Social Philosophy

SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY PHIL 4/51020 Fall 2012 (CRN 16872);

9:15-10:30 Tuesday and Thursday, Bowman 315; Jeffrey Wattles, teacher

This class uses a cluster of themes associated with cosmopolitanism as a hub for an inquiry into the character of social philosophy in its relations with philosophy of sociology, philosophy of history, political philosophy, philosophy of religion, and ethics. The cluster of themes includes (1) the comparative emphasis on the individual, relationships, and social systems; (2) the “is-ought” distinction; (3) the concept of all human persons as members in the family of God; (4) human equality and inequality; and (4) the use of “ideal types” in social description by Plato, Hegel, and duBois (a practice defended by Merleau-Ponty and avoided by Appiah). The philosophers centrally featured are Kant and Hegel. Following Plato’s Republic, these themes are considered on the level of individuals and on the level of communities of varying scope such as the family and the political community. Following Aristotle, the expectation, but not requirement, is that the student take insights gained and put them into practice.

The cosmopolitan idea arose in the West through ancient Greek philosophy and ancient Jewish and Christian thought. The modern idea of cosmopolitanism was formulated by Kant’s Enlightenment thesis that human history is a rough-and-tumble ascent from primitive conditions to the flourishing of universal humanity in an advanced planetary civilization; moreover, progress includes establishing world peace through world law by means of world government. Hegel’s challenge is that civilizations are so diverse that Kant’s world peace project is an abstract and impractical ideal. The Kant-Hegel debate launched lines of thought that continue in Clark and Sohn’s World Peace through World Law and Huntington’s “The clash of civilizations?” Alternate ways of dealing with the Kant-Hegel tension have developed, ways of dealing with equality theory and difference theory. One example is The Souls of Black Folk (1903), by W.E.B. du Bois. A new sociological vision offered by Pitirim Sorokin during the cold war point to a fulfillment of the social dimension of cosmopolitan idealism. Emmanuel Levinas finds space for cosmopolitanism in a radical ethics of the self-and-Other relationship. And Kwame Anthony Appiah exemplifies a cosmopolitanism that is currently prominent among philosophers in the United States.

Evaluation is based on participation; this includes a seminar report for undergraduates and two seminar reports for graduate students. 20%, three quizzes, and a term paper, parts of which will turned in as the semester advances.

Texts

Immanuel Kant, Perpetual Peace and other Essays (Hackett Press, ISBN 0-915145-47-2) ; For simplified versions, http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/

G.W.F. Hegel, Elements of the Philosophy of Right (Cambridge U.P. ISBN 0-521-34888-9). There is an online translation that I cannot recommend; it was done in 1897 by S.W. Dyde, and it may be acceptable: http://web.ed.ntnu.edu.tw/~t04008/frontpage/online/93westphilo/right.pdf (for other Hegel texts: http://www.hegel.net/en/etexts.htm).

W.E.B. duBois, The Souls of Black Folk, you can buy cheaply online.

Kwame Anthony Appiah, Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers (W.W. Norton, ISBN 978-0-393-32933-9).

Evaluation

Participation. We are a community of inquiry, and our interaction has a life of its own; so you are expected to attend regularly, be on time and biologically ready for class, have the reading done, and be ready to participate. Missing more than four classes can affect your grade. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to get notes from someone else, to see the instructor if you still have questions, and to ask the instructor for anything handed back during your absence. In case of an epidemic or other emergency, arrangements will be made for computer-based interaction. If you miss four weeks of class, how can I pass you?

The syllabus, assignments, and other information are posted at http://sites.google.com/a/kent.edu/jwattles.

Papers must be well written to receive a C or above. For a quick introduction to some of the standards, see http://www.personal.kent.edu/~jwattles/papers.htm . Writing—a skill that schools sometimes fail to teach—is important for your career, especially when so much communication is mediated by machines; and English is a first or second language in many nations. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the Writing Center (http://dept.kent.edu/english/WritingCent/writngcenter.htm). Speaking of communication, the University obliges you to check your Flashline e-mail account. If I have messages to send to the whole class, e.g., to change an assignment, or keep in touch in an emergency, I will use those addresses.

