POLS 212-01, American Political Thought, Fall 2006

Abstract

The purpose of a course on American Political Thought should be obvious. As American citizens, as mothers and fathers, and as teachers we must be acquainted with the “political philosophy” that lies behind our regime. Anyone who lives in the United States should know the “thinking” of our founding fathers in order to better understand our current situation (for better or for worse). This obvious purpose, however, is easier stated than accomplished. There is a deeper purpose for our studies this term. This deeper purpose is that of self discovery. As citizens of the modern world, all of us have been shaped or educated by the founding of the United States of America and this education has been so thoroughthat we no longer recognize some fundamental assumptions that guide our everyday lives. Luckily for us, the obvious purpose of understanding America and the deeper purpose of understanding ourselves go hand in hand. We will read some foundational documents of the American founding for ourselves. We will not assume that we understand Jefferson, Madison, Washington or any other founder simply because we took a High School or Junior High Civics course. We will not assume we already know what it means to be an American because most of us were lucky enough to be born here. We will not assume we have some privileged point of criticism because we know the personal failings of any founder. In essence, we will not assume anything … we will read for ourselves and judge for ourselves. A crucial aspect of this course will be to sharpen our reading skills. If we are to understand these men, we must have faith that they expressed their thought in a meaningful way. Coming to know an author through reading can be as exciting as getting to know a good friend. In this sense, a book is more than ink and paper, it is a gift left by the greatest minds in order to school future generations (you) – about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.