Fall 2019 Syllabus
Section 001
CRN: 11424
MWF 12:00 — 12:50 PM
Edith Kanakaʻole Hall 122
Dr. Timothy J. Freeman
The University of Hawaii at Hilo
Edith Kanaka‘ole Hall 212
office: 932-7479; cell: 345-5231
freeman@hawaii.edu
Office Hours: MWF 1:00-2:00 PM
and by appointment
Phil 320 Social & Political Philosophy
Good and right applied to economic, political, and religious establishments; obligation, freedom of dissent, capital punishment, violence, rights, revolution, and war. Pre: previous work in philosophy. Recommended: PHIL 220.
Political Thought, Michael Rosen & Jonathan Wolff. eds. Oxford University Press, 1999.
This course will provide a survey of some of the issues and problems of social and political philosophy. Students will study the writings of Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Marx, Mill, Thoreau, Nietzsche and others. Students will consider how philosophers have thought about such issues as justice, liberty and rights, the distribution of wealth, civil disobedience, peace and war. The course will focus on the development of philosophical liberalism in the European Enlightenment, examining both the ideals and assumptions, as well as the challenges, to liberal democracy today.
[Philosophy courses for GE purposes]: (As with all Philosophy courses) Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
●respond clearly, logically and critically to examination questions and discussion questions about some important philosophical issues relevant to the course;
●read, comprehend, and discuss philosophical texts relevant to the course;
●compose effective written materials that assimilate, synthesize and reflect on course information;
●identify and describe in writing and in class discussion some important aspects of the cultural heritage and contributions of Western philosophy.
Classroom sessions will be both lecture and discussion.
* All students are expected to come to class on time and to bring their books as well as paper and pen suitable for taking notes of class lectures.
* No laptop computers are to be used during class time.
* Active cellular telephones or paging devices are not permitted in class.
* No consumption of food is allowed during the class period.
The final grade will be based on the following:
1) Attendance & classroom participation (10%)
2) Two take home mid-term essay exams (20% each)
3) Final Essay Class Presentation (10%)
4) Final Essay Term Paper (40%)
Grading will be determined according to the following scale:
A 95-100 Excellent
A - 90-94
B + 87-89
B 84-86 Good
B - 80-83
C + 77-79
C 74-76 Satisfactory
C - 70-73 Poor
D 60-70 Failure
F below 60
Advising is a very important resource designed to help students complete the requirements of the University and their individual majors. Students should consult with their advisor at least once a semester to decide on courses, check progress towards graduation, and discuss career options and other educational opportunities provided by UH Hilo. Advising is a shared responsibility, but students have final responsibility for meeting degree requirements. By the 4th week of instruction students can look at their STAR to look up who their assigned advisor(s) are.
As stated in the UH Hilo General Catalog and in the Student Conduct Code, plagiarism and cheating are forms of academic dishonesty. In other words, do your own work; all work presented as yours should be your own work. Academic dishonesty will have serious consequences! The University of Hawai'i at Hilo Student Code of Conduct available at the following URL:
http://hilo.hawaii.edu/catalog/student-conduct-code.html
Kilohana: The Academic Success Center provides a range of free, drop-in academic services and resources to all currently enrolled UH Hilo students. Services include access to peer student staff from a range of academic majors, course related resources (handouts, practice exams, etc.) PC desktops with subject specific software, and study environments for individuals and small groups. Please check the Kilohana website at https://hilo.hawaii.edu/kilohana/ for information, locations, and contact phone numbers for our various Centers on campus. You can also call 932-7287 (Karla Hayashi) or 932-7294 (Lindsay Heller) for more information.
Any student with a documented disability who would like to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Office - Student Services Center E230, 932-7623 (V), 932-7002 (TTY), uds@hawaii.edu - as early in the semester as possible.
The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo prohibits discrimination in its education programs based on race, national origin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or associational preference. If at any time during class you feel uncomfortable about what is being talked about, or feel that your human rights have been violated, please feel free to leave the room. However, I ask that you confer with me as soon as possible about what happened so that appropriate action can be taken if necessary to avoid future problems. If you are uncomfortable speaking with me about your concern, please contact Jennifer Stotter (jstotter@hawaii.edu), EEO/AA Director, at 932-7641.
The UH Hilo community is committed to and cares about all students. Life at college can get complicated. Students sometimes feel overwhelmed, lost, experience anxiety or depression, struggle with relationship difficulties, family responsibilities, or diminished self-esteem. However, supportive services are available and effective. UH Hilo Counseling Services helps undergraduate and graduate students cope with difficult emotions and life stressors. Counseling Services is staffed by experienced, professional counselors, who are attuned to the diverse needs of all types of college students. The services are FREE and completely confidential. Find out more at https://hilo.hawaii.edu/studentaffairs/counseling or by calling (808) 932-7465.
For immediate help, contact The Crisis Line of Hawaii 1-800-753-6879, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255 (suicidepreventionlifeline.org), or text “Aloha” or “Hello” to the Crisis Text Line 741-741.
The University of Hawaii is committed to providing a learning, working and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect and is free of all forms of sex discrimination and gender-based violence, including sexual assault, sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these, the University has staff and resources on your campus to support and assist you. Staff can also direct you to resources that are in the community. Here are some of your options:
If you wish to remain ANONYMOUS, speak with someone CONFIDENTIALLY, or would like to receive information and support in a CONFIDENTIAL setting, contact:
UH Hilo Counseling Services: SSC, room E-203, 932-7465.
