Contact Information
Email: arosenth@gustavus.edu
Phone: 933-7437
Office: Old Main 204H
Office Hours: Wednesdays 10:30am-12:30pm and by appointment
Course Description
This course is an introduction to a selection of major -- and some minor -- works in Western political and legal theory. Some of the central themes that the course will cover are justice, human nature, and political obligation. What is justice, and injustice? What are people like, what do they want and what may they hope for? Do we all want the same from our lives? How may and how should different political ideals be pursued? When, if ever, is disobedience to the law moral? We will survey answers offered by many different kinds of thinkers, writing under a variety of circumstances. Finally, we will pay attention to what our theorists themselves are up to: how they argue for their views, whom they are addressing, and how they can be interpreted.
Required Texts
Course Objectives
Students will:Course Requirements and Assessment
Attendance
Consistent attendance in class is a minimum condition of class membership. Students do not receive credit for attending, but failure to attend class will negatively affect grades. In a discussion-oriented class such as this one, missing class discussion is missing coursework that cannot be made up.
Course Participation (20%)
We will proceed largely by means of discussion. Thus, attendance, preparation and participation are essential. You should approach each class with a good grasp of the assigned reading and your own perspective toward it. These texts can be dense and complex, so you will need to take time to read carefully, figuring out what claims the authors are making and what questions you have about them.
Students should be prepared to raise questions and offer critical insights about the reading material and the issues that it raises. To facilitate this, I may, on occasion, administer "mini-quizzes" in class. These may or may not be announced in advance. Such quizzes are counted as part of your participation grade.
Vigorous class debate and discussion is both expected and desirable. Presence alone does not earn participation credit: a passively silent and/or clearly unprepared student earns no credit for participation. Note that there is a difference between passive silence and active listening. You need not speak constantly to participate meaningfully in class. Attentive, thoughtful, respectful, and reflective listening to others constitutes active participation. I construe class participation broadly. Come to class having read the material carefully and thoughtfully. Participate in class to the greatest extent you can. Speak when you have something to say. Ask questions when you have them. Listen carefully and respectfully to others. Engage in small group discussions. Come to my office hours. Send me e-mail.
Late arrivals are distracting and disrespectful. Persistent tardiness will lower your participation grade.
Critical Summaries (20%)
In order to ensure quality preparation and discussion, students will be required to submit critical summaries for each reading assignment. Because critical summaries are intended to facilitate class discussion, they are due in class on the day that readings are assigned. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Specific guidelines for critical summaries are provided on the "Critical Summaries" pages of the syllabus.
Examinations (15% -- 7.5% each)
Argument Papers (30% -- 10% each)
Each student will write 3 (4 pages, 1000-1250 words) argument papers. In each of these papers, I will require you to engage the work of at least one thinker and to offer a critical response. In accordance with the Gustavus Adolphus Honor Code, each argument paper will contain the statement, "On my honor, I pledge that I have not given, received, or tolerated others' use of unauthorized aid in completing this work." Specific guidelines and grading criteria for argument papers are provided on the "Argument Papers" pages of this syllabus.
Social Contract Exercise (15%)
Additional information will be provided on the Social Contract Exercise handout distributed in class.
N.B.
Failure to complete any major component of the course (e.g., skipping an exam, failing to hand in argument papers, or failure to attend an adequate number of classes) may entail failing the course as a whole, regardless of performance on the completed components.
Accommodations
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Art of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) work together to ensure 'reasonable accommodation' and non-discrimination for students with disabilities in higher education. A student who has a physical, psychiatric/emotional, medical, learning, or attentional disability that may have an effect on the student's ability to complete assigned course work should contact the Disability Services Coordinator in the Advising Center, who will review the concerns and decide with the student what accommodations are necessary. Upon receipt of documentation from Laurie Bickett, Disability Services Coordinator, I will be happy to work with you on appropriate accommodations.