History of Political Thought
Poli 205, Fall 2007
Office: K-636 Phone: 201-200-3259 Email: fmoran@njcu.edu

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Exams

Week One Week Two Week Three Week Four Week Five Week Six&Seven Week Eight Week Nine

Discussion Week 1 Summarize the "Messenger's" critique of democracy and Theseus' reply. Who's opinion do you see carrying the day and why? What are the main virtues of democracy according to Pericles? Does the oration apply to contemporary American politics? In Chapter 11 of "The Politics," Aristotle claims that "For the many, of whom each individual is but an ordinary person, when they meet together may very likely be better than the few good, if regarded not individually but collectively…" What does he mean by that and do you agree with the assessment? How does it relate to the exchange between Theseus and the Theban messenger? Adams argues "that the happiness of society is the end of government" (page 31). What does he mean by this and do you agree with his view? Adams argues that the assembly of the people "should be in miniature an exact portrait of the people at large. It should think, feel, reason, and act like them" (p. 32) top of page

Discussion Week 2 Why is the rule of law so essential to good political life? What does Machiavelli, for instance, mean by it and what is its connection to democracy? In surveying the Bill of Rights, which of the amendments do you see as being the most essential for democracy? What underlying theme, if any, do you see unifying the Amendments in the Bill of Rights? What is the connection between democracy and equality, and how does social complexity contribute to greater equality? What is wrong with a benign dictatorship, according to Mill? Comment on "JJ's Story" in the Walzer essay. How would you interpret the story? top of page

Discussion Week 3 Summarize the main features of Hobbes' state of nature. Do you agree with his account, and if not, where did he go wrong? Is Locke's argument for religious toleration viable today? How does Locke's state of nature differ from that described by Hobbes? What is the connection between democracy and equality, and how does social complexity contribute to greater equality? Paine refers to government as a "necessary evil" even in its best state. Do you agree with this view? top of page

Discussion Week 4 Explain Burke's critique of contractarian liberal theory (beginning at bottom of page 147). Do you agree? How might liberals respond to the charge? Do you agree with deMaistre's view that monarchy is the natural government for man? What are the main features of conservatism? What are its basic principles? Do you agree with Bork's diagnosis for the decline of American culture? top of page

Discussion Week 5 1. Should the US use its military force to defend and promote democratic ideals in the world?   2. Should school curricula include lessons that defend "safe sex" practices, homosexuality, and other "alternative" lifestyles?   3. What are the basic features of More's "Utopia"? Why did More see this as "Utopia"?   4. What are the basic features of "New Lanark," and do you agree with Owen's statement that his principles, if followed, "will enable mankind to prevent, in the rising generation, almost all, if not all of the evils and miseries which we and our forefathers have experienced." If so, why? If not, where did he go wrong?

Discussion Week 6 1. How do Marx and Engels analyze liberal democracy? What is the basis of their critique (see Manifesto, Part II)   2. What do Marx and Engels mean by "the dictatorship of the proletariat"?   3. In the Manifesto, Marx and Engels claim that the ruling ideas of a period are always the ideas of the ruling class. What did they mean by this?   4. In the Manifesto, Marx and Engels claim that the "history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle." What do they mean by this and provide examples.   5. What does Lenin mean by the dictatorship of the proletariat?   6. According to Goldman, is government the solution to or cause of our political problems? What alternatives does she offer? How viable are those alternatives?   7. Can violent revolution produce democratic regimes?   8. Where did Marx, Lenin, and Mao go wrong?

Discussion Week 8 Mussolini argues that fascism defends democracy, but democracy as "organized centralized, authoritarian democracy." What does that mean?   What is the role of the state in fascism? What is the relationship of the individual to the state?   What is the primary function of the state in Nazism? What follows from that initial premise in terms of policy? How does it differ from liberal conceptions?   Why, according to the fascists, is race so central to understanding social and political life?

Discussion Week 9 1. In his "Letter" King claims that "In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collections of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action." What do these mean and why are they essential steps? What is the purpose of the direction action?   2. In his "Letter," King defends civil disobedience, which, by definition means that a person or group is breaking the law. How does one distinguish between civil disobedience and simple lawlessness What are the limits to civil disobedience as a tactic?   3.What are the connections between the civil disobedience as a tactic, the civil rights movement, and black identity?   4. What does Biko mean by Black Consciousness?