The grade is based on participation (30 points); three papers (25 points each for the first two papers and 10 points for the last one); and three quizzes (10 points each).

My office hours are MW 10:40 12:10 and TR 10:40-11:40 (Bowman 320H) and by appointment (330-672-0276; e-mail: jwattles@kent.edu).

Policy on the use of technology in the classes of Dr. Jeffrey Wattles

August 2012

In addition to specific course objectives, my goals as a teacher are to foster educational growth for each student, to whet appetites and promote discovery, and to provide a classroom environment where each student is supported as well as challenged. My ethical standard is the golden rule: Treat others as you want others to treat you.

To learn effectively, we need to focus. When we focus at our best, we engage all our powers of mind, soul, and body.

Focus is broken if we are distracted by cell phones and laptops. At least half of the laptops used in class take attention away from class. The user is distracted, and others are affected, too. Think about the message that this activity communicates to the instructor. Think about the message it conveys to other students.

My policy on technology is designed to promote the good of the whole. Neuroscientists have shown that multi-tasking seriously compromises the attention to each task. Measuring distraction, researchers found that driving while talking on a cell phone is like driving drunk. Decades ago, educational psychologists said that students’ attention span in a lecture was 20 minutes; John Medina now says it’s 10 minutes. Concern is mounting about how technology use can become compulsive and addictive; many people suffer from a mild form of attention-deficit disorder. There are consequences for our ability to achieve personal goals and for our society’s competitiveness in a global economy.

For these reasons, I have decided to join the many other faculty members who are creating policies to restrict classroom use of technology. I have chosen the following policy.

All cell phones and laptops are to be turned off and put away. The surface of the desk is to be clear, free of book bags, purses, and other barriers except for the textbook and writing materials. When I see a student using a cell phone or a laptop, I will deduct one percent from that student’s course grade.

When such action seems necessary, I will immediately notify the student by e-mail, and there will be a chance to clear up any misunderstanding.

You must sign and turn in the form indicating that you have read and understood this policy statement. If you believe that there are good reasons to make an adjustment in this policy or exception for you, speak with me.

I profoundly regret the conditions that require me to enforce this policy and complicate our educational relationship. However, I hope that you will rise above this disciplinary aspect and help us attain the level of the Kent State University motto: Excellence in action.

University policy 3342-3-01.8 deals with the problem of academic dishonesty, cheating, and plagiarism. None of these will be tolerated in this class. The sanctions provided in this policy will be used to deal with any violations. If you have any questions, please read the policy at http://www.kent.edu/policyreg/policydetails.cfm?customel_datapageid_1976529=2037779.

University policy 3342-3-01.3 requires that students with disabilities be provided reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access to course content. If you have a documented disability and require accommodations, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to make arrangements for necessary classroom adjustments. Please note, you must first verify your eligibility for these through Student Accessibility Services (contact 330-672-3391 or visit www.kent.edu/sas for more information on registration procedures).

University policy requires all students to be officially registered in each class they are attending. Students who are not officially registered for a course by published deadlines should not be attending classes and will not receive credit or a grade for the course. Each student must confirm enrollment by checking his/her class schedule (using Student Tools in FlashLine) prior to the deadline indicated. Registration errors must be corrected prior to the deadline.

The Philosophy Department Grievance Procedure for handling student grievances is in conformity with the Student Academic Complaint Policy and Procedures set down as University Policy 3342-4-16 in the University Policy Register. For information concerning the details of the grievance procedure, please see the Departmental Chairperson.

The last day to drop this class is at the end of the second week of the semester; and the last day to withdraw is November 4.

Schedule of activities

I. The emergence of cosmopolitanism in the ancient Mediterranean world

Week 1. Tuesday, August 28. Lecture on the emergence of the cosmopolitan idea in Plato and Stoicism.

http://archive.org/stream/PlatosRepublicallanBloomTranslation/PlatosRepublictrans.Bloom_djvu.txt

Thursday, August 30. Lecture on the emergence in the ancient world of the conception of humankind as the family of God.

