Using three theorists, answer one of the questions below
Description
Using three theorists, answer one of the questions below. Choose among these theorists: Locke, the Federalists, Marx & Engels (considered as one theorist) Rousseau, Wollstonecraft, and Mill. In your essay, be sure to use specific evidence from the readings to back up your thesis. Material from the lectures and discussion is also appropriate, but the primary emphasis should be on the readings. Submit your copy online in Word format (do not use Pages) Word limit: 1,500 words.
1. Most of the theorists discuss the role of property and some of them also discuss women, marriage, family, and education. How do they understand these social institutions? What does this understanding reveal about their overall political theories? Which theorist makes the best argument? Why?
2. Democracy has been defined as political participation, political liberty, and political equality. How do your theorists understand these ideas? Which one, if any, has the best understanding? Do any of them provide a satisfactory understanding that applies to our politics today?
3. For our theorists, what are the sources of injustice in their societies? What should be done about these injustices? Do the proposals for eliminating injustice create their own problems for a just society?
SOURCES THAT NEED TO BE USED IN THE ESSAY
: Princeton Readings in Political Thought*, 2nd ed., (eds. Cohen & Fermon); The Republic, Plato (ed.
Ferrari); The Prince, Machiavelli (ed. Skinner & Price); The Communist Manifesto, Marx & Engels (ed. Isaac:
available for free from the GCC Library as an eBook); and Scott, Two Cheers for Anarchism
*Available for purchase as an eBook.
Note on the texts: Most of the texts are available in other editions (and for a lot less money) or can be accessed for free online. However, since we will be referring to the texts frequently in class, it would be convenient to have the
official course texts.
