12/21/2024 5:35:44 PM	PHIL 9 Course Outline as of Fall 1999	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  PHIL 9	Title:  POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
Full Title:  Political Philosophy
Last Reviewed:2/26/2024

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		17.5 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

An examination of philosophical concepts such as liberty, equality, rights, justice, and democracy.  Typical approaches will use these and other concepts to address the nature of government and citizenship, attempting to understand the U.S. Constitution, civil rights, and contemporary issues such as affirmative action and the welfare state. These concepts will be explored through the thought and experience of diverse groups within the United States.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for Engl 1A.

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

The examination of basic concepts in political philosophy such as liberty, equality, rights, justice and democracy.  These concepts will be explored through the thought and experience of diverse groups within the United States.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for Engl 1A.
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1996	Inactive:
Area:	E G	Humanities American Cultures/Ethnic Studies
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	C2	Humanities		Fall 1997
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	3B	Humanities		Fall 1997
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1996	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1996	Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

The student will:

 1.  Demonstrate knowledge of basic concepts of political philosophy,

     such as liberty, equality, justice, rights, and the legitimate

     government. Demonstrate the ability to understand and analyze

     concepts which are prerequisites for understanding political

     thought in a diverse society:  race, ethnicity, gender, class,

     culture and religion.

 2.  Demonstrate familiarity with the political philosophy of several

     prominent classical or contemporary philosophers, including those

     who address issues and views of diverse groups in the United States.

 3.  Demonstrate the ability to apply these concepts and theories to

     practical issues such as understanding the U.S. Constitution, civil

     rights, affirmative action, welfare, multiculturalism, and

     community.

 4.  Demonstrate an understanding of how these concepts and principles of

     political philosophy, especially where they involve issues of social

     justice, equality, liberty and citizenship, have been involved in

     the historical and present experience of at least three of the

     following groups:  African American, Asian American, Chicano/Latino

     American, European American, Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, and

     Americans of Middle Eastern origin.

Topics and Scope

1. Topics:  Classes will typically cover the basic concepts and issues of

political philosophy.  These include rights, liberty, governmental

authority and legitimacy, interpreting constitutions, citizenship,

justification of communal values, finding unity within diversity, and

respect for diversity.

2. Scope:  The focus of the course is on the concepts and issues of

political philosophy which are relevant for a student understanding and

reflecting on contemporary political issues.  Historical background will

be presented in order to provide for a good understanding and appreciation

of contemporary issues. The experience of at least three of following

groups will be emphasized:  African American, Asian American

Chicano/Latino American, European American, Indigenous Peoples of the

Americas, and Americans of Middle Eastern origin.

3. Sequence:  The sequence may vary according to the instructor and the

needs of the students.  A typical sequence is as follows:

  1. Introduction:  the nature of philosophical reflection and the

     special issues of political philosophy.

  2. The basic issue of governmental legitimacy.  Various theories about

     what justifies state power over individuals.

  3. The rights of the individual:  liberty, human rights, political

     rights, negative and positive rights.

  4. Rights and responsibilities involved in citizenship.

  5. Theories of constitutional interpretation.

  6. Common, shared values:  procedural values and substantive values.

     What procedural values are necessary to hold a community together?

     What substantive values are necessary within a society?

  7. Issues of diversity and community within a society, individual and

     group identity and dignity.

  8. Systematic political philosophies and differing views of human

     nature and human society:  conservatism, liberalism,

     communitarianism, democratic socialism, Confucian political ideals.

Assignments:

While varying, assignments for Philosophy 9 typically involve:

1.  Regularly assigned reading from course texts.

2.  Regular multiple choice and/or short essay quizzes covering the

   assigned readings.

3.  Essays and/or exams.  Exams will include essay questions.  Papers

   typically will be two to ten pages.

4.  Final examination involving true/false, multiple choice, fill-in,

   and essay questions.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 50 - 85%
Written homework, Essay exams, Term papers
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 10 - 45%
Multiple choice, True/false, FILL-IN
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 5 - 20%
ATTENDANCE AND/OR PARTICIPATION

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY:  AN INTRODUCTION, Will Kymlicka,

Oxford, pb., 1995.

SOCIAL JUSTICE IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY, Rite Manning and Rene Trujillo,

Mayfield, 1996.

THINKING ABOUT RACE, Naomi Zack, Wadsworth, 1998.

AN INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY, Jonathan Wolff, Oxford, 1996.

AN INTRODUCTION TO MODERN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY:  THE DEMOCRATIC VISION OF

POLITICS, Lesley Jacobs, Prentice Hall, 1997.

RACE MATTERS, Cornell West, Vintage Books, 1994.

MULTICULTURAL CITIZENSHIP:  A LIBERAL THEORY OF MINORITY RIGHTS, Will

Kymlicka, Oxford, pb., 1995.

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