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SYLLABUS
PHILOSOPHY 122 – POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
FALL 05
INSTRUCTOR: Clifford Anderson
OFFICE: Mendocino 3018
PHONE: 278-7289 (Leave message)
EMAIL: [email protected]
OFFICE HOURS: M 3-4, TR 12:30-1:30 and by appointment
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: A critical evaluation of different political ideals such as:
classical liberalism, welfare state liberalism, and socialism. 3 units. This course is
included in Area C4 of the GE program.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Political philosophy is that branch of ethics or moral
philosophy that tells us what the state should do, assuming that the state has a legitimate
monopoly of force in society. One necessary condition of state legitimacy and, in the
opinion of many, its most important function, is ensuring social justice. We will look at
two competing perspectives on social justice and what a state can legitimately do to bring
about social justice. Robert Nozicks’ Anarchy, State and Utopia is a spirited defense of
libertarianism. It is probably the most philosophically coherent defense available of the
idea of a minimal state whose sole function is the defense of people’s basic natural rights.
John Rawls’ A Theory of Justice has become a modern classic of political philosophy.
Rawls argues that justice calls for a much more egalitarian society than libertarians would
countenance and a correspondingly greater role for the state than the mere protection of
basic rights. By looking at these two very well-developed but competing accounts of
social justice, both of which are reflected in the politics of our day, the student’s
understanding of where the country ought to be heading should be considerably
improved.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING SYSTEM:
- Three take-home writing assignments on the readings and class discussion. These will
consist of a series of questions calling for short answers. 75%
- One paper (5-10 pages) on a specific topic addressed in the readings. Due towards the
end of the semester (exact date will be fixed later). 20%
- Attendance and class participation. 5%
TEXTS: Robert Nozick, Anarchy, State and Utopia
John Rawls, A Theory of Justice
ORDER OF READINGS:
Nozick:
Weeks 1 and 2: State-of-Nature Theory. Chapters 1 and 2
Morality as a set of side constraints on conduct, Chapter 3
Weeks 3 and 4: The libertarian minimal state, Chapters 5 and 6
Weeks 5 and 6: The entitlement theory of justice. How liberty gets in the way of
egalitarian efforts to redistribute wealth, Chapter 7, Part I
Week 7: Further thoughts on equality and exploitation, Chapter 8
Rawls:
Week 8: Different approaches to justice, kantian and utilitarian, Chapter I
Weeks 9 and 10: The two principles of justice. Why justice requires more than
Equality of opportunity, Chapter II
Week 11: Proof of the two principles; the Original Position, Chapter III
Week 12: Objections to Rawls’ theory, Nozick, Chapter 7, Part II
Week13: Some practical implications of Rawls’ theory, Chapters IV and V
Weeks 14 and 15: Reasons for thinking Rawls’ conception of justice is realistic, not
Utopian. Chapters VI-IX