UH Hilo Medical Services: Campus Center, room 212, 932-7369
Hawaii Island YWCA, 935-0677
If you wish to REPORT an incident of sex discrimination or gender-based violence including sexual assault, sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking as well as receive information and support*, contact:
Libby Bailey, Title IX Coordinator: 932-7818 libby.bailey@hawaii.edu
Jennifer Stotter, Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity & Deputy Title IX Coordinator: 932-7641 jstotter@hawaii.edu
Kalei Rapoza, Interim Director of Human Resources, 932-7626 kaleihii@hawaii.edu
* Please note that you do not have to file a report with the University to receive institutional support or assistance.
As a member of the University faculty, I am required to immediately report any incident of sex discrimination or gender-based violence to the campus Title IX Coordinator. Although the Title IX Coordinator and I cannot guarantee confidentiality, you will still have options about how your case will be handled. My goal is to make sure you are aware of the range of options available to you and have access to the resources and support you need.
For more information regarding sex discrimination and gender- based violence, the University’s Title IX resources and the University’s Policy, Interim EP 1.204, go to: http://www.hawaii.edu/titleix.
UH Hilo provides confidential assistance for victims of sexual assault. Counseling Services on— campus and the YWCA Sexual Support Services off — campus offer guidance regarding medical assistance and emotional help and can discuss options for reporting sexual assaults to law enforcement. All conversations are private and confidential. See UH Hilo’ s Sexual Assault Policy: http://hilo.hawaii.edu/uhh/vcsa/documents/UHHSexualAssaultPolicy.pdf
For assistance during the day, contact UH Hilo Counseling Services at 808.932.7465; or, after hours and on weekends, contact the YWCA Sexual Assault Support Services at (808) 935-0677.
Plato
Detail from The School of Athens, Raphael, 1509-1511
Course Introduction & Orientation
"Ode to Man" from Sophocles' Antigone
The Question of Justice
δικαιοσύνη
dikaiosyne
Plato: The Apology
Plato: The Republic
Notes on The Republic
Aristotle
Detail from The School of Athens, Raphael, 1509-1511
*Holiday—Labor Day*
**September 03: Last Day to Withdraw without Owing Tuition**
The Question of Human Nature
Rosen & Wolff ( 7-51)
Thomas Hobbes
(1588-1679)
What is the State?
The Social Contract
Rosen & Wolff (52-65)
**No Class—PACT Conference**
John Locke
(1632-1704)
**No Class—PACT Conference**
**September 17: Last Day to Withdraw without a "W"**
Locke on Property (Chapter 5 of the 2nd Treatise)
Against the Social Contract
Rosen & Wolff (66-72)
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
(1712-1778)
Rousseau
Selections from
The Social Contract
The General Will
Rosen & Wolff (96-97)
The Anarchist Response
Rosen & Wolff (73-77)
1st Mid-Term Exam
(Due Monday, September 30)
James Madison
(1751-1836)
Against Democracy, Democratic Ideals
True and False Democracy
John Adams on Government
Rosen & Wolff (89-95)
Dangers in Democracy, Democracy and Bureaucracy
Rosen & Wolff (106-118)
The Separation of Powers
Rosen & Wolff (106-118)
John Stuart Mill
(1806-1873)
Mill
Selections from On Liberty
What is Liberty?
Rosen & Wolff (119-132)
Law and Morality
Rosen & Wolff (133-134)
Toleration and Free Expression
Rosen & Wolff (142-154)
Rights
Rosen & Wolff (172-180)
Adam Smith
(1723-1790)
Private Property
Rosen & Wolff (187-213)
Adam Smith: Selections from The Wealth of Nations
The Market
Rosen & Wolff (214-223)
Karl Marx
Marx: Estranged Labor
Theories of Distributive Justice
Rosen & Wolff (224-254)
Karl Marx
(1818-1883)
Liberal Theory under Strain, Conservatism, Communitarianism
Rosen & Wolff (319-344)
Socialism
Rosen & Wolff (345-358)
Film: The Young Karl Marx
Friedrich Nietzsche
(1844-1900)
Post-Modernism
Selections from Nietzsche
Rosen & Wolff (359-365)
Foucault
Post-Modernism
Rosen & Wolff (359-365)
Gianni Vattimo
Selections from Nihilism & Emancipation
2nd Mid-term Assignment
(Due Wednesday, November 13)
Immanuel Kant
(1724-1804)
Kant
Toward Perpetual Peace
Peace and War
Rosen & Wolff (257–266)
**November 04: Last Day to Withdraw with "W"**
Henry David Thoreau
(1817-1862)
*Holiday—Veteran's Day*
Thoreau: On the Duty of Civil Disobedience
Civil Disobedience
Rosen & Wolff (78-88)
Martin Luther King Jr.:
Letter from a Birmingham Jail
Peter Singer
(1946-)
Capital Punishment
Death and Justice essay by Edward Koch
The Death Penalty essay by David Bruck
Speech by Illinois Gov. George Ryan
Rosen & Wolff (181-186)
Peter Singer
Famine, Affluence, and Morality
International Justice
Rosen & Wolff (300-318)
The Hōkūleʻa at Sea
Intergenerational Justice
Rosen & Wolff (292-299)
Climate Change and The Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage of the Hōkūleʻa
Introduction: This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs The Climate
Chapter 2: This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs The Climate
*Non-Instruction Day*
Lunar Eclipse Rising over the Shadow of Maunakea
Photo by Tim Freeman
Conflict on Maunakea
Discussion
Conflict on Maunakea
Discussion
Enclosed Wheat Field with Rising Sun
Vincent Van Gogh, Saint-Rémy, 1889
Final Essay Presentations
Final Essay Presentations
Final Term Paper Assignment
(Due Monday, December 16, 1:50 PM)
Course Evaluation
(Open Nov 25, 2019 - Dec 12, 2019)
**Schedule is subject to revision**