 by students or faculty and must be supplied in triplicate to the=20 undergraduate secretary. All copies must have two cover = pages =96=20 one with the student=92s name and one without the student=92s = name. Papers are=20 not to be stapled or bound. Instead, please use paper = clips. Papers are generally due in = March and=20 notice of call for papers and submission deadlines will be = published in the=20 department e-announcements. You may also contact the department for = information=20 at 753-1015.

Course Outline and Due = Dates:

August 24

Introduction

August 26

Plato, Apology

August 31 and September 2

Plato, Apology,=20 con=92d

September 7

Plato=92s Apology,=20 con=92d

September 9

Quiz 1

Begin = Aristotle, Politics, Book One, = chapters=20 1-7.

September 14 & 16

Aristotle, Politics, Book One, = chapters=20 8-13.

September 21 & 23

Aristotle, Politics, Book Three, = chapters=20 1-4.

September 28

Aristotle, Politics Book Three, = chapters=20 5-13.

September 30

Quiz = 2

Machiavelli, Prince, Epistle = Dedicatory,=20 chapters 1-5.

October 5 & 7

Machiavelli, Prince, chapters=20 6-14

October 12 = &=20 14

Machiavelli, Prince, chapters 15-18,=20 25-26

October 19

Finish=20 Machiavelli

Hobbes, Leviathan, dedicatory = letter to=20 Francis Godolphin, chapters 1-6 &nbs= p; =20

October 21

Hobbes, Leviathan, chapters = 10-12.

October 26

Hobbes, Leviathan, chapters=20 13-16

October 28

Midterm Test

November 2 & 4

Hobbes, Leviathan, chapters = 17-19, 21,=20 29-30

November 9 & 11

Locke, Second Treatise, = chapters 1-3,=20 5

November 16

Locke, Second Treatise, = chapters 6,=20 8-10

November 18

Locke, Second Treatise, 11-13,=20 19

November=20 23

Quiz 3

Locke, Letter on=20 Toleration

November 25

Thanksgiving =96no = class

November 30

Locke, Letter on Toleration=20 =96con=92d

Final Paper = Due

December 2

Review

December 9

Final=20 Exam