Political Science 184 (401) Prof. Dennis J. Goldford
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Objectives: Through an examination of the Marxist understanding of reason, history, and nature, this course will explore the philosophical foundations of Marxism as a general social theory which emphasizes the concept of totality. A key to the concept of totality is this concise but central Marxist theme: "Men make their own history, but they do not make it just as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly found, given and transmitted from the past" (T 595). Students should finish the semester having developed a grasp of the theoretical richness of this theme. To that end, Marxism's roots in German Idealism, its reformulation of the concepts of objectivity and subjectivity, and its ongoing distinction between idealist and materialist modes of social explanation will receive special attention.
Required Course Texts (editions in University Bookstore):
G = Gramsci, The Modern Prince and Other Writings (International Publishers, 1957).
C = Korsch, Marxism and Philosophy (Monthly Review, 1970).
K = Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 2nd ed. (Chicago, 1970).
L = Lauer, Hegel's Idea of Philosophy (Fordham, 1983).
T = Tucker (ed.), The Marx-Engels Reader, 2nd ed. (Norton, 1978).
Materials on Library Reserve:
R1 = McLellan, The Young Hegelians and Karl Marx (1-47).
R2 = Tucker (ed.), The Lenin Anthology (pp. 12-54).
R3 = Lukács, History and Class Consciousness (pp. 1-26, 46-82)
R4 = Horkheimer, Critical Theory (pp. 10-46, 188-243).
R5 = Althusser, For Marx (pp. 49-86).
R6 = Althusser, Lenin and Philosophy (pp. 127-86).
R7 = Gouldner, The Two Marxisms (pp. 32-63).
WEEK DATE DISCUSSION TOPICS AND ASSIGNED READINGS
01 01-16: Introduction: social theory and political economy.
01-18: Nature, objectivity, and totality (K Ch. 1-7).
02 01-23: Nature, objectivity, and totality (K Ch. 8-13 and postscript).
01-25: Philosophy and history (L 67-93).
03 01-30: Philosophy and history (L 94-135).
02-01: Philosophy and history (R1).
04 02-06: Marx's Critique of Hegel (T 16-25, 53-65, 106-125).
02-08: The Young Marx (T 66-81).
05 02-13: The Young Marx (T 81-105).
02-15: Examination #1.
06 02-20: Idealism and Materialism (T 136-155).
02-22: Idealism and Materialism (T 155-176).
07 02-27: Idealism and Materialism (T 176-200).
03-01: The Mature Theory of Capitalism (T 221-244).
08 03-06: The Mature Theory of Capitalism (T 294-312).
03-08: The Mature Theory of Capitalism (T 312-329).
09 03-13: The Mature Theory of Capitalism (T 329-361).
03-15: The Theory of Social Change (T 3-6, 469-483).
10 03-27: The Theory of Social Change (T 483-500).
03-29: Examination #2.
11 04-03: The Later Engels and Revisionism (T 683-717, 760-768).
04-05: Leninist Marxism (R2).
12 04-10: Critical Marxism: Lukács (R3).
04-12: Critical Marxism: Korsch (C pp. 29-97, 130-3).
13 04-17: Critical Marxism: Gramsci (G pp. 58-89).
04-19: Critical Marxism: Gramsci (G pp. 90-125).
14 04-24: Critical Marxism: The Frankfurt School (R4).
04-26: Scientific Marxism: Althusser (R5).
15 05-01: Scientific Marxism: Althusser (R6). Essay due.
05-03: Marxism and Social Theory (R7).
16 05-11: Final Examination, Friday, 12:00-1:50 p.m.
COURSE PROCEDURES AND GRADING POLICY:
1. You are expected to attend class regularly, to have read the assigned text material prior to class, and to participate in class discussions. Because our format will be principally that of discussion, supplemented by periodic lectures, your participation will be crucial to the success of the course.
2. You must successfully complete all examinations (two mid-term exams and one take-home essay, each of which counts 20%, and one final exam, which counts 40%); failure to complete an examination is cause for a grade of F for the course, not just for the examination, and make-ups or extensions are solely a matter of my discretion rather than automatic right.
3. Because a major goal of this course is to help develop your reasoning and writing capabilities, all examinations will consist of in-class essays. Each examination will be evaluated in terms of letter grades, but letter grades will then be averaged and weighted in terms of a 12-level point system:
A+ = 12 B+ = 9 C+ = 6 D+ = 3 F = 0
A = 11 B = 8 C = 5 D = 2
A- = 10 B- = 7 C- = 4 D- = 1
4. Final grades are based upon your written examinations and my evaluation of your class attendance and participation. Failure to attend class regularly will cause a lowering of your course grade. There is no course grading curve; you might find it helpful, therefore, to study together.