Sonia Kruks
Office: Rice 228
Phone: 775-8487 or 8496
Meets: T. Th. 1.30-2.45 p.m.
King 321
POLITICS 232 EUROPEAN POLITICAL THEORY: HOBBES TO MARX
This course traces the main developments in European political thought
from the breakup of the feudal system until the mid-nineteenth century.
The decline of absolutist theories of government and the development of
liberalism as the dominant European political doctrine will be traced through
a study of the original writings of some major political theorists. The
conservative reaction against liberalism and the later development of socialism
(notably Marxism) as an alternative will also be examined. Works
to be studied include those of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, Bentham,
J.S. Mill and Marx.
REQUIRED READING
Hobbes, Leviathan, ed. C.B. Macpherson (Penguin)
Locke, Second Treatise of Government, ed. C.B. Macpherson(Hackett)
Rousseau, Discourse on Inequality, trans. M. Cranston (Penguin)
The Social Contract, trans. M. Cranston (Penguin)
Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, ed. C. O'Brien(Penguin)
Bentham, "Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation,"
Chapters I-V in Utilitarianism, ed. M. Warnock (NAL)
J.S. Mill, "On Liberty," in Utilitarianism, ed. M. Warnock
(NAL)
Marx and Engels, selections in The Marx-Engels Reader, ed. R Tucker
(Norton)
It is important that you buy your own copies of these works, preferably
the editions stated. Assignments must be read prior to each
class, as they will form the basis for class discussion. The appropriate
book must be brought to class each time.
Where only part of a text is listed as assigned reading, this should
be regarded as the minimum assignment and you are strongly encouraged
to read the whole text by the end of the semester.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Written work for this course will consist of two short papers, for which
questions will be provided, a take-home mid-term exam, and a longer final
paper on a topic of your own choice. The two short papers will each be
3-4 pages in length. Each will count for 10% of the final grade. They must
be handed in on the following dates:
Paper 1: March 4, Rice 228 by 5.30 p.m.
Paper 2: April 15, Rice 228 by 5.30
p.m.
The mid-term take-home exam will count for 20% of the final grade.
It will be distributed on 17 March, at the end of class. It must be handed
in on: March 19, at 1.30 p.m.
The final paper will be 8-10 pages in length, and will count
for 40% of the final grade. A title for the paper and a one paragraph abstract,
describing what it will argue, are to be handed in on:
April 23, in class.
The completed paper is to be handed in on: May
12, by 4.30 p.m., Rice 228.
The final 20% of the grade will be determined by class attendance, preparation, and participation. Full and punctual attendance is required, and any necessary absences (e.g. for medical reasons) must be excused prior to the class you will miss. (You can contact me in person, by phone (X8487), or by campus mail). UNEXCUSED ABSENCES OR LATE ARRIVALS WILL RESULT IN A LOWERING OF YOUR FINAL GRADE.
It is essential that you do the assigned reading before each class.
Questions will usually be provided for you to think about as you read.
You are REQUIRED to write one-paragraph responses to each of these questions,
and to bring your responses to class with you. You will be expected to
use your responses as a basis for class participation, and for introducing
class discussion when called upon.
BACKGROUND READING
The following works are recommended for students who do not have a general
knowledge of modern European history. They can be consulted for background
when needed, but are not required.
P. Anderson, Lineages of the Absolutist State
C. Hill, Century of Revolution
C. Hill, Reformation to Industrial Revolution
E.J. Hobsbawm, The Age of Revolution: 1789-1848
E.J. Hobsbawm, The Age of Capital, 1848-1875
E.J. Hobsbawm, The Age of Empire, 1875-1914
D. Thomson, Europe Since Napoleon
The following general works of intellectual history and histories of political
thought are also recommended for general reference or for background reading.
However, reading of secondary sources should never be a substitute for
reading the assignments from original texts.
More specific supplementary readings for each author and his period are
given in a bibliography at the end of the outline. They may be of use in
writing your long final paper.
A. Arblaster, The Rise and Decline of Liberal Democracy
I. Berlin, "Two Concepts of Liberty" in Four Essays on Liberty
C. DiStefano, Configurations of Masculinity
J. Elshtain, Public Man, Private Woman
G. Mosse, The Culture of Western Europe
C. Pateman, The Sexual Contract
J. Plamentaz, Man and Society (2 vols)
J.G.A. Pocock, Virtue, Commerce and History
G. Ruggiero, The History of European Liberalism
I. Shapiro, The Evolution of Rights in Liberal Theory
Q. Skinner, Foundations of Modern Political Thought (2 vols)
L. Strauss and J. Cropsey, (eds), The History of Political Thought
(3rd edition)
K. Thomas, Man and the Natural World: Changing attitudes in England,
1500-1800
S. Toulmin, Cosmopolis, the Hidden Agenda of Modernity
R. Tuck, Natural Rights Theories: Their Origin and the Development
S. Wolin, Politics and Vision
SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND REQUIRED READING ASSIGNMENTS
5 Feb Introduction;
Early Modern Europe: Scientific Revolution, Renaissance, Reformation.
