Ramapo College of New Jersey
School of Social Science
Spring, 2005
MMET 235 History of Social Thought Mr. Frundt Office G131
Office Hours: TF 11:30-1:00 Office Phone: 529-7583 email: hfrundt@ramapo.edu
Objective: The purpose of this course is to become immersed in ideas and
writings of notable thinkers who influenced the development of the U.S. as a
society. We will discover that the controversies that they addressed,
especially those concerning the rights of individuals and communities, created
the basis for many protections we enjoy today. However, they also allowed the exclusion of certain groups
such as women, indigenous people and people of color. With the advent of “neo-terrorism” in the last several
years, we also have witnessed how political leaders appeal to these same
thinkers to challenge civil protections and promote war. This has motivated new thinkers
to respond with fresh ideas that may or may not guide us into the future.
Required Readings
Mitchell Cohen and Nicole Fermon, eds. Princeton Readings in Political Thought. Princeton, 1996. = PR
Angela Davis, Women, Race & Class. NewYork: Random House, 1982
Benjamin Barber, Fear’s Empire. New York: W.W. Norton, 2003
Schedule of Topics
Feb. 2: Introduction: What is Social Thought?
Early Beginnings: Egyptian Wisdom Literature
The Code of Hammurabi
A Just Social Covenant
The Book of Exodus, Chaps. 1-24; 31-34f
The Book of Isaiah, Chaps. 1-11; 28-39
Thucydides, “Pericles’ Futeral Oration” PR 13-18
Orlando Patterson, “The Speech Misheard Round the World” (handout)
Feb. 9: Classical Political Thought
Readings: Introduction, PR 1-12
Plato, "The Republic" PR 39-107
Aristotle, "The Politics" PR 107-124
Feb. 16: Christianity and The Middle Ages
Readings: "New Testament" handout
Introduction, PR 127-132
Augustine, "City of God" PR 133-143
Aquinas, "Politics and Law" PR 144-152
Barber, Chap. 1 “Eagles and Owls,” 53-65
de Pizan, "The Book of the City of Ladies" PR 153-159
Feb. 23: The beginnings of the Modern State
Readings: Introduction, PR 159-166
Machiavelli, "The Prince," PR 167-187
Hobbes, "Leviathan," PR 205-242
Barber, Chap. 3, “War of All against All,” 85-96
Mar. 2: Individual vs. General Rights
Readings: Locke, "Second Treatise of Government," PR 243-280
Rosseau, "On the Social Contract," PR 280- 292
Oct. 9: Economic and Political Rights
Readings: Smith, "The Wealth of Nations," PR 314-334
Mill, "On Liberty," PR 375-387
Review
Mar. 16: Mid Term Exam
Begin American and French Revolutionaries (see Mar.30 below)
Mar. 23 (spring break)
Mar. 30: American and French Revolutionaries
Readings: Publius, "The Federalist Papers," PR, 335- 346
Jefferson, "The Declaration," (handout)
"Declaration of the Rights of Man," PR,347-8
Burke, "Reflections on the Revolution," PR 349-356
de Tocqueville, "Democracy in America," PR 398-424
Barber, Chap. 2, “The Myth of Independence,” 65-84
Apr. 6: The Anti-Capitalist Critique
Readings: Marx, various, PR 435-466 as assigned
Fanon, "The Wretched of the Earth," PR 615- 622
Marcel Mauss, (handout)
Apr. 13: The Rights of Women
Readings: de Gouges, "Declaration," PR 356-361
Wollstonecraft, "A Vindication," PR 362-370
(Mill), "On the Subjection of Women," PR 388- 398
"Declaration of Seneca Falls" (handout)
Apr. 20: Gender, Race and Class
Readings: Angela Davis, Chaps. 1-7 on slavery, women’s rights
and
sufferage, 1-126
Apr. 27: Gender, Race, Class and War
Readings: Angela Davis, Chaps 8-13 as assigned.
Barber, Chaps. 4-5, 96-162
May 4: Lex Humana
Readings: Barber, Chaps. 6-9 on exporting preventive democracy, 163-239
May 11: Student Reports, Party and Review
May 18: Final Exam
Course Requirements
1. Your own engagement with the readings constitutes the most important element of this course. This will require a special effort on your part, since the readings are sometimes difficult and they demand your full concentration. I suggest the following:
a. skim over the entire reading, and jot down key ideas and questions,
b. then go back and read more carefully to fill in these ideas and their complications
c. prepare for a possible quiz on the material
d. re-read the passages I suggest are most important. Read them both before and after the class session
e. go over the text and class discussion with friends in a study group
f. make a list of specific difficulties, and then set up an appointment with
the professor to talk about them
2. Attendance: your presence and participation are
essential if you are to understand the historical development of each of the
key ideas. You are allowed one unexcused absence. Additional
absences risk failure in the course. Class participation constitutes 13% of
your grade.
3. Exams: There will be a mid-term and final exam. Each
exam will include two essay questions and some multiple choice or brief answer
questions. Each exam is worth 20% of your grade.
4. Papers: Two papers are required, each worth 20% of your grade:
A. One 6-7 page paper comparing two works of social thought. Possible comparisons could be between:
-Plato's "Republic" and Aristotle's "Politics"
-Machiavelli's "Prince" and Hobbes' "Leviathan"
-Locke's "Second Treatise" and Rousseau's "Social Contract"
-Mary Wollstonecraft's "Vindication" and Mill's "Subjection"
Angela Davis and the women suffragettes
-Washington's "Atlanta Exposition" etc. and DuBois' "Parting of the Ways"
(This choice on African-American thinkers requires outside reading)
You can also make a comparison between one of the writers examined in class, and one from the contemporary period (see Part Four, PR, pp. 491-740 for examples). Contact the professor for advice on pursuing this choice.
Please follow the following schedule:
-choice of topic: Feb. 9
-outline : e-mailed by 10:00 AM, Feb. 16
-final copy : Mar. 9
B. One 5 page paper on war and liberty, i.e. how decisions to pursue war reduces human rights of both those attacking and those attacked. This paper should be an integration of points raised by Barber with other thinkers such as: Isaiah, Thucydides, Augustine, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Rosseau, Burke, Mill, Marx, Arendt, Orwell, King.
-choice of topic: Mar 30
-final copy : Apr 27 (please
avoid a conflict with your reading and group presentation; i.e. allow time for
all your work to be completed)
5. group report, 7% of your grade.
Groups will examine and discuss points raised by Angela Davis on women and
race; or on Benjamin Barber on war and liberty. They will present oral reports
beginning April 20th, with each person responsible for a one-page summary of a
key aspect.
Note: If you need course adaptation or accommodations because of a documented disability, please make an appointment or see the professor during his office hours. He would be happy to discuss any special needs with you.