HONORS 210: Sophomore Honors Seminar I:

Great Ideas That Have Changed the World

M. Kelso                                                                                                                  C. Reed

Dana 211A                                                                                                              Watkins 202

337-2599                                                                                                                337-2562

kelsom@queens.edu                                                                                                 reedc@queens.edu

 

COURSE WEBSITE:  http://campus.queens.edu/CAS/acad_programs/pre_law/Honors_Program/honors_core_210.htm

PREREQUISITE:  3.25 Overall Grade Point Average

NOTE:  This is a GRADED course. 

 

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Bloom, Alan, The Closing of the American Mind, Simon and Schuster pb.

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Hackett pb.

Locke, John, Second Treatise on Government, Hackett pb.

Marx, K, and F. Engels, The Communist Manifesto, Norton pb.

Mill, John Stuart, On Liberty, Hackett pb.

Strunk, W., and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, 4th edition, Longman pb.

 

HIGHLY RELEVANT QUOTATIONS:

I myself . . . like anyone else who delights in a fine horse, bird, or dog, am even more delighted by good friends. If I have something to teach, I teach it, and I introduce my associates to others from whom I believe they will get some benefit in their search for virtue. The treasure that wise men of old have left in scrolls, we unroll and pursue together with our friends, and we pick out any good that we may discover.

 

Socrates, in Xenophon, Memorabilia, I.6

 

And about all these matters [the nature of human nature, virtue, prudence and the best life] one ought to seek to win trust through rational arguments, using as witnesses the examples that come into view . . . .

 

Aristotle, Eudemian Ethics 1.6

 

It is evident why a human being is more of a political animal than any bee or any gregarious animal; for nature, we say, does nothing pointlessly, and a human being is the only animal with the capacity for rational speech. A [mere] voice signifies pleasure and pain, and so the other animals, as well as human beings, have it, since their nature is far enough advanced for them to perceive pleasure and pain and to signify these to one another.

 

But rational speech is for making clear what is advantageous or harmful, and hence what is just or unjust. For this is distinctive of human beings in contrast with other animals, that they are the only ones with a perception of good and evil, and of just and unjust, and so on; and it is the sharing of these things that constitutes the household and the polis each as a community.

 

Aristotole, Politics, Bk. 1, Ch. 2

 

Outside of a dog, books are man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.

 

Marx, Groucho (not Karl)

 

 

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE:

This course aims at introducing you to three thinkers (Locke, Marx, and Mill) who have shaped two of the major intellectual movements in our modern world – Liberalism and Socialism (we are not ignoring Conservatism; what we call Conservatism in the United States today is actually a variation of traditional Liberalism). To illumine what sets all these modern authors off from the ancients, we begin with an ancient author, Aristotle. Our concern with these works – ancient or modern -- is not chiefly "historical," i.e., we do not see them merely as "reflections of their age" (an approach that tacitly presupposes that none of them could have been correct). Rather we need to consider the argument of these works attentively, in order to find out what the authors can teach us about the nature of human beings, the nature of a worthwhile life and society, the nature of human excellence, and the modes of rationality available to humans.

 

To use a contemporary buzzword, to study the writings of the various thinkers in this course is one of the most genuinely "multicultural" experiences that a thoughtful human being can have. Even though each of them is "a dead white European male," their thoughts are fully "live" for anyone who takes the trouble to uncover them, rather than rely on stereotypes about them. To use another buzzword, these various authors set forth a genuine "diversity" of alternatives that far transcends differences of race, class, gender, etc.

 

The enormous care that went into the writing of these books demands that you read and REREAD them with the utmost care. When you find a problem or seeming contradiction in the author’s argument (as an attentive reader will), don’t assume that the author was careless or ignorant; investigate what the contradiction reveals and whether the author resolves it himself. Continuously compare the argument of the work you’re reading with that of other books previously read; look for areas of disagreement, and try to find the reasons for them. Finally, try to see the more specific implications of the author’s theoretical arguments: what difference, for example, does John Locke’s postulation of a "state of nature" make?

 

You will be given daily assignments that require you to read again and again the text at hand and often to produce your own written response. We expect regular class attendance; missing the in-class discussions in a course such as this seriously disadvantages you when you go to write your essays.

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1.   Daily Writing Assignments/Quizzes        50%

      50% of your grade consists of your grades on daily written assignments or short quizzes. 

      Your three lowest grades will be dropped.  If you are more than two minutes late to class,

      you cannot take the quiz if one is given.  Quizzes cannot be made up. 

 

2.   Participation                                             20%

      You are expected to be prepared for class and to actively participate in course

      discussions.   Failure to do so will significantly lower your grade on this part of the course. 

      Class Attendance is an important part of participation and frequent absences will lower your

      participation grade.  In addition, each absence over two will result in a one point deduction

      from your final grade for the course.  As a general policy, there will be no distinctions between

      excused and unexcused absences. 

 

3.   Essay #1                                                   15%

      An essay comparing the views of Aristotle to those of Locke.  DUE:  Thursday,

      November 4, 2004 (beginning of class).