Assignment: none, but see works in Supplementary Bibliography
for more background.
10 Feb Early Modern
Europe: growth of centralized nation states. England at the time of Hobbes;
introduction to Hobbes. Assignment: Hobbes, Leviathan,
author's "Introduction," pp.81-83. Also look at Macpherson's
Introduction.
HOBBES
12 Feb Leviathan,
chs. 1 - 6
17 Feb Leviathan,
chs. 13 - 17
19 Feb Leviathan,
chs. 17 - 20
24 Feb Leviathan,
chs. 21 & 26
Last session on Hobbes: think about whether or not his work is still
of significance.
FIRST SHORT PAPER ASSIGNED
LOCKE
26 Feb Introduction
to Locke, his times and work.
Assignment, John Locke, Second Treatise, chs. 1-5
3 Mar Second
Treatise, chs. 5-9
4 Mar FIRST
SHORT PAPER DUE -- BY 5.30 p.m., RICE 228.
5 Mar Second Treatise,
chs. 10-15
10 Mar Second Treatise,
chs. 16-19
ROUSSEAU
12 Mar Introduction to
the Enlightenment and to Rousseau.
Assignment, A Discourse on Inequality, Author's Preface
and whole Discourse, pp.67 - 137. [Rousseau's extensive notes (pp.139-71)
are fascinating, but not required reading].
17 Mar Review and comparative
discussion of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau (Discourse)
MID-TERM EXAM GIVEN OUT AT THE END OF CLASS
19 Mar MID-TERM
EXAM TO BE HANDED IN AT 1.30 p.m. IN CLASSROOM. LATE EXAMS NOT
ACCEPTED.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SPRING
RECESS * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
31 Mar The
Social Contract, Book I
2 Apr The
Social Contract, Book II
7 Apr The
Social Contract, Books III and IV [Book IV, chs. 4-7 may be omitted]
SECOND SHORT PAPER ASSIGNED
BURKE
9 Apr Burke, Reflections
on the Revolution in France, pp.122- 154 and 183-95. Introduction by
O'Brien is strongly recommended but not required.
UTILITARIANISM
14 Apr Bentham and the principle
of utility.
Assignment: Bentham "Introduction to the Principles
of Morals and Legislation," chs. 1-5, in Warnock, Utilitarianism
15 Apr SECOND SHORT
PAPER DUE -- BY 5.30 p.m., RICE 228
16 Apr Introduction
to J.S. Mill
Assignment: Mill, "On Liberty," ch. 1, in Warnock.
21 Apr "On
Liberty," chs. II and III
23 Apr "On Liberty,"
chs. IV and V.
ABSTRACT FOR LONG PAPER DUE IN CLASS -- N.B. THIS IS A REQUIRED ASSIGNMENT
MARXISM
28 Apr Overview of
the emergence of socialism and Marxism.
"The Communist Manifesto," sections I and II, in Tucker, The
Marx-Engels Reader, pp. 473-491.
30 Apr "The
German Ideology," selections from Section A, in Tucker, pp. 147-163
and 172 (line 3)-175.
5 May "Wage
Labour and Capital," in Tucker, pp.203-217.
7 May Final review
and discussion.
12 May FINAL
PAPER DUE BY 4.30 p.m. -- Rice 228 LATE PAPERS NOT ACCEPTED.
SUPPLEMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY
The following bibliography is provided so that you can pursue topics
which interest you in more depth, or so that you can find additional material
to clarify matters discussed in class.
This bibliography consists mainly of secondary sources. However, reading
secondary sources should never be used as a replacement for working with
the original texts -- and you should not feel obliged to read any secondary
sources at all!
