SYLLABUS
HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT, PART 2
POLS 3202
SPRING, 2017
Instructor: Dr. Dan Tschirgi
E-mail:
This, the second part of an introductory course dealing with the development of politically relevant thinking in the Western World since the classic contributions of Plato and Aristotle, focuses on the modern thinking of NiccoloMachiavelli up through the 20th Century thinking of V. I. Lenin.
Students will be required to read and understand the seminal writings of a variety of political thinkers, among whom figure: Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, George Wilhelm Hegel, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, and V. I. Lenin. (Please see the attached Complete Reading List).
Evaluation will be achieved through three examinations (two partial exams and one final exam) and a grade for “Participation.” Normally, each scheduled exam will have a weight of 30% of the final course grade while “Participation” will count for the remaining 10%. Exams will be cumulative; therefore, students will remain responsible throughout the term for all material covered during this course.
It should be noted thatunannounced quizzes maybe administered if they are deemed necessary by the instructor. The instructor’s determination regarding the need for quizzes will be based on his perception of the level and quality of classroom discussion. The total value of quizzes will not exceed 5% of the total grade to be assigned, and this 5% will be taken from the 90% originally assigned as the value of the three scheduled examinations.
Readings will mainly be taken from William Ebenstein and Alan O. Ebenstein, Great Political Thinkers: Plato to the Present, (5th Edition). Students are expected to read assigned material prior to attending each classroom session. (Please consult the attached Reading Schedule). Students are encouraged to buy Machiavelli’s small, but exceedingly powerful book, The Prince, for every political scientist should have copy of this important text.
READING SCHEDULE (SPRING, 2016) POLS 3202
Jan.
30 Class Cancelled
Feb
2 Introductory Remarks
6 Lecture: Niccolo Machiavelli
9 The Prince: Full text. Buy it in AUC Bookstore, or download the complete text at
13 Thomas Hobbes, Ebenstein on “Blackboard”
16 Hobbes
20 Hobbes
23 John Locke, Ebenstein, on Blackboard.
27 John Locke
March
2 John Locke
6 Jean Jacques Rousseau, Ebenstein, on Blackboard
9 Rousseau
13 Rousseau
16 Review: Machiavelli to Rousseau
20 EXAM #1
23 REVIEW OF EXAM #1
27 George W. Hegel, Ebenstein, on Blackboard
30 Hegel
April
3 Karl Marx, Ebenstein on Blackboard
6Marx, Ebenstein, on Blackboard
{APRIL 9-17: HOLIDAY}
20 Marx: REVIEW
24 Lenin, Imperialism: TheHighest Stage of Capitalism. Online at
27 Lenin: ONLINE—“IMPERIALISM: THE HIGHEST STAGE OF CAPITALISM”
May
1HOLIDAY
9 REVIEW: Hegel, Marx, Lenin.
11EXAM #2
15 END OF COURSE AND REVIEW FOR FINAL EXAM