GOVT159

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GOVT159

The Moral Basis of Politics GOVT159 FA

Not Currently Offered

An introduction to upper-division courses in political theory, this course considers the basic moral issues that hedge government and politics: Under what, if any, circumstances ought one to obey the laws and orders of those in power? Is there ever a duty to resist political authority? By what values and principles can we evaluate political arrangements? What are the meanings of terms like freedom, justice, equality, law, community, interest and rights? How is our vision of the good society to be related to our strategies of political action? What is the role of organization, leadership, violence, etc., in bringing about social change? Readings will be drawn from political philosophers, utopian works, novels, contemporary social criticism and modern social science.

MAJOR READINGS

Sophocles, ANTIGONE
Plato, APOLOGY, CRITO
Thoreau, ESSAY ON CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
Locke, SECOND TREATISE OF GOVERNMENT
Rousseau, DISCOURSE ON INEQUALITY; SOCIAL CONTRACT
Weber, POLITICS AS A VOCATION
Machiavelli, THE PRINCE
Walzer, JUST AND UNJUST WARS
Dostoevsky, THE GRAND INQUISITOR
Bondurant, THE CONQUEST OF VIOLENCE

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Approximately seven very short (2-3 page) essays. One 5-7 page paper. Final exam.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Course will meet in lecture twice a week and in a discussion section on Fridays. Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UG Credit: 1.00 Gen Ed Area & Dept: SBS GOVT

Prerequisites: None

Last Updated on MAR-22-1999

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