Philosophy 422: Liberalism and Its
Critics
Spring Semester 2009
R.E. Walton, Prof.
SYLLABUS
In this course we
will examine the modern political theory known as liberalism. Liberalism dominates contemporary political
thought in the West to such an extent that it is difficult to gain the distance
and objectivity necessary to identify its principal features, much less to
subject it to criticism. In one
important sense, liberalism at present has no significant alternatives in the
modern Western political tradition; e.g., what is commonly called
"conservatism" and assumed to be the opposite of liberalism is in
fact a species of liberalism. Despite
its having the status of a virtual orthodoxy, however, there is an extensive and
venerable body of criticism of liberal political theory, liberal texts and
liberal governmental measures. From the
larger perspective, much of this criticism takes the form of a dialogue within
liberalism itself. We will effect our
examination of liberalism by reading some major liberal texts and a sample of
the critical literature, taking an approach that is largely historical and
analytical. We
will consider liberalism
within the context of the American experience. Our first task
will be to construct working characterizations of the various senses of
the term 'liberalism'.
TEXTS:
F.A. Hayek, The Road to Serfdom (Chicago: The
University of Chicago Press, 1994 [1944, 1972])
Isaac Kramnick, ed., The Portable Edmund Burke (New York: Penguin Books, 1999)
J.S. Mill, On
Michael Sandel, Democracy's Discontents:
Michael
Sandel, ed., Liberalism and Its Critics
(New York University Press, 1984)
‑-Various works
on reserve or in electronic form
REQUIREMENTS:
Students must read
the assigned material carefully and thoroughly before its treatment in
class. The course will be conducted
somewhat in seminar fashion, with students regularly asked to present a summary
and brief critique of the text under discussion, or of some secondary material.
From time to time
brief papers will be assigned on particular problems presented by the texts.
These papers are to be 500‑1000 words in length. There may be an
occasional quiz.
The
principal task
for the course will be the preparation of a paper on one of the issues
treated
in the course., or a substantive critical review of a significant work
relevant to the aims of the course. A list of books suitable for
review will be provided. These papers will be
presented in the final sessions of the class, the last taking place in the
period assigned for the final examination.
There will be no final examination, as such.
The main topics for
the course, with their associated readings, are listed below. The list may change somewhat as the course
develops.
READING
ASSIGNMENTS‑‑MAJOR ITEMS
Text
Week
A. Classical Liberalism
The
Declaration of
The
Constitution of the United States
II
David Hume, misc. political essays
[reserve] III
The Federalist No. 1 (
No. 47; No. 51; No. 63; No. 78; No. 84 (
The
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789) IV
Edmund Burke, various
IV
I. Kant, "Perpetual Peace"
[reserve] IV
M. Oakeshott, "Rationalism in
Politics" [reserve} IV
B. Modern (Transitional) Liberalism
"Introduction"
to Democracy in America, Alexis de
Tocqueville
[reserve]
V
J.S.
Mill, On
C. Contemporary Liberalism
Michael Sandel, ed., Liberalism and Its Critics
VI-IX
Michael Sandel, Democracy's Discontent;
of a Public Philosophy
X-XII
D. Conclusions
F.A. Hayek, The Road to Serfdom (selections) XII-XIII
Student
papers
XIII-XIV
FINAL EXAM PERIOD: 3:20-5:20, Wed., May 13th