Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2020 - PHIL 320 D100

Social and Political Philosophy (3)

Class Number: 4942

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 11 – Aug 10, 2020: Wed, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    One of PHIL 120W (or equivalent), 121, 220, 221 or ENV 320W.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An examination of an issue or selection of issues in social and political philosophy. Contemporary or historical readings or a mixture of these will be used. Possible topics include: justice, the law and legal systems, sovereignty, power and authority, democracy, liberty and equality. Sometimes the course will focus on the views of historically important political philosophers, such as Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, Bentham, Mill and Marx.

COURSE DETAILS:

The social contract is a turning point of justification by which social order and social institutions are determined by a political community rather by divine right. The concept of a social contract does this by articulating the ways in which persons may have, and for what reasons, entered a civil society. In this latter usage, the idea of social contract captures the ways in which institutional arrangements are just or legitimate by appeal to the agreement of the members of a community.

As a survey course we will trace the history of an idea and we will seek to understand why the idea has generated such a wealth of critical discussion. We begin with Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, moving on to contemporary social contract theorists Robert Nozick and John Rawls. We will find the social contract used to justify liberal arrangements as diverse as the egalitarian liberalism of John Rawls to the Libertarian liberalism of Robert Nozick. We will then undergo a survey of various critiques of the notion of a social contract and of the tradition as well, paying special attention to Feminist and Race based critiques.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

1. Recognizing key concepts, articulating their meaning and placing them in their appropriate context

2. Identifying key arguments placing them in their appropriate context with respect to authorship

3. Presenting formally, the relevant arguments that we consider in class in premise to conclusion format

4. Articulating the key themes found within the class in a well structured essay

5. Critically analyzing and criticizing various arguments for soundness and validity

6. Critically comparing various theories showing their strengths and weaknesses and critically extending arguments to novel cases and problems not found within the text



PHIL 320 may be applied towards the Certificate in Ethics and the Concentration in Law and Philosophy. 

 

Grading

  • One Essay 35%
  • Take home Midterm 25%
  • Take Home Final Exam 35%
  • Participation (measured in terms of three online reflection assignments) 5%

REQUIREMENTS:

This course occurs asynchronously. I will provide lectures via canvas (i.e. voice over powerpoint slides) that the student can access at their leisure. It will be necessary that the student have a computer and a reliable internet connection (dial-up or high speed modem suffice) to download lectures; submit assignments; and complete reflection assignments to satisfy participation requirements (done via canvas as well). Thus access to canvas will be crucial for completion of the course.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

It will be necessary that the student have a computer and a reliable internet connection (dial-up or high speed modem suffice) to download lectures; submit assignments; and complete reflection assignments to satisfy participation requirements (done via canvas as well). Thus access to canvas will be crucial for completion of the course.

REQUIRED READING:

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, ed. by Edwin Curley, Hackett, 1994.

John Locke, Two Treatises of Government, student edition, Cambridge Press, 1998.

Jean-Jacque Rousseau, The Basic Political Writings, Translated by Donald A. Cress, Hackett, 1987.

Charles Mills, The Racial Contract, Cornell University Press, 1999.

Carole Pateman, The Sexual Contract, Stanford University Press, 1988.

The Hume, Rawls and Nozick readings will be on reserve at the library or accessible via the library website.

The Readings will be available in electronic format via the book store or directly from vital source. Some of the readings I will provide via canvas (Rawls and Nozick).  The readings from Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hume are available in the public domain so one has a choice of purchasing an electronic copy with the same published version I will use (Hacket) or use the versions online. The publishers in those case are different from the publisher of the versions I will use, but that should will not make a difference in understanding and communicating the ideas.


Department Undergraduate Notes:

Thinking of a Philosophy Major or Minor? The Concentration in Law and Philosophy? The Certificate in Ethics? The Philosophy and Methodology of Science Certificate?
Contact the PHIL Advisor at philmgr@sfu.ca   More details on our website: SFU Philosophy

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SUMMER 2020

Please note that all teaching at SFU in summer term 2020 will be conducted through remote methods. Enrollment in this course acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.