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Department of Humanities & Social Sciences |
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Seminar on Politics and Values
VA 466 -- Fall 2004 MTRF, 4th Hour (10:50-11:40)
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“Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influences, are usually to slave to some defunct economist. Madmen in authority, who hear voices in the air, are distilling their frenzy from some academic scribbler of a few years back."
-- John Maynard Keynes
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Moench A219 Professor Terrence Casey OFFICE Moench A205 OFFICE HOURS: MTRF, 5th Hour (11:45-12:35pm)or drop-in anytime. PHONE: (812) 877-8281 CAMPUS MAIL: Box 93 E-MAIL: casey1@rose-hulman.edu
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Course Description: The purpose of this course is twofold: first, to introduce you to the major thinkers and ideas of political philosophy, and, second, to explore the relevance of political theory for contemporary political issues. It is also intended to help you identify the ideological assumptions implicit in all political debates so that you can avoid the trap Keynes highlights. In short, we will use the thoughts of the past to deal with the problems of the present. The larger objective is to supply you with the ideological and analytical tools to enable you to develop a more coherent and reasoned personal political philosophy. |
Textbooks:
A. Alan Ebenstein, Introduction to Political Thinkers, 2nd Edition
B. John Mueller, Capitalism, Democracy, and Ralph's Pretty Good Grocery
C. Dinesh D'Souza, What's So Great About America
Link to Politiopia ideology quiz website.
| Prof. Casey's Homepage | Syllabus (PDF) | Course Policies |
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Class |
Topics |
Readings / Assignments |
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September 2-3 |
NO CLASS (Professor attending American Political Science Association Conference in Chicago) |
Ebenstein, Introduction; & Donald Tannenbaum and David Schultz, "Political Philosophy: Introducing the Challenge" |
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September 6 |
Introduction to Course/Political Philosophy |
DISCUSS PAPER TOPICS with me during this week. |
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September 7 |
Overview of Political Ideologies |
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September 9-10 |
Plato |
Ebenstein, Chapter 1 |
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September 13-14 |
Aristotle |
Ebenstein, Chapter 2 |
| September 16-17 | Augustine and Aquinas |
Ebenstein, Chapters 3-4 PAPER PROPOSAL DUE on Friday 9/17 |
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September 20-21 |
Niccolo Machiavelli |
Ebenstein, Chapter 5 |
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September 23-24 |
Thomas Hobbes |
Ebenstein, Chapter 6 |
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September 27-28 |
John Locke |
Ebenstein, Chapter 7 |
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September 30-October 1 |
Jean Jacques Rousseau |
Ebenstein, Chapter 8 |
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October 4-5 |
Edmund Burke |
“Edmund Burke,” in Strauss and Cropsey, History of Political Philosophy [Handout] TAKE-HOME MIDTERM DUE on Monday 10/4 |
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October 7-8 |
John Stuart Mill |
Ebenstein, Chapter 9 |
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October 11-12 |
Karl Marx |
Ebenstein, Chapter 10 |
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October 14-15 |
FALL BREAK |
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October 18-19 |
Friedrich Hayek |
Ebenstein, Chapter 11 |
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October 21-22 |
John Rawls |
Ebenstein, Chapter 12 |
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October 25-26 |
Capitalism and Democracy: Images and Mismatches |
Mueller, Chapter 1 |
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October 28-29 |
Capitalism: Image and Reality |
Muelller, Chapters 2-5 |
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November 1 |
Democracy: Image and Reality |
Mueller, Chapter 6-8 RESEARCH PAPER DUE on Monday 11/1 |
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November 2 |
Democracy and Capitalism: Connections and Disconnections |
Mueller, Chapter 9 |
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November 4-5 |
The Challenge Facing America |
D’Souza, Preface and Chapter 1; “Pericles’ Funeral Oration” [Handout] |
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November 8-9 |
America, the West and the Rest |
D’Souza, Chapters 2-4 |
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November 11-12 |
“America as an Example?” OR “America as and Example!” |
D’Souza, Chapters 5-6 |
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November 15 |
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TAKE-HOME FINAL EXAM DUE on Monday 11/15 |