 

4.   Essay #2                                                    15%

      An essay identifying the philosopher studied this semester with whom you agree the most

      and a defense of that selection.  DUE:  Thursday, December 16, 2004 (NO LATER THAN 8:30am EST). 

 

5.  Guidelines for Written Assignments (Essays, Daily Assignments, Quizzes)

     a.  Essays must be typed, double-spaced, with a 12-point font and standard

          margin.  They must be at least five pages in length (excluding any Title or

          Works Cited pages)

     b.  Essays must be well-organized, thoughtful and demonstrate a clear and

          comprehensive understanding of course readings and the ideas put forth

          within them. 

     c.  Essays must make reference to course readings, use proper citations to

          identify such materials, and list all materials used in a Works Cited page. 

     d.  Written assignments must adhere to elements of style identified by Strunk

          and White.  One point will be deducted for every violation over five (three

          for quizzes or daily written assignments) of Strunk and White's 12

          Elementary Rules of Usage or Crochets 1-15. 

     e.  In grading your writing, we will pay special attention to the degree of clarity,

          simplicity, and brevity with which you write.  With that in mind, please attend

          carefully to Strunk and White's admonitions to:   

            i.  Use the active voice (pp. 18-19)

           ii.  Use definite, specific, concrete language (pp. 21-23)

          iii.  Omit needless words (pp. 23-24)

          These are the most important of Strunk and White's "Principles of Composition"

          and the third will be emphasized in particular. 

     f.   By far the biggest cause of writing deficient in clarity, simplicity, or terseness is the

           failure to revise at least twice before handing in a final draft, a fault compounded by

           the failure to start the process early enough, so that you (or someone else) has the

           opportunity to critique a minimum of two successive drafts at decent intervals

           before you produce the final one. 

      g.  The Queens University Honor Code applies to all work done in this course.  

      h.  Late papers will be penalized.  A full letter grade will be deducted for each 24 hours

           after the date and time an assignment is due.  If you have to miss a class, submit the

           assignment before, rather than after, class. 

 

DAILY CLASS SCHEDULE

NOTE:  The instructors reserve the right to make minor changes in assignments as the course progresses.  Also, all reading assignments must be completed prior to the class meeting in which they are scheduled, unless otherwise noted. 

 

Thursday, August 26:  Introduction to Course

                                       Discussion of Key Questions

 

Tuesday, August 31:  Bloom, pp. 25-32

 

**NOTE: Drop/Add ends at 5pm on Wednesday, September 1. Last Day to Change from Grade

 to Pass/No Record

 

Thursday, September 2:  Bloom, pp. 47-61

 

Tuesday, September 7:  Bloom, pp. 62-67, 82-97

 

Thursday, September 9:  Bloom, pp. 109-121

 

Tuesday, September 14:  Aristotle, pp. 1-3

 

Thursday, September 16:  Aristotle, pp. 3-5, 7-10

 

**NOTE: Fall Convocation is at 11:00am on Tuesday, September 23. Convocations are mandatory graduation requirements for all CAS students. Failure to attend will result in additional assignments designed to make up for your absence**

 

Tuesday, September 21:  Aristotle, pp. 10-14

 

Thursday, September 23:  Aristotle, pp. 18-27, 29-30

 

Tuesday, September 28:  Aristotle, pp. 86-93

 

Thursday, September 30:  Aristotle, pp. 162-171

 

Tuesday, October 5:  Locke, pp. vii-xiii

                                     In-class review of Aristotle

 

Thursday, October 7:  Locke, Sections 1-19

 

Tuesday, October 12:  Locke, Sections 22-28

 

**NOTE: NO Classes on Thursday, October 14---FALL HOLIDAY**

 

Tuesday, October 19:  Locke, Sections 32-43

 

**NOTE: Last Day to Withdraw or Change Pass/No Record to a Grade is Wednesday, October 20**

 

Thursday, October 21:  Locke, Sections 87-99, 123-131

 

Tuesday, October 26:  Locke, Sections 134-142, 211-230

 

Thursday, October 28:  Marx, pp. xi-xiii, 1-18

                                        In-Class review of Locke

 

Tuesday, November 2:  ELECTION DAY----VOTE!!!!

                                        Marx, pp. 54-66

 

Thursday, November 4:  Marx, pp. 67-75

                                          ESSAY #1 DUE

 

Tuesday, November 9:   Marx, pp. 76-86

 

Thursday, November 11:  Marx, pp. 106-112

 

Tuesday, November 16:   Marx, pp. 171-176

                                           In-class review of Marx

 

Thursday, November 18:  Mill, pp. 1-14

 

Tuesday, November 23:  NO CLASS---THANKSGIVING BREAK

Thursday, November 25:  NO CLASS---THANKSGIVING DAY

 

Tuesday, November 30:  Mill, pp. 15-52

 

Thursday, December 2:  Mill, pp. 53-71

 

Tuesday, December 7:   Mill, pp. 73-91

 

Thursday, December 9:   In-class review of Mill

 

Friday, December 10:  Course Review (Optional)

                                      Food and Drink will be provided

 

Thursday, December 16:  ESSAY #2 DUE (NO LATER THAN 8:30am EST)