Northern = Illinois University

Northern Illinois=20 University

Department of Political=20 Science

Spring = 2011

Political = Science 251,=20 Section 2:

Introduction = to=20 Political Philosophy

Instructor: Lewis=20 Slawsky

Meeting place: =20 DU 459

Class Times: Monday 1:00pm =96 1:50pm=20

Wednesday 1:00pm =96 1:50pm=20

Friday 1:00pm =96=20 1:50pm

Office: &nbs= p; =20 DU 476

Office Hours: Monday 2:00pm =96 3:00pm =

=20 Wednesday 2:00pm =96 = 4:00pm=20

or by = appointment

Email: &nbs= p;=20 lslawsky1@niu.edu

Course = Description:

The purpose=20 of this course is to introduce the student to the study of political=20 philosophy. Throughout the semester we will examine questions of = permanent=20 importance to political life. By examining the writings of Plato,=20 Aristotle, Aquinas, Machiavelli and Locke, we will address the following = sorts=20 of questions: What is the nature and basis of a political = community? =20 Does such a community have a natural end and purpose to fulfill? = How can=20 the study of political philosophy help us to better understand what = constitutes=20 a good life? What is the relationship between political theory and = political practice? We will discuss the broader more fundamental = ideas=20 underlying the study of politics such as regimes, laws, freedom, rights, = the=20 relationship between civil and religious authority, and the relationship = between=20 philosophy and the city.

Required Texts:

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

--Plato & Aristophanes. = Four=20 Texts on Socrates, revised ed., translated and with notes by T. = G.=20

West and G. S. West (Cornell = University=20 Press)

--Aristotle. The Politics, translated by = Carnes Lord=20 (University of Chicago Press)

--St. Thomas Aquinas. St.=20 Thomas Aquinas on Politics and Ethics, translated and edited by=20 Paul =

=20 E. Sigmund (Norton Critical Edition)

--Niccolo Machiavelli. The=20 Prince, translated by Harvey C. Mansfield, Jr. =

(University of Chicago=20 Press)

--Thomas Hobbes. Leviathan, edited=20 by E.M. Curley (Hackett)
--John Locke. Second Treatise of = Government,=20 edited=20 by R.H. Cox (AHM Croft's Classics)

--John=20 Locke. A=20 Letter Concerning=20 Toleration, ed. James H. Tully (Hackett)

Course=20 Requirements:

Class Participation=20 (15%): = Proper=20 participation in class is both required and rewarded. As this is a = course=20 concerning the discussion of ideas, simple attendance without = participating in=20 discussion is insufficient. A good student will not only be = present and=20 attentive in class, but will also actively participate in class = discussion by=20 answering questions about the assigned readings, raising questions, and=20 volunteering thoughtful observations about the material. Proper = class=20 participation also requires that the student behave with courtesy and = regard for=20 others=92 comments. Frequent class discussion will foster a = classroom=20 environment that will be far more interesting and rewarding than one in = which=20 the instructor simply lectures every day. The instructor also requests = that all=20 mobile phones, pagers, etc. be turned off during class. =20

Attendance:=20 Please be=20 advised that there is an=20 attendance policy = for=20 this course. Attendance at each class meeting is both expected and = required. Students who are habitually absent can expect extreme = difficulty in=20 this course. Being in attendance is defined as =93being present = when=20 attendance is taken at the beginning of each class and remaining until = class is=20 dismissed.=94 Please do not come late to class, as this is = both=20 discourteous and disruptive. Students who come to class after = attendance=20 has been taken will be considered absent. If there are special=20 circumstances regarding this matter, please discuss them with the = instructor as=20 early as possible. Students with extended absences due to illness = should=20 notify the instructor as promptly as possible during the absence and = produce=20 appropriate documentation indicating the nature and duration of the=20 illness. This documentation should be provided to the instructor = at the=20 first class upon returning. Extended absences are highly = discouraged,=20 as they will adversely affect the student=92s grade. The = student=92s final=20 grade will be reduced half a letter grade for each absence over=20 5.

Quizzes (25%): = There will=20 be 5 quizzes given throughout the semester. Only=20 4 of these quizzes will count toward the student=92s final grade. = Although=20 the instructor will drop the student=92s lowest quiz score, one should = keep in=20 mind that the remaining 4 quizzes comprise 25% of the student=92s final = grade in=20 the course. The quizzes will consist of a few short answer questions to = be=20 completed at the beginning of class on the dates specified in the class=20 schedule. Each quiz will cover the class lectures and assigned = readings=20 from the preceding weeks, as well as readings assigned for the day of = the=20 quiz. Make-up quizzes will be given only with adequate = documentation that=20 the absence was unavoidable. The make-up quizzes will be = significantly=20 more difficult than the original. Please keep in mind that it is = in the=20 student=92s best interest to avoid make-up quizzes if at all = possible.

