Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Introduction to Political Thought (Face-to-Face)

POLS 2300-01

Course: POLS 2300-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 32467

Course Description

An introductory survey of key political ideas, concepts, and movements from antiquity to the 21st century. (Fall, Summer - Odd Years) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): None General Education Category: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Required Texts

POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY: A VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION
ISBN: 9780192803955
BY MILLER, DAVID
PUBLISHED BY OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, INCORPORATED
PUBLICATION DATE: SEP. 18, 2003
LIST PRICE: $12.99

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY: READINGS FROM PLATO TO GANDHI
ISBN: 9780385012386
BY SANTONI, RONALD, SOMERVILLE, JOHN
PUBLISHED BY KNOPF DOUBLEDAY PUBLISHING GROUP
PUBLICATION DATE: AUG. 6, 1963

NEOLIBERALISM: A VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION
ISBN: 9780198849674
BY STEGER, MANFRED B. AND ROY, RAVI K.
PUBLISHED BY OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, INCORPORATED
PUBLICATION DATE: APR. 1, 2021
LIST PRICE: $12.99

THE HARWOOD READER: Essential Readings in the History of Economic Ideas
(*NOTE: NO NEED TO PURCHASE: The Harwood Reader will be provided to all of the students enrolled in this class free of charge courtesy of The American Institute for Economic Research- AIER)

Learning Outcomes

This is a course in an introduction to political thought. We will be reading excerpts from Plato’s Republic, Aristotle’s Politics, Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan, continuing with coverage of Adam Smith's ideas on free markets and Karl Marx ‘s critique on capitalism. 

The Core Learning OutComes for This Course Are As Follows:

1.     Read seminal works and analyze some fundamental political concepts 
2.     Explore deep the connections between political and economic thought
3.     Evaluate some of the critical ideas espoused by some of the most prolific political thinkers of the past to the modern age
4.     Explore fundamental questions and concepts that have shaped political philosophy 
5.     Demonstrate the ability craft a reasoned argument and communicate it effectively






Course Requirements

COME TO EACH AND EVERY CLASS PREPARED!
1)Read!!!!! Read a lot each week!!!!!
2) Attend & participate substantively in all scheduled weekly meetings. These class meetings will involve a mix of professor-led lectures, student discussion, and student presentations,
3) Students will write three essay papers of seven pages in length throughout this course.
4) Students will write weekly prompt questions for class discussion.

Course Assignments & Grade Weights:

In-Class Essay One............................................................................................................................................................................20%

In-Class Essay Two............................................................................................................................................................................20%

In Class Essay Three..........................................................................................................................................................................40%
(Alternatively, students will be given the option to sign up and participate in a two-hour special seminar held on December 8, 2025 from 4:00ppm-6:00pm held at SUU's Aviation Main Hangar to discuss pre-selected readings from The Hardwood Reader used in this class on political and economic theory. This special seminar discussion will be led by Dr. Ryan Yonk from AIER (American Institute for Economic Research). Extensive and deep participation will be expected of attendees is they are to receive full credit. All students who wish to receive full credit in lieu of the final essay MUST attend the full two-hour special session- NO EXCEPTIONS- PLEASE DON'T EVEN ASK! A dinner will follow immediately at Chef Alfredo's hosted by AIER for all class attendees who participate and attend this full two hour special seminar.

Weekly Prompt Questions & Student Participation..............................................................................................................................20%

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENTS

ESSAYS
The questions for the three essay papers appear below:

Essay 1:
Aristotle and Plato possess very different views of politics and who should rule. Identify 5 key areas of politics where they disagree. Provide evidence from the readings to support your arguments.

Essay 2:
Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Adam Smith, and Jean Jaques Rousseau hold very distinct but related notions the state of nature and, relatedly views on the social contract and role of "the state" in society. Compare and contrast them. Having done this, compare and contrast the views of Thomas Jefferson, Henry David Thoreau, and M.K. Gandhi on how those who are oppressed should respond to unjust rule. Provide evidence from the readings to support your arguments.

Essay 3:
Political theories are ideas that we hold in hour heads about how the world works. As we explored in this course through the writings of some of history's most prolific thinkers, politics, economics, and justice are inextricably connected. For this last essay, you are to write on the following:
1) discuss some of the the core characteristics that distinguish classical liberalism, capitalism, Marxism and neoliberalism as distinct ideologies. In other words, how are they distinct? 
2) discuss some of the characteristics that classical liberalism, capitalism, Marxism and neoliberalism share in common. In other words, how are they related?
3) in conclusion, discuss how the emerging area known as humanomics usefully synthesizes concepts from these distinct areas of political theory. 

