Course Information

Philosophical Perspectives: Politics and Society

PL210-04 | Fall 2026

T/TH 1:40PM - 02:55PM, Knott Hall 004

Dr. Jeffrey C. Witt | jcwitt [at] loyola [dot] edu | ext. 2947

Philosophy Department 050M

Office Hours: T: 3pm-4pm, W: 12pm-4pm, TH: 3pm-4pm

Course Description:

Politics and Society is a survey course designed to introduce students to some of the most important developments in the history of modern political philosophy. In particular, this course aims to introduce students to the development of a web of issues surrounding the human person, reason, freedom, and the good life. Students will be asked to absorb modern philosophy’s long preoccupation with these issues, recognize the perennial difficulties that arise, and actively reflect on the consequences of their own views.

Course Learning Aims and Expected Outcomes

1) Aims: Exposure to and increased facility in comprehension of the foundational texts of political philosophy. Outcomes: Be able to identify (chronologically) the major political philosophers and their distinctive positions from the early modern to contemporary period. Be able to compare and contrast the positions of philosophers studied.

2) Aims: Increase student's ability to recognize and appreciate the complexity of core politico-philosophical problems. Develop a mind that can articulate that complexity to oneself and others. Outcomes: Be able to see a problem from diverse vantage points. Be able to articulate both the pros and cons of perennial philosophical issues discussed in class.

3) Aims: Help students to question the values they take for granted and to think through the nature of justice, happiness, moral conduct, and the life they want to live. Help students cultivate a taste for philosophical speculation, i.e. develop an appetite for "contemplation with friends" and a palate that can recognize the difference between this kind of enjoyment and alternatives. Outcomes: Be able to describe the consequences and impact of a given politico-philosophical stance for one's own life and decisions: especially, the impact on what one values, how one thinks about injustice, freedom, and cooperation, and how one conceives of the good life.

Course Readings

Wootton, Modern Political Thought, Second Edition (Hackett, 2008)

Moodle Readings (MR)

Course Requirements

Participation (5%)

Class involvement is a small part of your grade that typically makes a big difference. Class involvement means, first of all, coming to class. This also means always having your course reading with you in physical form. (Not having your course materials is like coming to soccer practice without your cleats or a ball.) Missing three or more classes will result in an automatic zero for your in-class participation grade. Missing more than 6 classes will be grounds for failing the course. Secondly, it means coming to class prepared, and preparation needs to bear fruit in the classroom. In other words, you need to strive to be an asset to the class. At times we will have opportunities for discussion; someone who is involved in class will be a thoughtful and engaged participant in that discussion. At other times, lectures will solicit your input and/or questions; an engaged student will bring up helpful and appropriate questions and be able to make a positive contribution when class input is called upon. (Using cell phones or laptops in class, unless as an approved DSS accommodation or otherwise directed by the instructor, will result in an automatic 0 for this portion of your grade. See "Computers and Cell Phones" policy below. Do yourself a favor and put your laptops and cell phones away and out sight for the duration of our class.)

I will give two marks for participation, one at the midterm and the final. 80-85 indicates approaching expectations. It indicates that you are regularly attending, but not necessarily a regular contributor to the class discussion. 85-90 indicates meeting expectations. It indicates that you are not only regularly attending, but that you always have your assigned reading with you, and you are regularly contributing to the class discussion. 90+ indicates exceeding expectations. Above 90 is reserved for participation that is regularly elevating the classroom discussion. This does not mean that you are always talking or dominating the discussion. But it means that, in addition to meeting expectations, your regular contribution to the class discussion habitually shows evidence of purposeful preparation of the assigned course material and reflection on previous course lectures/discussions.

Papers (30%, 15% each)

We will have two in-class papers during the course of semester. Instructions and prompts will be distributed in advance of the upcoming paper.

Case Study Presentations (10%)

At the end of the semester, we will work on some applied areas of political philosophy. In small groups, students will prepare an in-class presentation and a written report. Instructions will be distributed in advance of the assignment.

Exams (55%)

We will have two exams during the semester, a mid-term exam (25%) and a final exam (30%). Exams will include a mix of multiple-choice questions, quotation identification, short answer questions, and short essay prompts. Exam review sheets will be distributed in advance of each exam.

Final Grade Distribution

93% A, 90% A-, 88% B+, 83% B, 80 B-, 78% C+, 73% C, 70% C-, 68% D+, 60% D

Computer, Cell Phones, and Email Policy

I ask you not to use your computers or cell phones in this class, unless I invite you to use computers for a special task. (If there is a special reason that you need a computer, please contact DSS so they can approve the exception).

Email is useful for setting up appointments or informing me about emergencies, but about most other things, I prefer to meet with you face to face. This is what office hours are for. Do not be scared; I am nice! If my office hours conflict with your schedule, I will be glad to work with you to find a time that does fit.

