1. History of Political Thought Spring 2009 Prof. Fran Moran Department of Political Science

2. Contact Information Office:K-636 Hours: MW, 9-11 M 6 to 7 T 9 - 10 am Phone: 201-200-3259 Email: fmoran@njcu.edu Webpage: http://faculty.njcu.edu/f moran

3. Materials Ball, Terrence and Dagger Richard. 2009. Ideals and Ideologies. New York: Pearson/Longman

4. Objectives We will explore the evolution of Western political thought, from its roots in early Greek philosophy up through contemporary political discourse Ideas like justice, rights, democracy, equality will be investigated through the close reading of primary source documents

5. Objectives This is a General Studies Course, as such it is required to include: reading and writing, and the writing must be done out of class

6. Objectives In addition, it must address at least two of the following competencies: quantitative and computer literacy critical thinking/creative expression oral communication information gathering

7. Objectives In addition, it must address at least two of the following competencies: quantitative and computer literacy critical thinking/creative expression oral communication information gathering

8. Requirements Reaction Papers (60%) 5 total during the course of the semester Can only submit one per week Can submit more than 5, with best 5 counting towards the grade

9. Requirements Class Participation (15%) Regular attendance Constructive participation in class

10. Requirements Final Exam 11 May, 7 pm, K-114 Essay format Questions distributed prior to the exam

11. Why Political Theory? 1.Three Levels of Political Discourse 2.Politics of Justice 3.Justice as Politics

12. Justice Exercise Break into small groups (4-6 people) Aim: Develop some principles to determine who in the class should receive a free copy of the text book Don’t identify the specific person, but rather the procedures to be used to determine the identity of that person

13. I. 3 Levels of Political Debate Level 1 Provides answers to “Deep” questions concerning the basics of political life: For example: What is justice? Do rights exist?

14. I. 3 Levels of Political Debate Level 2 Supplies the content to the concepts agreed upon in Level One For example : If rights exist, what rights do we possess?

15. I. 3 Levels of Political Debate Level 3 Identifies the specific applications of the content agreed to in Level 2 For example: If we have right to practice any religion we choose, can I open the First Church of the Holy Herb?

16. I. 3 Levels of Political Debate Level One Level Three Level Two

17. I. 3 Levels of Political Debate Level One Level Three Level Two

18. I. 3 Levels of Political Debate Level One Level Three Level Two

19. I. 3 Levels of Political Debate Level One Level Three Level Two Which raises the question …

20. I. 3 Levels of Political Debate Level One Level Three Level Two How do we reach agreement at each of these levels?

21. I. 3 Levels of Political Debate Level One Level Three Level Two Persuasion? For example: Slavery? American independence?

22. I. 3 Levels of Political Debate Level One Level Three Level Two Persuasion?Coercion!

23. II. Politics of Justice Which view eventually triumphs will be a function of political might rather than of philosophical rigor. Political “might” or “coercion” need not rest entirely on physical force Other sources of coercion?

24. II. Politics of Justice Political Power has a variety of components: Physical power Economic power Psychological power

25. II. Politics of Justice In a domestic political context, psychological power is likely the most important and most powerful But in an international context, it is the least powerful Psychological power rests on agreements at Level One and Level Two

26. II. Politics of Justice In our search for international justice, economic and military power become the main tools to coerce compliance to a given standard of justice For example: Iraq & WMD Iran & Nukes

27. II. Politics of Justice Survey different political systems at different historical periods we see different theories of justice at work

28. II. Politics of Justice If justice had an objective basis – that is, if our understanding of justice could be separated from a political context – we should by now see similar conceptions of justice adopted and applied

29. II. Politics of Justice Whatever international norms that may exist, owe their existence to political might United Nations? International Law? Human Rights?

30. II. Politics of Justice For Example: Al-Qaeda vs. The U.S. Each group articulates a coherent theory of justice Each theory of justice is at odds with the other Resolution of the dispute…

31. II. Politics of Justice

33. Bush and bin-Laden did not debate the virtues of American liberalism vs. those of Islamic fundamentalism

34. II. Politics of Justice They could not debate because they did not share a common political language In the absence of that shared vocabulary, politics takes precedence over rhetoric or rationality

35. III. Justice as Politics What implications follow from this understanding of justice? That is, if justice is a function of politics, does that mean that justice as such no longer exists or loses its power? Can we no longer condemn acts that violate our understanding of justice?

36. III. Justice as Politics Short answer, no Our failure to arrive at an objective standard for our normative claims – to settle Level One and Level Two issues – is not necessarily catastrophic

37. III. Justice as Politics We need to appreciate justice – the rules of our political life – the same way we appreciate the rules of baseball

38. III. Justice as Politics Politics and our political institutions function like the baseball establishment: That is, they provide the rules by which the game should be played and they have the power to enforce compliance

39. III. Justice as Politics When groups seek to challenge our political rules – whether they be criminals, terrorists, or other governments, we may use the political resources we have to enforce and defend those rules …

40. III. Justice as Politics

41. IV. Conclusion In The Politics, Aristotle defines the human species as the zoon politikon or the political animal Too often we focus on the noun and forget the adjective

42. IV. Conclusion We are political animals. While we may lack a transcendent basis for our moral and political beliefs, we do have a forum for defining those beliefs and the institutions for enforcing deviation and defection from those beliefs

43. IV. Conclusion We may condemn from a variety of moral perspectives those social and political practices we find objectionable, But…

44. IV. Conclusion Those practices won’t change unless and until our condemnations inspire political action

45. Conclusion And it is political ideas that motivate people to political action By studying the history of political thought, we are studying the history of politics