POSC 105

KARL MARX

 

Fall 2003 Rhodes  WWP448 83420 MWF 9-10, 2-3

 

THE COURSE introduces the student to classical texts of Marx, and, necessarily, to some of the texts of Hegel that served as Marx’s points of departure.  In political philosophy, one studies these writings to understand the ideologies underpinning communist regimes,  and also to comprehend something of the nature of the modern age that remains with us even after the collapse of the Soviet bloc.

 

BOOKS TO BE PURCHASED:  Tucker, The Marx-Engels Reader.

 

ATTENDANCE:  It is necessary to attend all of the classes to do well in the course.  Repeated absences will have natural consequences, in the sense that they almost certainly will cause students to do poorly on examina­tions and to receive low grades.  This will occur automatically, so the instruc­tor will not have to take role more than occasionally.

 

REQUIREMENTS:  Students will prepare the readings listed below for class discussion.  Approximately half the semester will be spent on selections 1 and 2, the other half on 3-7.  The readings are difficult.  They cannot be skimmed; understand­ing will come only with serious, careful study and reflec­tion.  There will be two take-home exams.  The first will be on 1-2, the second on 3-7.

 

GRADING:  All papers will be graded on the basis of the quality of their reasoning.  Good reasoning consists in insightful recognition of problems, disciplined selection of evidence relevant to the problems, rigorous logic, mastery of necessary information, and tight organiza­tion of written presenta­tions.  Students also should strive for correct grammar and spelling, ele­gance, and clarity in the papers.  Each exam is worth 50% of the course grade.  Effective class participa­tion could result in upward adjustment of grades.

 

 

 

READING ASSIGNMENTS

 

1. Hegel, excerpts (ditto handout). 

 

2. Marx, "To Make the World Philosophical," "For a Ruthless Criticism of Everything Existing," "On the Jewish Question," "Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right: Introduction."

 

3. Marx, "Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844."

 

4. Marx, "Theses on Feuerbach" and "German Ideology, part I." 

 

5. Marx, "Marx on the History of His Opinions (Preface . . . )" and "Manifesto of the Communist Party."

 

6. Marx, "Capital," vol. 1, as excerpted by editor.

 

7. Marx, "Critique of the Gotha Program," pp. 529-531.

 

 

EXAMS, EXAM INSTRUCTIONS

 

Each exam will be an essay no longer than 2000 words.  The instructor will assign the question.  Alternatively, for anybody who wishes, the student will select, in consultation with the instructor, one or more passages from the readings under consideration.  The essay has these tasks:  (1) Select passages that are relevant to the same question.  State the question, and explain why it is problematic.  (2) Analyze the reasoning about the question that the texts offer.  What are the assumptions?  What are the arguments?  What difficulties might render the assumptions and arguments unacceptable, and how do the authors handle them?  (3) With regard to what is fundamentally problem­atic in the question, explain how the author's arguments guide us or distract us in our search for truth.  Reason this section especially carefully.  It is the part of the essay that best shows the student's ability to conduct inquiry beyond the mere recitation of texts and lecture notes.