Is there a moral basis to politics?  If so, what is it?  In
this course, we will try to figure out the connection between
morality and politics by focusing on four central questions: 1) Why
obey the law?  2) What makes government legitimate?  3) Which
morality binds political actors?  4) Why disobey the law?  In
answering each question, we will move back and forth between two
kinds of sources.  First, we will look at some great works in
political philosophy and literature in order to see how great minds
have grappled with these same problems.  Second, we will look at the
real political problems these questions attempt to address.
Throughout the course, we will evaluate how well the canonical ideas
help us come to terms with some basic political problems.  We will
also have the chance to see how real political problems shape our
thinking about fundamental issues in political philosophy.
This course will combine formal lectures, Socratic enquiries,
and class discussions.  This means that the success of the class
will derive in large part from the participants’ own efforts.  In
other words, come to class prepared to participate!  On Mondays, we
will meet together to go over the big ideas covered that week.
Later in the week, students will meet in smaller, one hour workshops
in which they will have the opportunity to work with each other and
members of the teaching team on developing basic techniques for
successful reading, analysis, and writing in political theory.
To help integrate the readings over the course of the
semester, each student will do regular in-class writing assignments,
write several short essays, and take midterm and final examinations.