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’s 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’s 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:
VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:
Students will:
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