political theory
PLSC 300B: Liberation Theology
Professor Sanchez
MWF 2:45pm / LSC
This course will provide an understanding of liberation theology as a social movement as well as the Vatican's reaction to this radical variant of Catholic social thought. In addition to a political-sociological examination of the liberation theology movement in Latin America, we will consider Vatican statements concerning Catholic social doctrine that are both supportive and critical of the movement. We will also look at the case of El Salvador through the life of a Salvadoran priest who joined the guerrilla movement and after the civil war in the 1980s was elected three times to the country’s national legislature. At the end of this course, each student will understand the meaning of, the factors that gave rise to, the Vatican's criticisms of, and the successes and failures of liberation theology.
PLSC 302: American Political Thought
Mr. Whidden
T 4:15pm / LSC
In this course, we examine important debates concerning both democratic institutions and the meaning of liberty and equality from the Founding to the present. Such debates include whether America needed a national government and how the framers thought it could be kept from being oppressive; disputes about what political and economic conditions make American democracy possible; successive waves of controversies about whether voting rights should be expanded; about whether the Founder's Constitution was democratic; about whether it was pro or anti-slavery; about whether or not the national government should regulate the economy and provide welfare; about what the purposes of democratic representation are; whether separation of powers impedes democracy or helps make it possible; whether religion is indispensable for American democracy or a persistent political problem; what makes one a citizen; why law-abidingness might be particularly important in a democracy; and the relation of women to democratic government and society. Readings for the course feature many primary-source documents, which we carefully analyze and discuss together during our class sessions.
PLSC 306: Modern Political Thought
Mr. Yoksas
MWF 1:40pm / LSC
Political modernity began in a time of great change. It is a time of great war, great exploration, and great scientific investigation. In such a unique time, exciting new ideas about society, government, and leadership were proposed by some of the most brilliant minds in the history of political thought. This course shall delve into the ideas that shaped our political institutions. We will examine topics such as empire building, utopian societies, the rightful origins of government, the relationship between the individual and the state, the moral status of private property, limited government, the possibility of peace between nations, and how society transforms over time.
PLSC 308: Contemporary Political Thought
Ms. Snyderwine
Th 4:15pm / LSC
Why would a group, in order to achieve 'justice' or a more 'ideal' political order, legitimize the sacrifice of human rights or life itself? Compassion, tolerance, and protection of individual rights are casualties of tyrannical mass movements. The goals of the course are to compare the reflections of several contemporary philosophers on terrorism and genocide in an age of globalization in order to evaluate the inherent moral challenges for democracies in countering terrorism as well as the role of various individuals and groups in building ethical responses.
PLSC 313: Resistance & Obligation
Professor Mayer
MWF 10:25am / LSC
Is terrorism ever justified? On what grounds may subjects overthrow a government? When is civil disobedience a legitimate tactic of protest? These questions are all concerned with a fundamental issue in political theory: when, and how, we may disobey the commands of government. In this course we assess the legitimacy of violent and nonviolent methods of resistance through an examination of classical and contemporary texts. A range of views will be considered, from advocates of terrorism and assassination at one extreme, to those who insist that subjects must never actively resist at the other.
PLSC 373: Politics & Literature
Professor Engeman
TTh 10:00am / LSC
This course explores the unique relationship in our culture of literature as the judge and guide of American democracy. No other European people, to my knowledge, has had artists go beyond an exploration of civil society to the nature of the political regime itself. We will concentrate on the 19th and 20th century writers who proved the most effective school masters to the Republic: James Fenimore Cooper, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Mark Twain, Theodore Dreiser, Willa Cather, Ernest Hemingway, and Ralph Ellison.
PLSC 300B: Liberation Theology
Professor Sanchez
MWF 2:45pm / LSC
This course will provide an understanding of liberation theology as a social movement as well as the Vatican's reaction to this radical variant of Catholic social thought. In addition to a political-sociological examination of the liberation theology movement in Latin America, we will consider Vatican statements concerning Catholic social doctrine that are both supportive and critical of the movement. We will also look at the case of El Salvador through the life of a Salvadoran priest who joined the guerrilla movement and after the civil war in the 1980s was elected three times to the country’s national legislature. At the end of this course, each student will understand the meaning of, the factors that gave rise to, the Vatican's criticisms of, and the successes and failures of liberation theology.
PLSC 302: American Political Thought
Mr. Whidden
T 4:15pm / LSC
In this course, we examine important debates concerning both democratic institutions and the meaning of liberty and equality from the Founding to the present. Such debates include whether America needed a national government and how the framers thought it could be kept from being oppressive; disputes about what political and economic conditions make American democracy possible; successive waves of controversies about whether voting rights should be expanded; about whether the Founder's Constitution was democratic; about whether it was pro or anti-slavery; about whether or not the national government should regulate the economy and provide welfare; about what the purposes of democratic representation are; whether separation of powers impedes democracy or helps make it possible; whether religion is indispensable for American democracy or a persistent political problem; what makes one a citizen; why law-abidingness might be particularly important in a democracy; and the relation of women to democratic government and society. Readings for the course feature many primary-source documents, which we carefully analyze and discuss together during our class sessions.
PLSC 306: Modern Political Thought
Mr. Yoksas
MWF 1:40pm / LSC
Political modernity began in a time of great change. It is a time of great war, great exploration, and great scientific investigation. In such a unique time, exciting new ideas about society, government, and leadership were proposed by some of the most brilliant minds in the history of political thought. This course shall delve into the ideas that shaped our political institutions. We will examine topics such as empire building, utopian societies, the rightful origins of government, the relationship between the individual and the state, the moral status of private property, limited government, the possibility of peace between nations, and how society transforms over time.
PLSC 308: Contemporary Political Thought
Ms. Snyderwine
Th 4:15pm / LSC
Why would a group, in order to achieve 'justice' or a more 'ideal' political order, legitimize the sacrifice of human rights or life itself? Compassion, tolerance, and protection of individual rights are casualties of tyrannical mass movements. The goals of the course are to compare the reflections of several contemporary philosophers on terrorism and genocide in an age of globalization in order to evaluate the inherent moral challenges for democracies in countering terrorism as well as the role of various individuals and groups in building ethical responses.
PLSC 313: Resistance & Obligation
Professor Mayer
MWF 10:25am / LSC
Is terrorism ever justified? On what grounds may subjects overthrow a government? When is civil disobedience a legitimate tactic of protest? These questions are all concerned with a fundamental issue in political theory: when, and how, we may disobey the commands of government. In this course we assess the legitimacy of violent and nonviolent methods of resistance through an examination of classical and contemporary texts. A range of views will be considered, from advocates of terrorism and assassination at one extreme, to those who insist that subjects must never actively resist at the other.
PLSC 373: Politics & Literature
Professor Engeman
TTh 10:00am / LSC
This course explores the unique relationship in our culture of literature as the judge and guide of American democracy. No other European people, to my knowledge, has had artists go beyond an exploration of civil society to the nature of the political regime itself. We will concentrate on the 19th and 20th century writers who proved the most effective school masters to the Republic: James Fenimore Cooper, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Mark Twain, Theodore Dreiser, Willa Cather, Ernest Hemingway, and Ralph Ellison.