Introduction History of American Political Thought: Revolution to Progressive Era Political Science 565

Poli Sci 565 Professor Gomez – Office hours: M, 12:00-2:20, North Hall 416 – John Strand – – Office hours by appointment Course website: adamgomez.wordpress.com/teaching/polisci5 65FA13 2

Two Kinds of Liberty Ideal types, almost never encountered in pure form Negative – Liberty is having no masters Absence of constraint Positive – Liberty is being your own master Constraint can be used to help you act as you would if you had better understanding 3

Telos The end of a thing as a part of that thing – Example: acorns & oak trees Teleology (teleological) – Understanding a thing with its telos in mind – Linear movement toward the telos of a thing 4

Big Questions What is the appropriate balance between state and federal power? Is the United States a single nation or a confederation of states? Who is, and who can be, an American? What is an American? How can the legacies of slavery be addressed? What does it mean to be free? What does it mean to be equal? What counts as power? 5

Power & Freedom Self-rule Dominion Hierarchy & equality Nationalism & universal ideals 6