Political Studies 151 - History of Political Philosophy:  Moderns
________________________________________________________________

Professor Sharon Snowiss
Spring 2004
Office:  206 Scott Hall                                                           
Ext. 73178
Office hours: MW 4:15-5:30; and by appointment              
email:  ssnowiss@pitzer.edu

Brief Course Description

This course focuses on major western political philosophic texts of the modern world.  The advent of the Renaissance and the revolution in science profoundly altered western man's conception of himself, society and nature.  A new world emerged, hopeful for the improvement of the physical quality and length of men's lives.  This aim required the reduction of the capriciousness of natural forces and greater control over social organization.  The growing egalitarian and humanistic fervor resulted in new forms of democratic institutions and the securing of individual freedoms, happiness and progress.  These societal changes combined with the remarkable advances in science and technology have created the Modern Promethean man, who at the height of his powers in the 20th century, begins to have some doubt about the success of the modern project.

This course is organized historically and will explore the above themes as well as key political concepts of equality, freedom, authority, legitimacy, representation, and justice.

In addition to the completion of reading assignments, each student is required to write three short papers (no more than five pages each) and to take a midterm and a final examination.  The course will combine lectures and class discussions.

The required readings (available at Huntley Bookstore) are as follows:

Machiavelli, The Prince and the Discourses

Descartes, Discourse on Method, Mediations

Hobbes, Leviathan

Locke, First and Second Treatise on Government

J.J. Rousseau, Social Contract, First and Second Discourses

Hegel, The Philosophy of Right

Marx, The Marx-Engels Reader, (Tucker, ed.)

Nietzsche, The Use and Abuse of History

Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents

J. S. Mill, On Liberty, Utilitarianism

Arendt, Between Past and Future

Several required selected readings are on Reserve at Honnold Library and can be accessed through electronic reserves.

Christine de Pizan, The Book of the City of Ladies

            Erica Harth, Cartesian Woman

            Mary Wollstonecraft, Vindication of the Rights of Woman

            Rosa Luxemberg, Reform or Revolution

            J.S. Mills, On the Subjection of Women

            J.J. Rousseau, Politics and the Arts (Letter to D'Alembert)

The following secondary sources have been placed on reserve in Honnold Library:

            Sabine, A History of Political Theory

            Strauss and Cropsey, History of Political Philosophy

            Wolin, Politics and Vision

            Hart & Downton, Perspectives on Political Philosophy, Vol. I & II

McDonald, Western Political Theory

Okin, Women in Western Political Thought

Pateman, The Sexual Contract

Rousseau, Politics and the Arts

Wm. Connolly, Political Theory and Modernity

W.T. Jones, A History of Western Philosophy, Vol. I-II

Jacobson, Pride and Solace

Stanley & Pateman, Feminist Interpretation and Political Theory

_________________________________________________________________

Reading Assignments

Jan. 21             Introduction

            New Paths:;  Politics, Philosophy and Philanthropy

Jan. 26             Machiavelli, The Prince

Jan. 28             Machiavelli, The Discourses:  Introduction;

Feb. 2              Book I; Book II Intro, chps. 28-29; Book III chps. 1-9, chp. 43

                        Christine de Pizan, The Book of the City of Ladies, pp. 3-13, 30-33, 76-78,153-55

Feb.4               Descartes, Discourse on Method

Feb. 9              Descartes, Meditations

                        Erica Harth, Cartesian Women, pp. 64-81

Feb. 12            1st PAPER DUE

            Social Contract

Feb. 11-16       Hobbes, Leviathan:  Introduction, Part I, Of

Man ; Part II,  Of Commonwealth , chps. 17-24, chps. 29, 30, 21;

Part IV, chp. 46,

A Review and Conclusion.

Feb. 18-23       Locke, Second Treatise on Government

Feb. 25            Rousseau, First Discourse (Arts & Sciences)

Mar. 1             Rousseau, Second Discourse (Equality)

Mar. 3             Rousseau, Social Contract

Mar. 8             Rousseau, Politics and the Arts:  Letter to

DíAlembert (selections)

                        Harth, Cartesian Women, pp. 213-34

M.Wollstonecraft, Vindication of the Rights of Woman, pp. 79-85, 91-99,

252-263

Mar. 10           MID-TERM EXAMINATION DUE

SPRING VACATION

History and Dialectic

Mar. 22-24      Hegel, Philosophy of Right:  Preface;

                                    Introduction; First Part.

                                    Third Part: (ii) Civil Society a & b, (iii) The State.

Mar. 29-          The Marx-Engels Reader (Tucker, ed.)

Apr. 7                         (1)       (I) The Early Marx, pp. 16, 53, 66, 143

p. 469 Manifesto of the Communist Party

p. 146 German Ideology

p. 683 Socialism Utopian and Scientific

p. 734 Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State

p. 525 Critique of the Gotha Program

p. 594 18th Brumaire

p. 725 On Morality

p. 730 On Authority

Rosa Luxemberg, Reform or Revolution (selections)

Apr. 9             2nd PAPER DUE           

Revision, Revolt and Critique

Apr. 12-14      J.S. Mill, On Liberty, Utilitarianism, chps. 1-3,

                        On the Subjection of Women, chp. 1

Apr. 19           Nietzsche, The Use and Abuse of History

Apr. 21-26      Freud, Civilization and its Discontents

April 30          3rd PAPER DUE

Apr. 28-          H. Arendt, Between Past & Future; Preface, chps. 1-5, 8

May 3

May 5             Review

May 5             Graduating Seniors Final Examination

May 12                       FINAL EXAMINATION:  (Monday, 2-5 p.m.)