Essay (30%): There will=20 be a short essay (1400-1500 words) assigned on the date specified in the = class=20 schedule below. The essay is to be handed in at the beginning of = class on=20 the due date given in the schedule below. Late papers will be = accepted up=20 to three days after the due date, however, these papers will be docked = one=20 letter grade for each day they are late. The 1400-1500 word requirement will be taken seriously. Make = sure that you=20 provide a word count on the first page of your essay. Any paper = that fails=20 to fulfill the word requirement will be docked points. =20

Any evidence=20 of plagiarism will be treated in accordance with university and = departmental=20 policies and procedures. Criteria for these offenses are described = in the=20 Student Judicial Code and the 2003-2004 Undergraduate=20 Catalog. Regarding plagiarism, the NIU=20 Undergraduate Catalog states: "students are guilty of plagiarism, = intentional or=20 not, if they copy material from books, magazines, or other sources = without=20 identifying and acknowledging them. =20 Students guilty of or assisting others in, either cheating or = plagiarism=20 on an assignment, quiz, or examination may receive a grade of F for the = course=20 involved and may be suspended or dismissed from the university." The above statement = encompasses a paper=20 written in whole or in part by another; a paper copied word-for-word or = with=20 only minor changes from another source; a paper copied in part from one = or more=20 sources without proper identification and acknowledgement of the = sources; a=20 paper that is merely a paraphrase of one or more sources, using ideas = and/or=20 logic without credit even though the actual words may be changed; and a = paper=20 that quotes, summarizes or paraphrases, or cuts and pastes words, = phrases, or=20 images from an Internet source without identification and the address of = the web=20 site.

Comprehensive=20 Final Examination (30%): The final=20 examination will be given in class on the date assigned by the = university. =20 Please see the class schedule below. This final exam will count = for 30% of=20 the student=92s final grade in the course. It will be a = comprehensive exam=20 comprised of essay questions regarding any of the lectures and assigned = texts=20 covered in this course. In other words, all material covered = throughout=20 the course will be considered =93fair game.=94 Students will be = expected to=20 bring bluebooks to the final examination. Make-up examinations = will be=20 given only with adequate documentation that the absence was = unavoidable. =20 The make-up exams will be significantly more difficult than the = original. =20 It is in the student=92s best interest to avoid make-up exams if at all=20 possible.

Statement Concerning Students = with=20 Disabilities:=20

NIU abides by Section 504 of = the=20 Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which mandates reasonable accommodations be = provided=20 for qualified students with disabilities. =20 If you have a disability and may require some type of = instructional=20 and/or examination accommodation, please contact me early in the = semester so=20 that I can provide or facilitate in providing accommodations you may = need. If you have not already done = so, you=20 will need to register with the Center for Access-Ability Resources = (CAAR), the=20 designated office on campus to provide services and administer exams = with=20 accommodations for students with disabilities. The CAAR office is located on = the 4th=20 floor of the University Health Services building (815-753-1303).

Undergraduate Writing Awards:=20

The Department of Political = Science will=20 recognize, on an annual basis, outstanding undergraduate papers written = in=20 conjunction with 300-400 level political science courses or directed=20 studies. Authors do not = have to be=20 political science majors or have a particular class standing. Winners are expected to attend = the=20 Department=92s spring graduation ceremony where they will receive a = certificate=20 and $50.00. Papers, which = can be=20 submitted by students or faculty, must be supplied in triplicate to a = department=20 secretary by February 28th. = All=20 copies should have two cover pages-one with the student=92s name and one = without=20 the student=92s name. = Only papers=20 written in the previous calendar year can be considered for the award.

Department of Political = Science Web=20 Site:=20

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

Course = Schedule:

Please note: =

- The assignment and test = dates are=20 fixed.

- The lecture schedule = indicates the=20 order in which we will be reading the works, and what excerpts we will = be=20 reading from the various authors. It is certain that there will be some=20 significant deviation from the schedule below, day to day. To know how = to=20 prepare for each class, it is crucial that you are always=20 present.

&nbs= p; = ; =20

Wed., Jan. 19^th =96 = =20 Introduction to the course/What is = Political=20 Philosophy?

Fri., Jan. 21^st =96 = =20 Plato=92s Apology of Socrates, = 17a-24a (pgs.=20 63-73)

Mon., Jan. 24^th =96 = =20 Plato=92s Apology of Socrates, = 24b-35d (pgs.=20 73-89)

Wed., Jan. 26^th =96 = =20 Plato=92s Apology of Socrates, = 35e-42a (pgs.=20 89-97) &n= bsp; &nb= sp;

Fri., Jan. 28^th =96 = =20 Aristotle=92s Politics, Book One, = chapters 1-7=20 (pgs. 35-44)

&nbs= p; = ; =20 [First=20 Quiz]

Mon., Jan. 31^st =96 = =20 Aristotle=92s Politics, Book One, = chapters 8-13=20 (pgs. 44-54)