II. Ethics and philosophy of history in Kant’s cosmopolitanism

Week 2. Tuesday, September 4. Immanuel Kant, “Idea for a Universal History with a Cosmopolitan Intent,” and the introduction to this topic about 20% of the way into this document summarizing Kant’s ethics: https://sites.google.com/a/kent.edu/jwattles/home/ethics/kants-ethics

For simplified versions online, see http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/

Thursday, Sept. 6. “To Perpetual Peace.” Focus on Kant’s ways of protecting against moralism (a kind of fanaticism); pay special attention to the first section and the first appendix.

Week 3. Tuesday, Sept. 11. Read just the (30-page) introduction to World Peace through World Law. One copy on reserve, two more copies in our main library;

http://openlibrary.org/books/OL5798903M/World_peace_through_world_law

Thursday, 13. Review, survey of the history of the concept of human rights; quiz one (20 multiple choice questions)

III. Hegel’s social philosophy

and his adaptation and critique of, and alternative to, Kant’s thought

Week 4. Tuesday, Sept. 18. Elements of the Philosophy of Right, Introduction ##1-18; Read the summary through the end of the Introduction: http://www.personal.kent.edu/~jwattles/hegeleth.htm

Thursday, Sept. 20. In the online summary at the URL given just above, read Abstract Right plus in the text ##35-39 and #103. Note Hegel’s restatement of Kant’s ethics. A document will be sent on Hegel’s passages celebrating the infinite worth of the individual personality.

Week 5. Tuesday, Sept. 25 Keep up with the web notes and read ##105-08, 121-135, and 137-40 (for #140, no need to read the long addition).

Thursday, Sept. 27. Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations?

First, the link from the original publisher: http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/48950/samuel-p-huntington/the-clash-of-civilizations

Second, the link that works for me: http://www.polsci.wvu.edu/faculty/hauser/PS103/Readings/HuntingtonClashOfCivilizationsForAffSummer93.pdf

Week 6. Tuesday, Oct. 2. ##158-169: Family. Be sure to keep up with the web notes; and get ahead on the reading, since the assignment for Thursday is longer.

Thursday, Oct. 4. ##182-208: Civil society + web notes.

Week 7. Tuesday, Oct. 9. International Law and World History, ##330-360 + notes.

Thursday, Oct. 11. Discussion continued.

Week 8. Tuesday, Oct. 16. Paper due. The broad topic, to be focused by the student is experiential and conceptual tensions and harmonies associated with selected ideas from diverse social philosophies. During class, students will take turns sharing from their papers.

Thursday, Oct. 18. Review, responses to papers; quiz two.

IV. Humanity and difference in DuBois’s Souls of Black Folk

Week 9. Tuesday, Oct. 23. Read a quarter of the book for each class period.

Thursday, Oct. 25. Read a quarter of the book for each class period.

Week 10. Tuesday, Oct. 30. Read a quarter of the book for each class period.

Thursday, Nov. 1. Read a quarter of the book for each class period.

V. The planetary vision of the prophetic sociology of Pitirim Sorokin

Week 11. Tuesday, Nov. 6. The essay will be supplied by the professor.

Cosmopolitan potential in Levinas’s philosophy of relation

Thursday, Nov. 8. The essay will be supplied by the professor.

VI. The contemporary cosmopolitanism of Kwame Anthony Appiah

Week 12. Tuesday, Nov. 13. Chapter 2.

Thursday, Nov. 15. chapter 3.

Week 13. Monday, Nov. 20. Chapters 4 and 5.

Thursday, 22. Thanksgiving.

Week 14. Tuesday, Nov 27. Chapter 6.

Thursday, Nov. 29. Chapter 7. Paper 2 due.

Week 15. Tuesday, Dec. 4. Chapter 9.

Thursday, Dec. 6. Chapter 10.

Final quiz and concluding conversation: Tuesday, December 11, 7:45-10:00 a.m.