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Information about a university seminar in political theory focusing on international justice at the university of nevada, las vegas (unlv) during the fall 2009 semester. The course, psc 771, is taught by professor fott and covers topics such as the nature of justice, natural law, and the relationship between war, peace, and human law. Students will read works by thucydides, augustine, thomas aquinas, niccolò machiavelli, hugo grotius, and immanuel kant, among others. Assignments include short and long papers, and participation in class discussions. The document also includes important dates, required and additional readings, and university policies.
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PSC 771: Seminar in Political Theory Fall 2009 W 2:30-5:20 p.m., WRI B224 Professor Fott
Office: WRI B217; 895- Office hours: TuTh 3:00-4:30 p.m., or by appointment E-mail: dfott@unlv.nevada.edu
This course is the proseminar in political theory. The theme will be international justice. Does might make right, or is there some other standard of justice? Does natural law exist? To what extent may war and peace be comprehended in human law? We will study those questions among others by reading some of the greatest political thinkers.
Required Readings:
The following books have been ordered for purchase:
Thucydides. The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War. Edited by Robert B. Strassler. Touchstone, 1998. Augustine. Political Writings. Edited by Ernest L. Fortin and Douglas Kries. Translated by Michael W. Tkacz and Douglas Kries. Hackett, 1994. Thomas Aquinas. On Law, Morality, and Politics. Edited by William P. Baumgarth and Richard J. Regan. 2nd ed. Hackett, 2003. Niccolò Machiavelli. The Prince. Translated by Harvey C. Mansfield. 2nd ed. Univ. of Chicago Press,
Hugo Grotius. The Rights of War and Peace. Edited by Richard Tuck. 3 vols. Liberty Fund, 2005. Immanuel Kant. “Toward Perpetual Peace” and Other Writings on Politics, Peace, and History. Edited by Pauline Kleingeld. Translated by David L. Colclasure. Yale Univ. Press, 2006.
Additional readings (marked *) will be available on electronic reserve through the library.
Schedule of Topics:
August 26 Introduction September 2 Thucydides, bk. 1 September 9 Thucydides, bk. 2; paper #1 due September 16 Thucydides, bks. 3- September 23 Thucydides, bks. 5- September 30 Thucydides, bks. 7- October 7 *Cicero, On the Republic , On the Laws , and selections from On Duties ; paper #2 due October 14 The previous week continued October 21 Augustine, pp. 16-21, 30-32, 42-44, 112-13, 140-63, 202-29; Thomas Aquinas, pp. 10-22, 28, 30-34, 42-55, 61-75, 93-95, 97-123, 164-67, 188- October 28 Machiavelli, entire November 4 Grotius, pp. 75-189, 195-97, 240-77, 293-307, 335 November 11 No class (Veterans Day recess)
November 18 Grotius, pp. 336-83, 389-91, 393-97, 408, 417, 420-27, 454-58, 508-23, 556-61, 634- 36, 685-89, 699-704, 736-41, 802-11, 817-20, 949-59, 991-92, 1021-25, 1041-44, 1096-1102, 1105-6, 1185-87, 1231-35, 1246-47, 1252- November 25 Kant, pp. 3-16, 37-41, 44-109, 139- December 2 *Morgenthau, selections from Politics among Nations ; *Waltz, selections from Man, the State, and War ; *other readings to be announced; long paper due
Assignments:
Written assignments include a short paper of 2 pages (paper #1) on a topic to be assigned (worth 10% of your final grade), a short paper of 5 to 6 pages (paper #2) on a topic to be assigned (worth 25%), and a long paper of 15 to 20 pages (worth 50%). For the long paper you may write on a topic assigned by me or on a topic of your choice, with my prior approval no later than October 21. Your participation in the discussions will count for 15% of your final grade. You must complete all written assignments in order to pass the course. Your grade will be reduced if you have more than one unexcused absence; lateness normally counts as an absence. Extensions for submitting papers will be granted only in cases of emergency (e.g., personal illness, preferably with a note from a doctor; serious illness in one’s family). The grade on a paper will be reduced by one increment for each day the paper is late without an approved extension (e.g., a paper of B+ quality will receive a B if it is one day late; a paper of A quality will receive an A-/B+ if it is two days late).
Other Information:
The university requires all members of the university community to follow copyright and fair use requirements. You are individually and solely responsible for violations of copyright and fair use laws. The university will neither protect nor defend you nor assume any responsibility for violations of fair use laws. Violations of copyright laws could subject you to federal and state civil penalties and criminal liability as well as disciplinary action under university policies. To familiarize yourself with copyright and fair use policies, the university encourages you to visit http://www.unlv.edu/committees/copyright/. Any academic dishonesty will make a student liable to failure of the course. The academic misconduct policy for students may be reviewed at http://studentlife.unlv.edu/judicial/misconductPolicy.html. By UNLV policy for the sake of students’ privacy, faculty should send e-mail to students only via students’ Rebelmail accounts. Please use that account to send me e-mail. If you use another account I will use my discretion in deciding whether to respond. For information see http://rebelmail.unlv.edu/. If you have a documented disability that may require assistance, you should contact the Disability Resource Center for coordination of services. The center is located in the Student Services Complex, room 137. The telephone number is 895-0866 (TDD 895-0652). For more information see http://studentlife.unlv.edu/disability/. For UNLV policy on religious holidays see http://catalog.unlv.acalog.com/content.php?catoid=1&navoid=44&bc=1.