OR

Participate & attend s a two-hour special seminar held on December 8, 2025 from 4:00ppm-6:00pm held at SUU's Aviation Main Hangar related to readings in the Hardwood readers used in this course. ll students who wish to receive full credit in lieu of the final essay MUST attend the full two-hour special session- NO EXCEPTIONS- PLEASE DON'T EVEN ASK! 

WEEKLY PROMPT QUESTIONS & STUDENT PARTICIPATION
The format for the weekly prompt questions is as follows:

Each week I will hand out questions that students will be expected to discuss in the class immediately following. Students will be expected to prepare a one-page typed response to the question (amounting no less than 250 words) and bring them to class for discussion. These one-page responses will be submitted and comprise part of your course grade. The purpose of the weekly prompt questions is for the student to have a thoughtful and prepared response prior to class, from which they can lean on when contributing to class discussion. The professor will call on students at random each class session to add to the discussion.





Course Outline

What is Political Philosophy Weeks: 1 & 2
Read: David Miller, Political Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, Chapter 1: "Why Do We Need Political Philosophy"
Read: David Miller, Political Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, Chapter 2: "Political Authority"
Read: David Miller, Political Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, Chapter 3: "Democracy"
Read: David Miller, Political Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction: Chapter 4: "Freedom and the Limits of Government"

Political Philosophy Today: Week: 3
Read: David Miller, Political Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, Chapter 5: "Justice"
Read: David Miller, Political Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, Chapter 6:" Feminism & Multiculturalism"
Read: David Miller, Political Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, Chapter 7: "Nations, States, & Global Justice"

The Greeks Part I: Plato's Republic: Week 4
Read
: What is Political Thought? It's About Ideas. Gabriel Almond, "Clouds & Clocks" (pdf link provided in Canvas)
Read: Plato, The Republic from The Social & Political Philosophy Reader
Watch: "Why Read Plato's Republic" (Robin Waterfield)
Watch: Plato's Republic I: "Justice, Power, and Knowledge" (Michael Sugrue)

The Greeks Part II: Aristotle: Week 5
Read: Aristotle, "Politics" from The Social & Political Philosophy Reader, pp.59-100.
Watch: "Politics and Ethics:" 
Watch: Aristotle & The Middle Class
Watch: Aristotle, The State, Moderation & The Middle Class

Natural Law & The Social Contract: Week 6
Write: EXAM ONE
Read: Thomas Hobbes, "Leviathan" from The Social & Political Philosophy Reader, p. 139-168
Read: John Locke, "The Second Treatise on Civil Government" from The Social & Political Philosophy Reader, pp. 169- 204.
Read: Jean Jaques Russeau, "The Social Contract", from The Social & Political Philosophy Reader, p. 205-238
Read: Thomas Jefferson, "The Declaration of Independence", from The Social & Political Philosophy Reader, p. 209-24

Liberty & Liberalism: Week 7
Read: John Stuart Mill, "On Liberty", from The Social & Political Philosophy Reader, p. 302-341
Read: Henry David Thoreau, " On the Duty of Civil Disobedience", from The Social & Political Philosophy Reader, p. 282-301
Read: M. K. Gandhi, "Non-violent Resistance", from The Social & Political Philosophy Reader, pp. 500-

Classical Economics and Political Economy Free Trade PART I: Week 8
Read: Adam Smith, "The Wealth of Nations" Chapters 1, 2, & 3 (excerpts) from The Harwood Reader, pp. 93-108.
Read: David Hume, "Of Money" and "Of Interest" from The Harwood Reader, pp. 17-37
Read: Alexander Hamilton "Report on the Subject of Manufacturers 1791 (Excerpts) from The Harwood Reader, pp. 297-313

Classical Economics and Political Economy Free Trade PART II: Week 9
Read:
Deirdre N. McCloskey, "The Bourgeois Virtues: Ethics for an age of commerce" (excerpts), University of Chicago Press https://press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/556638.html
Read: David Ricardo, "On Value" and "On Foreign Trade" from The Harwood Reader, pp. 109-132.
Read: Carl Menger "The Theory of Value" from The Harwood Reader, pp. 245-251
Read: Richard Cantillon, "Essay on the Nature of Commerce in General" (Excerpts) from The Harwood Reader, pp.15-17.

The Socialist Critique of Capitalism From Marx to Rawls: Week 10
Write:
EXAM TWO
Read
: Karl Marx & The Reaction Against Incomplete Freedom: Karl Marx, "Value, Price & Profit" from The Harwood Reader, pp. 181-227
Read: Was Karl Marx A PubLic Choice Theorist?
Read: A critique of the central concepts in free-trade theory, Journal of Social, Political, and Economic Studies, 1998, Vol. 23, Issue 4, pp. 433-435)
Watch: "Introduction to [John] Rawls Theory of Justice", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6k08C699zI
Watch: "Dr. Darren Staloff, John Rawl's A Theory of Justice", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxvgWjsHynk&t=899s
Read: Nick Cowen, "Basic Economic Liberties: John Rawls and Adam Smith Reconciled" The Independent Review, Vol. 26, Iss. 2, (Fall 2021): 263-285. (Article link embedded in Canvas.)

