SOCIAL & POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy 320

Fall 2024 Syllabus

Section 001
CRN: 11631
WI/Social & Political Phil

Hyflex face to face instruction

MW 3:00 — 4:15 PM
Edith Kanakaʻole Hall 122

Section 002
CRN: 11632
WI/Social & Political Phil

Hyflex online instruction

MW 3:00 — 4:15 PM
Zoom

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

CATALOGUE COURSE DESCRIPTION

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.

REQUIRED TEXT

Political Thought, Michael Rosen & Jonathan Wolff. eds. Oxford University Press, 1999.

COURSE CONTENT

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.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

[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 Social and Political philosophy.

COURSE FORMAT

Classroom sessions will be both lecture and discussion.

CLASSROOM POLICIES

Section 001
CRN: 11631
Hyflex face to face instruction

* 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.
* Active cellular telephones or paging devices are not permitted in class.
* No consumption of food is allowed during the class period.

Section 002
CRN: 11632
Hyflex online instruction

* Students are expected to join Zoom class on time with cameras on.
* Students are expected to make sure there are no visual or auditory distractions during zoom sessions.

GRADING

This is a writing-intensive course. The final grade will be based on the following:
1) 10% Attendance & Participation
2) 40% 5 of 7 Short essay assignments (2-3 pages each)
3) 50% Final Paper Assignment (6-10 page essay)

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

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