Honor Code and Plagiarism

Students are expected to follow the university's honor code:

"The Honor Code states that all students of the Loyola Community have been equally entrusted by their peers to conduct themselves honestly on all academic assignments. The Students of this University understand that having collective and individual responsibility for the ethical welfare of their peers exemplifies a commitment to the community. Students who submit materials that are the products of their own minds demonstrate respect for themselves and the community in which they study. All outside resources or information should be clearly acknowledged. If there is any doubt or question regarding the use and documentation of outside sources for academic assignments, your instructor should be consulted. Any violations of the Honor Code will be handled by the Honor Council."

Statement on Generative-AI: This course focuses on skill building in the areas of close reading, argument analysis, and argument construction. As such (and as stated in the above honor code) it is expected that in this course your compositions are self-generated. While there are many legitimate reasons to use and value generative-AI tools, the goal of this class is to cultivate the very analytical skills that are needed to use AI tools well. Therefore outsourcing our class exercises, just as outsourcing drills in athletics, defeats the purpose. Thus, in this class, the above Honor Code includes the expectation that your submitted responses and compositions are always self-generated.

See the honor code for further information. https://www.loyola.edu/academics/honor-code.

Course Schedule

Week 1

Tue Sep 1 - Hobbes, Class Introduction; Leviathan, "Introduction," pp. 117-118.

Thu Sep 3 - Hobbes, Leviathan, cc. 5-7, pp. 128-138 and cc. 10-13, pp. 143-157.

Week 2

Tue Sep 8 - Hobbes, Leviathan, cc. 14-15, pp. 160-171.

Thu Sep 10 - Hobbes, Leviathan, cc. 17-19, pp. 173-184.

Week 3

Tue Sep 15 - Hobbes, Leviathan cc. 20-21, p. 184-193; c. 26, pp. 208-217.

Thu Sep 17 - Rousseau, Discourse on the Origins of Inequality, part 1, pp. 379-395.

Week 4

Tue Sep 22 - Rousseau, Discourse on the Origins of Inequality, part 2, pp. 395-410.

Thu Sep 24 - Rousseau, On the Social Contract, Book I, pp. 427-436.

Week 5

Tue Sep 29 - Rousseau, On the Social Contract, Book II, pp. 436-439.

Thu Oct 1 - In-Class Paper 1

Week 6

Tue Oct 6 - Locke, 2nd Treatise on Government, cc. 1-4, pp. 286-292.

Thu Oct 8 - Locke, 2nd Treatise on Government, c. 5 (On Property), pp. 292-299.

Week 7

Tue Oct 13 - Locke, 2nd Treatise on Government, cc. 7-9, 11, 18-19, pp. 306-321, 322-325, 340-353.

Thu Oct 15 - Exam 2 (Midterm).

Week 8

Tue Oct 20 - Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Section 1, pp. 7-9 (MR).

Thu Oct 22 - Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Section 1, pp. 10-17 (MR); Kant, What is Enlightenment, pp. 522-525.

Week 9

Tue Oct 27 - Bentham, An Introduction to Principles of Morals and Legislation, cc. 1, 4, 7, pp. 585-597; Karen Lebacqz, "The Utilitarian Challenge: John Stuart Mill", pp. 1-19 (MR).

Thu Oct 29 - Karen Lebacqz, "A Contract Response: John Rawls", pp. 1-20 (MR).

Week 10

Tue Nov 3 - Karen Lebacqz, "An Entitlement Alternative Robert Nozick", pp. 1-16 (MR).

Thu Nov 5 - In-Class Paper 2

Week 11

Tue Nov 10 - Marx, German Ideology, pp. 775-797; Fromm, "Marx's Historical Materialism" (MR); Fromm, "The Problem of Consciousness, Social Structure and the Use of Force" (MR).

Thu Nov 12 - Marx, Alienated Labor, pp. 766-772; Fromm, Alienation (MR).

Week 12

Tue Nov 17 - Mill, On Liberty, c. 2 (On Freedom of Speech), pp. 599-620; Sunstein, An Analogy and an Ideal - Chapter 2, pp. 31-58 (MR).

Thu Nov 19 - Habermas, The Public Sphere: An Encyclopedia Article (1964), pp. 49-55 (MR); Louw, Sites for Making Meaning III: Commercialization and the 'Death of the Public Sphere', chapter 4, pp. 91-103 (MR).

Week 13

Tue Nov 24 - Review Final Presentation Assignment - Break out groups and Project Planning - Report out.

Thu Nov 26 - Thanksgiving Break (No class)

Week 14

Tue Dec 1 - Review Final Presentation Assignment - Break out groups and Project Planning - Report out.

Thu Dec 3 - Presentations

Week 15

Tue Dec 8 - Presentations

Week 16

Thu, Dec 17, 9:00am Exam 4 (Final Exam)