Neoliberalism Part 1: Week 11
Read
: Manfred Steger & Ravi Roy, Neoliberalism: a very short introduction:, Chapter 1: "What's 'Neo" About Liberalism?"
Read:  “Hayek's The Road to Serfdom Revisited: Government Failure in the Argument Against Socialism”, Peter Boettke, Eastern Economic Journal, 1995, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 7-26.
Read
: Manfred Steger & Ravi Roy, Neoliberalism: a very short introduction:, Chapter 2: "First Wave Neoliberalism in the 1980s..."
Read: Manfred Steger & Ravi Roy, Neoliberalism: a very short introduction:, Chapter 3: "Second Eave Neoliberalism in the 1990s..."

Neoliberalism Part II: Week 12
Read
: Manfred Steger & Ravi Roy, Neoliberalism: a very short introduction: Chapter 4: "Neoliberalism and Asian Development"
Read: Manfred Steger & Ravi Roy, Neoliberalism: a very short introduction: Chapter 5: "Neoliberalism in Latin America & Africa"
Read: Manfred Steger & Ravi Roy, Neoliberalism: a very short introduction: Chapter 6: "The Crisis of Neoliberalism in the 200s and Beyond"
Read:
Ravi Roy, "India’s Evolving Experiment with Neoliberalism A Confluence of Mental Models"

Political & Economic Positivism of the 20th Century: Week 13
Read: "
Karl Popper, critical rationalism, and the Positivist Dispute, Hans Albert." Journal of Classical Sociology, 2015, Vol. 15(2) 209–219. (Article link embedded in Canvas.)
Read: Deoniti Prasad Sinha, "A Science of Politics Positivism Pros and Cons" 2017 JETIR October 2017, Volume 4, Issue 10 (Article link embedded in Canvas.)

Humanomics: Bringing Morality Back In: Week 14
Read:
Diedre McCloskey, "Adam Smith did Humanomics: So should we" Eastern Economic Journal, (2016) 503–513. (Article link embedded in Canvas.)
Read:
An Article about Vernon L. Smith & Bart Wilson's seminal work on humanomics entitled "The Wealth of Humans: Core, Periphery and Frontiers of Humanomics", Paolo Silvestri & Benoît Walraevens, Journal of Economic Methodology, 2023, Vol. 30(1) 15-33. (Article link embedded in Canvas.)
Watch: Bart Wilson, "Meaningful Economics" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cyq_UG_uO8
Read:
 "Can there be a normative social epistemology? Vernon Smith, Adam Smith, and the challenge of systems", Michael Munger, Public Choice, March 2025. (Article link embedded in Canvas.)
Read: Ravi Roy, Mustafa Deldoost & Ryan Yonk. "The confluence of humanomics and neuroeconomics on economic cooperation", Submitted to Cosmos & Taxis journal. (Article link embedded in Canvas.)

Week 15: Summary & Wrap-up







Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

NO LATE WORK WILL ACCEPTED IN THIS CLASS!!!!
Employers expect that those they hire arrive on-time and complete all of their work in a professional manner. To prepare students for the real-world and help them hone a strong professional work ethic, all students in enrolled in this course will be held to firm deadlines and high performance standards. NO LATE WORK WILL ACCEPTED in this class.

EXCEPTIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, ILLNESS, AND FAMILY EMERGENCIES
Very rare exceptions to the very strict "NO LATE WORK POLICY" policy may be made for students with physical and/or mental challenges who have first secured support from the SUU Disabilities Resource Center. Also, at the sole discretion of the instructor, exceptions may be made for students for reasons of unforeseen personal illness or illness or death of a close relative. In any case, formal documentation from a physician or other pertinent authority will be required to be given consideration for an extension of deadline for any assignment for any reason.
(Note: SUU's pregnancy policy is outlined clearly elsewhere in this syllabus).

Attendance Policy

All students are expected to attend all scheduled face-to-face classes in person and all scheduled in-class meetings for hybrid classes. All students will be graded according to their level of class participation in all scheduled face-to-face classes.

Group work assignments ware assigned in this class and students must be present to complete them.

At the sole discretion of the instructor, students may receive an excused absence for reasons of unforeseen personal illness or illness or death of a close relative. In any case, formal documentation from a physician or other pertinent authority will be required to be given consideration for any excused absence for any reason.

The professor will excuse absences for student athletes only for instances and under conditions that are specifically outlined under SUU Policy 6.30: https://www.suu.edu/policies/06/30.html

Course Fees

There are no course fees in this class

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.