This is the Fall 2018 version of this course. For the Fall 2016 version of this course, click here.

You may download the complete PDF here.

Course Description

This course is a philosophical introduction to current social and political issues. Public discourse is in a sorry state: partisanship is rampant; the left is becoming alarmingly authoritarian; the right is becoming increasingly transgressive. Fortunately, philosophy provides us with the tools necessary to navigate, examine, and evaluate positions in a clear and systematic manner. In this course, we will consider many of the most important problems of modern times. It will directly deal with current events and seek to understand their causes and effects. Topics of discussion will include but are not limited to: the state of nature; free speech; the legislation of force; racism; affirmative action; privilege; rights; the redistribution of wealth; and, the permissibility of violent rebellion.

Course Texts

1. Warburton, Nigel. Free Speech: A Very Short Introduction. (Oxford, 2009)
2. Wolff, Jonathan. An Introduction to Political Philosophy, 3d. ed. (Oxford, 2016)
3. Various articles.

Course Requirements

Requirement              Description                                                            Weight           Date

Seminar Engagement                 Weekly reflections on the week’s topic and participation.             15%                Recurring

Response Paper #1   A response to material from the first unit.         25%                14 Oct 2300

Response Paper #2   A response to material from the second unit.   30%                11 Nov 2300

Final Examination      A cumulative final examination.                          30%                TBA

Course Schedule

Week	Topic	Day	Readings
01 Sep 03	No lectures or tutorials.	Mon	[no class]
		Weds	[no class]

Liberalism: Not What You Think It Is

02 Sep 10	Standpoints	Mon	Syllabus; Intro (IPP 1-5)
		Weds	E: James
03 Sep 17	The State of Nature	Mon	Hobbes (IPP: 9-17)
		Weds	Locke (IPP: 17-24)
04 Sep 24	The Social Contract	Mon	The Social Contract (IPP: 39-49)
		Weds	The Principle of Fairness (IPP:55-60)
05 Oct 01		Mon	Mill on liberty (IPP: 104-114)
	Free Speech I	Weds	FS: Chapter 2

 The Past is Now! 

06 Oct 08	Canada’s Shameful Legacy	Mon	[Rescheduled to Nov 30]
		Weds	E: Truth & Rec; Probs (IPP: 125-32)
07 Oct 15	Racism & Oppression	Mon	E: Du Bois; Justice (IPP:188-95)
		Weds	E: West (Ch 1)
08 Oct 22	Male Privilege: What It Is & Isn’t	Mon	E: McIntosh; Misogyny (IPP: 200-3)
		Weds	E: Mulvey
09 Oct 29	Equality & Equity	Mon	E: Cool; IPP: Rights for Women
	Free Speech II	Weds	FS: Chapter 3

 Democracy: The Worst Form of Government* 

10 Nov 05	The Lie of Vox Populi	Mon	Plato… (IPP: 66-77)
		Weds	Rousseau… (IPP: 77-93)
11 Nov 12		Mon	E: Dunning.
	Democracy vs democracy	Weds	E: Dewey
12 Nov 19		Mon	Rawls (IPP: 153-170)
	Civil Disobedience	Weds	E: King
13 Nov 26		Mon	E: Arendt
	Free Speech III	Weds	FS: Chapter 5 & Conclusion
		Fri	[Review]

*except all the others

Legend. E: Electronic Reserve; FS: Free Speech: A Very Short Introduction; IPP: Introduction to Political Philosophy.