Early Modern Europe
J.W. Allen, History of Political Thought in the Sixteenth Century
P. Anderson, Lineages of the Absolutist State
J.H. Hexter, The Vision of Politics on the Eve of the Reformation
T.S. Kuhn, The Copernican Revolution
A.W. Levi, Humanism and Politics
Q. Skinner, The Foundations of Modern Political Thought
R.H. Tawney, Religion and the Rise of Capitalism
K. Thomas, Man and the Natural World: Changing Attitudes in England,
1500-1800
S. Toulmin, Cosmopolis, esp. chs. 1 - 3
M. Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
S. Wolin, Politics and Vision, chs. 5 & 6
Hobbes and Locke
Hobbes, Leviathan, all of Parts I and II
Locke, Letter Concerning Toleration
Essay Concerning Human Understanding
R. Ashcraft, Revolutionary Politics and Locke's Two Treatises of Government
M. Dietz (ed.) Thomas Hobbes and Political Theory
J. Dunn, The Political Thought of John Locke
C. Hill, The Intellectual Origins of the English Revolution
C. Hill, The World Turned Upside Down
N. Jacobson, Pride and Solace, ch. III (on Hobbes)
D. Johnston, The Rhetoric of Leviathan
P. Laslett, "Introduction" to Locke's Two Treatises
C.B. Macpherson, "Introduction" to Leviathan
C.B. Macpherson, The Political Theory of Possessive Individualism
K.M. McClure, Judging Rights: Lockean Politics and the Limits of consent
J.G.A. Pocock and R. Ashcraft, John Locke
G. Schochet, Patriarchalism and Political Thought
Q. Skinner, Reason and Rhetoric in the Philosophy of Hobbes
D.D. Raphael, Hobbes: Morals and Politics
P. Riley, The General Will Before Rousseau
M. Seliger, The Liberal Politics of John Locke
T. Sorrell, Hobbes
J. Tully, A Discourse on Property
M. Walzer, Revolution of the Saints
H. Warrender, The Political Philosophy of Hobbes
S. Wolin, Politics and Vision, Ch. 8 (on Hobbes)
J.W. Yolton (ed), John Locke: Problems and Perspectives
J.W. Yolton, Locke: An Introduction
Rousseau and the Enlightenment
Rousseau, Discourses and Emile
C. Becker, The Heavenly City of the 18th. Century Philosophers
E. Cassirer, The Philosophy of the Enlightenment
J. Charvet, The Social Problem in the Philosophy of Rousseau
A. Cobban, Rousseau and the Modern State
P. Gay, The Enlightenment
H. Gilden, Rousseau's Social Contract
N. Jacobson, Pride and Solace, Ch. IV (Rousseau)
N. Keohane, Philosophy and the State in France
J. McDonald, Rousseau and the French Revolution
J. Miller, Rousseau: Dreamer of Democracy
J. Shklar, Men and Citizens
J. Starobinski, Jean Jacques Rousseau: Transparency and Obstruction
J.L. Talmon, The Rise of Totalitarian Democracy
M. Viroli, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the "Well-Ordered" Society
Burke
Burke, Reflections - entire work
Bredvold and Ross (eds)., The Philosophy of Edmund Burke
A. Cobban, Edmund Burke and the Revolt Against the Eighteenth Century
C.B. Cone, Burke and the Nature of Politics (Vol. 2)
M. Freeman, Edmund Burke and the Critique of Political Liberalism
I. Kramnick, The Rage of Edmund Burke
J. de Maistre, The Works of Joseph de Maistre, J. Lively, ed.
F. O'Gorman, Edmund Burke: His Political Philosophy
S.K. White, Edmund Burke: Modernity, Politics, and Aesthetics
Utilitarianism
J.S. Mill, On Representative Government
Utilitarianism
F.R. Berger, Happiness, Justice and Freedom: The Moral and Political
Philosophy of John Stuart Mill
M. Cowling, Mill and Liberalism
E. Halevy, The Growth of Philosophic Radicalism
R. Harrison, Bentham
C.B. MacPherson, The Life and Times of Liberal Democracy
J. Plamenatz, The English Utilitarians
P. Radcliffe (ed.), Limits of Liberty
J.C. Rees, John Stuart Mill's On Liberty
F. Rosen, Jeremy Bentham and Representative Democracy
A. Ryan, The Philosophy of John Stuart Mill
J. Steintrager, Bentham
J. Skorupski, John Stuart Mill
C.L. Ten, Mill on Liberty
D.F. Thompson, John Stuart Mill and Representative Government
W. Thomas, Mill
R.P. Wolff, The Poverty of Liberalism (Ch. 1)
Marxism
Marx, The Eighteenth Brumaire
Critique of the Gotha Program
W. Abendroth, Short History of the European Working Class
S. Avineri, The Social and Political Thought of Karl Marx
I. Berlin, Karl Marx: His Life and Environment
J. Braunthal, History of the International (2 vols)
T. Carver, Marx's Social Theory
G.A. Cohen, Karl Marx's Theory of History: a Defense
G. Duncan, Marx and Mill
A. Gilbert, Marx's Politics: Communists and Citizens
L. Kolakowski, Main Currents of Marxism (3 vols.)
G. Lichtheim, Marxism, an Historical and Critical Study
The Origins of Socialism
D. McClellan, Karl Marx: His Life and Thought
R. Miliband, Marxism and Politics
B. Ollman, Marx's Theory of Alienation