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PHIL 385

I. Course Title: Social and Political Philosophy (GE)

II. Course Number: PHIL 385

III. Credit Hours: 3 credits

IV. Prerequisites: None

V. Course Description: 

This course takes a multi-disciplinary, cross-cultural, and experiential approach to social and political philosophy in order to intensively explore the worldviews that give rise to basic conflicting social, moral, political, and economic positions in the United States today.

Note(s): General Education and Humanistic or Artistic Expression designated course.

VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:

Do you want to make sense of the bunker mentality of contemporary American politics? Do you worry about the politics of anger and retaliation? Do you care about racial justice? The politics of identity? Income inequality? Environmental sustainability? American progressives and conservatives react against each other, but without accurately understanding the other鈥檚 worldview, and these worldviews differ dramatically in their competing conceptions of freedom, justice, equality, responsibility, and identity. This course takes a multi-disciplinary, cross-cultural, and experiential approach to social and political philosophy in order to intensively explore the worldviews that give rise to basic conflicting social, moral, political, and economic positions in the United States today. We may draw from philosophy, history, cognitive science, psychology, linguistics, sociology, religious studies, African-American studies, gender studies, Latin-American studies, Asian studies, political science, communications, art, or many other areas to help us examine conflicting values on issues in the headlines of this semester鈥檚 national election. Topics may range from gay marriage and abortion to racial justice to economic opportunity.

VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:

Course format will be both lecture and discussion, with students occasionally responsible for focusing class discussion. This course will include careful examination of primary and secondary sources. Among the learning activities students can expect, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Lecture and discussion led by the instructor
  2. Small group discussion
  3. Formal or informal debates
  4. Individual and/or group oral presentations
  5. Informal and formal writing assignments
  6. Individual and collaborative research activities
  7. Written and oral analysis of election politics
  8. Guest lecturers/presenters

VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:

Students will:

  1. Demonstrate skills in analyzing different, and often competing, conceptual frameworks and political language. 
  2. Critically evaluate arguments from multiple perspectives regarding basic sociopolitical questions, including the nature of freedom and responsibility, the good life, and justice in the state.
  3. Demonstrate professional-level practical skills at philosophically analyzing social and political problems, with a special focus on diagnosing complex problems, analyzing conflicting values, identifying potential conflicts (and avenues for collaboration), and facilitating democratic dialogue and debate.
  4. Demonstrate a basic literacy and critical understanding of key figures, concepts, frameworks, and terminology in social and political philosophy, including historical antecedents of contemporary debates. 

VIII. Assessment Measures:

A variety of assessment tools will be used.  These may include quizzes/exams, writing assignments, presentations, and research papers, among others.

Review and Approval

August 2020

March 01 2021

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