Philosophy Department
Course Syllabus
Course Code:
SOPPHIL
Course Title:Social and Political Philosophy
Type of Course:
Major
Prerequisite:
QLY-PLM
Prerequisite to:
None
Faculty:
Dennis Apolega, PhD
Term/School Year: 1st Term 2014-15
Schedule:
MW 915-1045
Consultation Hours: Please schedule an appointment, I am free from 14301600 from Monday to Thursday. We also have the Facebook group to
facilitate discussion and communication.
Course Description: SOPPHIL (Social and Political Philosophy) is both (a) a
survey course of some of the works of philosophy that deal with the issues
of justice, the state and its justification, rights etc. and (b) a dialogue with
some political theories and philosophies like liberalism (i.e. Rawls),
Marxism and feminism (i.e. de Beauvoir and MacKinnon).
ELGA
LEARNING OUTCOME
A DLSU Graduate of the
At the end of the course, students are expected to:
College of Liberal Arts is
expected to be a:
1. Critical and CreativeLO1: write a research based paper related to the course
Knowledge Producer focusing on issue/s brought up in discussion in the
class/or and/or appropriate to recent events in socio2. Socially Responsiblepolitical life.
and Collaborative
LO2: actively participate in individual, group and class
Citizen
activities. Pass written exams covered in the syllabus and
arising out of discussions.
3. Competent
Professional
LO3: display behavior conducive to the productive class
discussion that will help in fulfilling the YouTube panel
4. Diversity-sensitive video on selected issues from political philosophy.
Communicator
LO4: plan and come up with a YouTube panel video
5. Morally Principled discussion on selected issues from political philosophy.
and Faith-inspired
Apart from exhibiting competence, one of the aims here
Leader
is to reach a broader audience.
LO5:
collaborate with an organization in DLSU (i.e.
COSCA, POLISCY etc.) for activities that would foster
awareness of socio-political issues. Submit reports and
reflection papers regarding this.
Course Output:
Students are required to submit the following requirements on
corresponding dates in order to fulfill the learning outcomes specified above:
LEARNING OUTCOME
REQUIRED OUTPUT
the
DUE DATES
14 July 2014
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1. reflection papers
2. participation in relevant departmental activities: these are all required for
majors in the program, unless there are acceptable reasons for ones absence.
3. participation in relevant events outside the campus: again, these are all
4.
5.
6.
7.
required for majors in the program, unless there are acceptable reasons for
ones absence.
active participation in class
reports on assigned topics:
reports on assigned group discussions.
research work: for the term paper, each student is expected to write a
scholarly paper as part of their preparation for PHILPRO and SENIRES.
97-100 4.0
93-96
3.5
89-92
3.0
85-88
2.5
80-84
2.0
75-79
1.5
70-74
1.0
Grading System:
Activities
15%
Written Exam
20%
Oral Exam
20%
Service Activity
10%
15%
100%
20%
Course Outline:
Learning Outcomes Topics
Schedule
Learning Activities
At the end of the1. Introduction to5/21
course, students areSocial and Political
expected to:
Philosophy:
Approaches
and
LO1:
write
aMethodologies
research based paper2. 4 Roles of Political5/26 and 5/28
related to the course Philosophy
(Rawls).
(The template forThe Republic Book I
SENIRES
extended(Plato).
abstract
and
full
paper will be used.)
3.
The
State
of6/2, 6/4, 6/9 and 6/11
LO2:
Nature
and
the
Justification of the
LO3-a:
State
(Thomas
Hobbes
and
John
LO3-b:
Locke)
4. Rights (John Stuart6/16, 6/18, 6/23 and
LO4 and LO5:
Mill and Catherine6/25
MacKinnon )
5. Alienation
and6/30, 7/2, and 7/7
Marxism
(G.W.F.(7/9 will be our
Hegel and Karl Marx) written exam)
6.
Justice
Liberalism
Rawls)
References:
[The classic references (i.e. Plato, Hobbes, Locke, etc.) will be provided via our FB
group or in our class. This is also because some of the latest books are not yet
available in the library]
Atkins, Kim, ed. 2005. Self and subjectivity. Blackwell Publishing.
Christiano, Thomas and John Christman, eds. 2009. Contemporary debates in political
philosophy. Blackwell Publishing.
Christman, John. 2002. Social and political philosophy: A contemporary introduction.
Routledge.
MacKinnon, Catharine. 1989. Toward a feminist theory of state. Harvard University
Press.
Schmitt, Richard. 2009. An introduction to political philosophy: A question-based
approach. Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Shute, Stephen and Susan Hurley. 1993. On human rights: The Oxford Amnesty
Lectures 1993. New York: Basic Books.
Classroom Policies:
Take note that all the regular policies in the
Universities can be seen as higher applications of GMRC (Good Manners and
Right Conduct).
Instructions: All instructions given in class or are written in this syllabus are to be
strictly followed.
The rubrics are to be consulted for each of the
activities/assignments.
1. Submission of requirements: Requirements submitted after the deadline
will not be accepted.
2. Electronic submission of homework:
3. reflection papers: This will be part of the service component.
4. short quizzes
5. long quizzes:
6. group project: Further guidelines will be discussed in class and provided in
our FB group
7. group discussions: These will be a regular part of our activities.
8. Creative work:
9. class participation: It is expected that students are prepared and actively
participate in the discussions.
10. attendance:
11. reports to Academic Adviser and Practicum Coordinator: Each major is
expected to update his or her file and report to his or her Academic Adviser
and Practicum Coordinator regarding requirements for this course which are
integrated with the general (retention) requirements of the AB Philosophy
Program.
12. Special needs: those with special needs (physical, medical, psychological,
etc.) must completely disclose their condition to the professor at the
beginning of the term so that proper guidance, medication and action can be
given in times of emergency, and alternative activities can be given in the
event that students concerned are not allowed or are unable to comply with
the regular requirements for the completion of the course because of their
condition. Doctors certificate and/or other pertinant documents will be
required for such cases. Delicate cases will be handled discreetly.
13. Class cancellation:
14. Use of electronic gadgets:
15. classroom decorum:
16. Grades:
Noted by:
____________________________
Dr. Jeane Peracullo
Department Chair
____________________________
Dr. Julio Teehankee
Dean, College of Liberal Arts