Wed., Feb. 2^nd =96 = =20 Aristotle=92s Politics, Book Three, chapters 1-4 (pgs. 86-92) &n= bsp; &nb= sp;

Fri., Feb. 4^th =96 = &nbs= p;=20 Aristotle=92s Politics, Book Three, chapters 5-9 (pgs. 92-99)=20

Mon., Feb. 7^th =96 = =20 Aristotle=92s Politics, Book Three, chapters 10-13 (pgs. = 100-108)

[Essay Topics to = be=20 distributed in class]

Wed., Feb. 9^th =96 = =20 Excerpts from the Bible (Isaiah 6:1-7, 1 = Corinthians=20 3:18-4:13 =96 these excerpts will be made available in class)=20

Aquinas on Politics and=20 Ethics, = The Summa=20 of Theology, questions 2, 12, & 13 (pgs. = 30-33)

Fri., Feb. 11^th =96 = =20 Aquinas on Politics and = Ethics, The=20 Treatise on Law, questions=20 90-7 (pgs. 44-60) =20

[Second=20 Quiz] &n= bsp; =20

Mon., Feb. 14^th =96 = =20 Machiavelli=92s Prince, Dedicatory Letter; = chapters=20 1-5 (pgs. 3-21) =20

Wed., Feb. 16^th =96 = =20 Machiavelli=92s Prince, chapters 6-10 = (pgs.=20 21-44)

Fri., Feb. 18^th =96 = =20 Machiavelli=92s Prince, chapters 11-14 = (pgs. 45-60)=20 &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p;

Mon., Feb. 21^st =96 = =20 Machiavelli=92s Prince, chapters 15-20 = (pgs.=20 61-87)

Wed., Feb. 23^rd =96 = =20 Machiavelli=92s Prince, chapters 21-26 = (pgs.=20 87-105)

Fri., Feb. 25^th =96 = =20 Hobbes=92s Leviathan, Letter = Dedicatory to=20 Francis Godolphin;

The Introduction; chapters = 1-12 (pgs.=20 1-74)

Mon., Feb. 28^th =96 = =20 Hobbes=92s Leviathan, chapters 13-16 = (pgs.=20 74-105)

[Third = Quiz] &n= bsp; &nb= sp; =20

Wed., Mar. 2^nd =96 = =20 Hobbes=92s Leviathan, chapters 17-20 = (pgs.=20 106-135)

Fri., Mar. 4^th =96 = =20 =20 Hobbes=92s Leviathan, chapters 21, = 29-30 (pgs.=20 136-145 & 210-233)

Mon., Mar. 7^th =96 = =20 Locke=92s Second Treatise of = Government,=20 chapters 1-5 (pgs. 1-31)

[Essay = Due]

Wed., Mar. 9^th =96 = =20 Locke=92s Second Treatise of = Government,=20 chapters 6-7 (pgs. 32-57)

Fri., Mar. 11^th =96 = =20 Locke=92s Second Treatise of = Government,=20

chapters 8-10 (pgs. = 58-80)

March = 13^th =96=20 20^th (Spring Recess)

Mon., Mar. 21^st =96 = =20 Locke=92s Second Treatise of = Government, &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = =20 chapters 11-15 (pgs. 81-108)

Wed., Mar. 23^rd =96 = =20 Locke=92s Second Treatise of = Government, &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; =20 chapters 16-19 (pgs. 109-148)

[Fourth=20 Quiz] &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; =20

Fri., Mar. 25^th =96 = =20 Locke=92s A=20 Letter Concerning=20 Toleration=20 (pgs. 21-58)

Mon., = Mar. 28^th =96 =20 Locke=92s = A=20 Letter Concerning=20 Toleration=20 (continued)

Wed., = Mar. 30^th =96 = To be=20 determined

Fri., = Apr. 1^st =96 &nbs= p;=20 To be determined

Mon., = Apr. 4^th =96 =20 To be determined

Wed., = Apr. 6^th =96 =20 To be determined

Fri., = Apr. 8^th =96 &nbs= p;=20 To be determined

[Fifth=20 Quiz]

=20 Mon., = Apr.=20 11^th =96 = To be=20 determined

=20 Wed., Apr. 13^th =96 = To be=20 determined

=20 Fri., Apr. 15^th =96 =20 To be determined

=20 Mon., Apr. 18^th =96 = To be=20 determined

=20 Wed., Apr. 20^th =96 =20 To be determined

=20 Fri., Apr. 22^nd =96 =20 To be determined

=20 Mon., Apr. 25^th =96 = To be=20 determined

Wed., Apr. 27^th =96 = = To be=20 determined

Fri., Apr. 29^th =96 = To be=20 determined

Mon., May 2^nd =96 = Final=20 Lecture

Wed., May 4^th =96=20 Review

Fri., May 6^th =96 = Reading=20 Day

Wed., May. 9^th, = Noon-1:50pm =96=20 [Final=20 Exam]

&nbs= p; =20