Problems in Social Thought
Philosophy 161

Fall 2006

 

Course Description

This class will survey some of the important issues in social and political philosophy. The focus of the class will be on theory but will not shy away from questions about the application of social and political theory in contemporary society. In this class students will learn to approach complicated material analytically and to express ideas clearly in writing. Readings will include Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, J.S. Mill, Rawls, and Nozick, among others.

Instructor Information

Jeremy Cushing
Office: 377 Bartlett Hall
Office Hours: By appointment
Email: jeremyc@philos.umass.edu
AIM Screen Name: illogical space

 

 

Texts

An Introduction to Political Philosophy by Jonathan Wolff
Political Philosophy: the Essential Texts ed. By Steven Cahn

Amherst Books
8 Main Street
Downtown Amherst

 

Grading

Assignment
Due Date
Final Grade
Response Paper 1
9/22
5%
Exam 1
10/13
25%
Response Paper 2
10/23
5%
Exam 2
11/8
25%
Response Paper 3
11/13
5%
Response Paper 4
12/6
5%
Exam 3
TBA
25%
 
Participation
N/A
5%

 

 

Online Readings

Unit 1: The State of Nature

The Prisoner's Dilemma (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Unit 2: The Justification of the State

The Definition of Morality (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
The Principle of Utility (Bentham, Chapter One of Principles of Morals and Legistation)
The Limits of the Penal Branch of Jurisprudence (Bentham, Chapter 17 of Principles of Morals and Legistation)

 

Date

Lecture Notes and

Readings Schedule

9/6    
9/8 Introduction to Logic 9/8  
9/11   Wolff Chapter 1
9/13   Hobbes (214-226) and Prisoner's Dilemma (online)
9/15    
9/18   Locke (243-252)
9/20 State of Nature Virtual Handout Rousseau (274-292)
9/22   Wolff Chapter 2
9/25   The Definition of Morality (Online)
9/27   Hobbes (226-234)
9/29   Locke (256-263)
10/2 Consent in Social Contract Theory Rousseau (293-298)
10/4   Bentham (Chap 1 Online)
10/6 Utilitarianism Bentham (Chap 17 Online)
10/9
Columbus Day: No Class
10/11    
10/13    
10/16 Structure of Government Wolff Chapter 3
10/18   Plato (62-65, 89-109)
10/20   Locke (263-264, 267-270), Mill (438-442), Rousseau (309-314)
10/23    
10/25    
10/27 Liberty Wolff Chapter 4
10/30   Mill (438-471) esp Chap 2
11/1   Mill (438-471)
11/3   Nozick (PDF)
11/6    
11/8    
11/10   Wolff Chapter 5
11/13   Locke (252-256)
11/15   Rawls (472-492)
11/17   Nozick (492-507)
11/20    
11/22
Thanksgiving: No Class
11/24
11/27   Marx (406-417)
11/29    
12/1   Wolff Chapter 6
12/4   Nussbaum
12/6    
12/8   Feldman
12/11   King
12/13   Review