PHIL 2: Soc/Pol Phil, Spring 2012
Instructor: Eric Gerlach
Mon/Wed 9:30-10:45 am
Office Hours: Mondays 11-12 @ K’s Coffee
Class Code: 23602
Room: BCC 52
Email: ericgerlach@gmail.com
Blog: ericgerlach.blogspot.com
Course Description
This course introduces students to the history of Social and Political Philosophy. We will study ancient and modern thinkers on the subjects of human nature, social class, authority, liberty, capitalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, fascism, post-colonialism, and feminism.
Required Texts
The only text for the class is the Course Reader, available at Lazer Image, 61 Shattuck Square, Berkeley, (510) 644-3339. A copy of the reader will be put on reserve in the BCC Library.
Required Assignments
Four In-class Responses 40%
MIDTERM Exam 30%
FINAL Exam 30%
CLASS SCHEDULE
Jan 23 Introduction to the class
Jan 25 & 30 Early Civilization (Radin, Kramer, Barthes)
Feb 1 & 6 Human Nature (Mencius, Xun Zi, Mo Zi)
Feb 8 & 13 Social Class/Caste (Plato & Aristotle)
Feb 15 & 22 Authority & Sovereignty (Machiavelli & Hobbes)
Feb 27 & 29 Rights & Liberty (Locke, Rousseau, Mill, Thoreau) (1st Response Due)
Mar 5 & 7 French & US Revolutions (Paine, US Constitution)
Mar 12 & 14 Capitalism (Smith, Long) + Midterm Review
Mar 19 Midterm Review
Mar 21 MIDTERM EXAM (2nd Response Due)
Mar 26 & 28 Hegel, Opposition & Revolution (Marcuse, McLellan)
Apr 2 & 4 NO CLASSES - SPRING BREAK
Apr 9 & 11 Socialism (Engels, Marcuse)
Apr 16 & 18 Communism (Marx, Trotsky, Gramsci, Mao)
Apr 23 & 25 Anarchism (Mayer, Chomsky, Foucault)
Apr 30 & May 2 Fascism (Hitler, Heidegger, Sluga) (3rd Response Due)
May 7 & 9 Post-Colonialism (Fanon, Ayers/Dohrn, West, hooks)
May 14 & 16 Feminism (hooks, Humm, Butler)
May 21 Final Review
May 23 FINAL EXAM (4th Response Due)
This class is acceptable for credit at UC and CSU. It counts towards GE AA/AS area 3; CSU area C2; and IGETC area 3. It can be used as an elective for the Liberal Arts with an Emphasis in Arts and Humanities, Associate in Arts Degree Program and the Liberal Arts: Intersegmental General Education Transfer (IGETC) Certificate of Achievement and the Global Studies AA Degree.
Student Learning Outcomes
Information Competency: understand philosophical concepts and systems
Critical Thinking: evaluate concepts and argue for and against viewpoints
Global Awareness & Valuing Diversity: understand diverse cultures of thought
General Student Requirements
Students are expected to come to class prepared to ask questions and participate in discussions. All readings and assignments should be completed by the beginning of class on the day they are discussed. This class is run as a lecture/discussion course. Students are responsible for all class material (even if they miss class). It is your responsibility to ask if you missed something; it is not the instructor’s responsibility to remind you. If a student has any extenuating circumstances which may affect full participation in the class, the student must speak to the instructor as far ahead of any due date as possible. All assignments must be completed and all requirements must be met in order to pass the class. You must turn in all assignments (even if they are late) in order to be eligible to receive a “C” grade or higher. There are no exceptions, under any circumstance.
Plagiarism—“[t]o use another person’s ideas or expressions in your writing without acknowledging the source” (MLA Handbook, 5th ed., §1.8)—will not be tolerated. Plagiarists, intentional or inadvertent, will receive a zero on the assignment in question; repeat offenders will get an F for the course and will be subject to college disciplinary action. Students are encouraged to review plagiarism policies in the current Vista College catalog.
A Note on Disabled Student Program and Services (DSP&S)
DSP&S services are provided for any enrolled student who has a verified disability that creates an educational limitation that prevents the student from fully benefiting from classes without additional support services or instruction. Please let the instructor know if you require any support services or would like more information about DSP&S.
The syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. Any changes will be announced in class. Additional handouts of required readings may also be added.
