Philosophy 180

Philosophy 180	Office Hours: M - F 9:30 – 10:20
Yancy Hughes Dominick	(and by appointment)
Summer 2004	3048 Wescoe
	yancy9@hotmail.com

Course Description:

In this class we will attempt an introductory exploration of some of the central issues in social and political philosophy. During the first part of the semester, we will examine the ideas of some key figures in the history of social and political philosophy, reading Ancient, Modern, and Nineteenth and Twentieth Century texts. The second part of the semester will focus on the application of various views to current issues in social and political philosophy: we will consider questions concerning the extent of personal liberty, civil disobedience, animal rights, affirmative action, economic justice, and the notion of just war. Given the breadth of issues, depth in understanding will be a goal that may at times lead to changes in the reading schedule.

Structure:

As philosophy operates through questions and attempts at answers, this course will emphasize class discussion and conversation. In order that these conversations be productive, reading assignments must be completed before each class meeting. The reading is substantial, so be prepared to spend an hour or more before each class. Homework assignments throughout the semester should help facilitate class discussion.

Texts:

• Applied Social and Political Philosophy. Elizabeth Smith and H. Gene Blocker, editors. This book is available at the Bookstore.

• Additional readings will shortly be made available.

Requirements and Grades:

Attendance is expected. More than three unexcused absences will affect final grades. Participation in class discussion will be worth 10% of the final grade.

Exams:

There will be one in-class mid-term exam, worth 25% of the final grade. There will also be a final exam, held on the last day of class, worth 35% of the final grade.

Paper:

Students will write a 5-7 page essay, worth 30% of the final grade.

Given the importance of the paper to the final grade, students are encouraged to see me with drafts and outlines before handing in a final version.

The KU Writing Center encourages instructors to copy the following paragraph

into their course syllabi:

Most colleges and universities have a writing center, a place for students to

talk about their writing with trained peer consultants. At KU, we call our student writing centers Writer's Roosts. When you visit, bring your work in progress and an idea of what you would like to work on--organization, support, documentation, editing, etc. The Roosts are open in several different locations across campus; check the website at www.writing.ku.edu for current locations and hours. The Roosts welcome both drop-ins and appointments, and there is no charge for this service. For more information, please call 864-2399 or send e-mail to writing@ku.edu.

Etc.:

• Academic misconduct will not be tolerated

(see http://www.ku.edu/~handbook/codes.html#Academic Misconduct).

• Makeup exams and late papers will be awarded full credit only upon demonstrated need (i.e., through proof of illness or emergency). Otherwise, 10% will be deducted.

Plato (3-34)	Dworkin (308-313) (“Liberty and Pornography”)
Hobbes (51-61)	Plato's Crito (online)
Locke (61-76)	King (online) (“Letter from Birmingham Jail”)
Mill (115-140)	Frey (375-381) (on animal rights)
Marx (153-155); Engels (156-164)	Regan (382-395) (“The Moral Basis of Vegetarianism”)
Marx & Engels (165-169)	Mosley (431-438) (“In Defense of Affirmative Action”)
Rawls (194-210)	affirmative action (readings to be announced) (US Supreme Court opinions on the University of Michigan’s affirmative action policy (Grutter v. Bollinger))
Nozick (210-219)	Hardin (452-456) (“The Case Against Helping the Poor”)
MacKinnon (304-308) (“Pornography and Rights of Women.”)	Singer (456-465) (“The Famine Relief Argument”)
	Walzer (on line) (from Just and Unjust Wars)