Religion, Public Reason, and DemocracyPHILOSOPHY SENIOR SEMINAR

PHIL 4300W FALL 2015

ABOUT THIS COURSEProfessor Dr. Rosemary Kellison

Contact rkelliso@westga.edu; 678.839.5514

Office TLC 2245

Office Hours T/R 1–1:50 pm & 3:30–5:00 pm, W 10 am–12 pm & 1–5 pm, and by appointment

Philosophy Program 678.839.6512

Meeting Time TR 2:00–3:20 pm

Classroom Pafford 309

Course Description

Senior Seminar is the capstone course in the study of philosophy at UWG. The course will be conducted in a traditional seminar style, with students assuming a leadership role in the classroom. Each student will also produce a sophisticated philosophical paper; we will spend significant time on the development, drafting, and revision of this paper. We will focus on philosophical discussions of the proper role of religion (if there is such a role) in a democracy. Using John Rawls’s famous discussion of public reason as a starting point, we will explore and critically assess several contemporary positions on this issue.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: •  give a critical account of John Rawls’s argument for public

reason and various philosophical responses; •  critically analyze and make philosophical arguments; •  lead a class discussion; •  frame a philosophical question or issue for investigation; •  conduct research into primary and secondary sources

relevant to the issue of public reason; •  and write and orally present a sophisticated academic

paper.

These course-specific learning outcomes contribute to the departmental learning outcomes of the Philosophy Program by enabling students better to: •  discuss the views of a major historical

figure of philosophy; •  identify and critically describe different

philosophical positions and issues; •  incorporate a philosophical position in

oral and written communications; •  and exhibit critical thinking skills.

COURSE MATERIALSRequired Text:

Political Liberalism (expanded edition), by John Rawls (Columbia University Press, 2005) ISBN 978-0231130899

All other readings will be made available on our CourseDen website.

Americans with Disabilities Act Students with a documented disability may work with UWG Disability Services to receive essential services specific to their disability. All entitlements to accommodations are based on documentation and USG Board of Regents standards. If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability or chronic illness, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please notify your instructor in writing by the end of the second full week of class and include a copy of your Student Accommodations Report, which is available only from Disability Services. Students are entitled to accommodations if they deliver the SAR to the instructor no later than Sept. 4. UWG Email Policy UWG students are provided a MyUWG e-mail account. The University considers this account to be an official means of communication between the University and the student. The purpose of the official use of the student e-mail account is to provide an effective means of communicating important university-related information to UWG students in a timely manner. It is the student’s responsibility to check his or her email. Credit Hour Policy UWG grants 1 semester hour of credit for work equivalent to a minimum of 1 hour (50 minutes) of in-class or other direct faculty instruction AND 2 hours of student work outside of class per week for approximately 15 weeks. The course syllabus documents the amount of in-class (or other direct faculty instruction) and out-of-class work required to earn the credit hours assigned to the course. Out-of-class work includes all forms of credit-bearing activity, including but not limited to assignments, readings, and observations. UWG Honor Code At UWG, we believe that academic and personal integrity are based upon honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Students at UWG assume responsibility for upholding the honor code. UWG students pledge to refrain from engaging in acts that do not maintain academic and personal integrity. These include but are not limited to plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, aid of academic dishonesty, lying, bribery or threats, and stealing. UWG maintains and monitors a confidential Academic Dishonesty Tracking System. This database collects and reports patterns of repeated student violations across all the Colleges, the Ingram Library, and the School of Nursing. You are responsible for safeguarding your computer account. Your account and network connection are for your individual use. A computer account is to be used only by the person to whom it has been issued. You are responsible for all actions originating through your account or network connection. You must not impersonate others or misrepresent or conceal your identity in electronic messages and actions. Updated policies available at: http://www.westga.edu/~bjames/CommonLanguageForCourseSyllabi.htm

UNIVERSITY POLICIES

Intellectual Autobiography and Resume These ungraded materials, due 9/15, are required for all graduating Philosophy seniors and must be completed to earn a passing grade in this course.

Participation and Attendance (20%) To earn an excellent participation grade, you should: •  come to class on time each day. •  be attentive during class. Avoid using your cellphone or laptop, texting, visiting websites, sleeping,

sending emails, or talking to students around you during class. •  bring the assigned reading to class and be prepared to reference it. •  participate, in a prepared and respectful manner, in class discussion every class period. •  complete thorough, charitable, and critical peer editing. Regular attendance is expected in this course. Documentation must be provided for an excused absence. After two unexcused absences, each additional absence will result in a 1% deduction from your final course grade. Repeatedly coming late to class will result in similar deductions. 3% will be deducted for absences and 1% will be deducted for late arrivals on peer-editing or presentation days (Oct. 13, Oct. 29, Nov. 17, Nov. 19, Dec. 1, and Dec. 3). If you have an exceptional circumstance requiring you to miss class on one of those dates, discuss it with Dr. Kellison well in advance.

Critical Comments/Questions (5%) By 2 pm on each class day (except the days you are leading discussion), you will submit 1–2 critical comments or questions about the reading on CourseDen. You can miss three days of your choice with no penalty.

Seminar Papers and Leading Class Discussion (5% x 4 = 20%) You will lead class discussion twice during the semester. You will begin with a 10-minute critical synopsis of the assigned reading’s major argument. You will also bring several discussion questions to be discussed during the seminar meeting that day. You must submit at least three discussion questions and a seminar paper (consisting of a 750–1000-word critical analysis of the reading) on CourseDen by noon on the date of your presentation. You are strongly encouraged to discuss your seminar paper and questions with Dr. Kellison ahead of time. Missed presentations cannot be made up.

Final Paper (55%) Throughout the semester, you will work on a 10–12-page final paper in which you will defend a philosophical position related to one of our course readings. All papers of sufficient quality will be included in the 2015 Senior Seminar Anthology. The components of the final paper assignment are: •  Topic (2%, due R 9/24): Submit a suggested topic for your final paper, including a brief statement

of what specific question you plan to answer in your paper. •  Abstract & Annotated Bibliography (5%, due M 10/5): Submit a preliminary bibliography including

at least three scholarly sources along with a short description of each source and its relevance to your paper. Also submit a 200-word abstract of your paper’s expected argument.

•  Outline (5%, due M 10/12): Your 1–2-page outline should include the major sections, arguments, and sources of your paper. This outline will be reviewed by Dr. Kellison and by a peer editor.

•  First Draft (8%, due M 10/26): This draft should include at least the first six pages of your paper. It will be reviewed by Dr. Kellison and by a peer editor.

•  Second Draft (10%, due M 11/16): The second, complete draft should be 10–12 pages long and should be submitted in final, proofread, polished form.

•  Presentation (10%, 11/17–12/3): You will present your final paper in class and answer questions from classmates.

•  Final Paper (15%, due T 12/8)

Late submissions of any final-paper assignments will be penalized 20% per day late and not accepted more than five days late. Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a grade of 0. Failure to schedule and attend an out-of-class meeting about your paper with Dr. Kellison by Oct. 2 will result in a 10-point penalty to your final paper grade; individual additional meetings may be required based on draft submissions.

Grading Scale: A: 90–100; B: 80–89; C: 70–79; D: 60–69; F: 0–59

ASSESSMENT

Date Reading/Assignment

Introduction

T 8/25 Course syllabus

R 8/27 Richard Rorty, “Religion as Conversation-Stopper” (1994) Sign up for presentation dates in class

The Development of Liberalism and the Idea of Public Reason

T 9/1 John Locke, “A Letter Concerning Toleration” (1689), pgs. 211–235

R 9/3 John Locke, “A Letter Concerning Toleration” (1689), pgs. 235–254

T 9/8 John Rawls, Political Liberalism (1993), Lecture I pgs. 1–22

R 9/10 John Rawls, Political Liberalism (1993), Lecture I pgs. 22–46

T 9/15 John Rawls, Political Liberalism (1993), Lecture IV pgs. 131–154 Intellectual autobiography and resume due by 2 pm

R 9/17 John Rawls, Political Liberalism (1993), Lecture IV pgs. 154–172

T 9/22 John Rawls, Political Liberalism (1993), Lecture V pgs. 173–195

R 9/24 John Rawls, Political Liberalism (1993), Lecture V pgs. 195–211 Paper topic due by 2 pm

T 9/29 John Rawls, Political Liberalism (1993), Lecture VI pgs. 212–231

R 10/1 John Rawls, Political Liberalism (1993), Lecture VI pgs. 231–254

F 10/2 Deadline for mandatory out-of-class meeting with Dr. Kellison about your paper

M 10/5 Abstract & annotated bibliography due by 2 pm

T 10/6 John Rawls, “The Idea of Public Reason Revisited” (1997) in PL pgs. 440–466

R 10/8 John Rawls, “The Idea of Public Reason Revisited” (1997) in PL pgs. 466–490

Critiques of Public Reason and the Doctrine of Religious Restraint

M 10/12 Outline due by 2 pm

T 10/13 Nicholas Wolterstorff, “The Role of Religion in Decision…” (1997) pgs. 67–96 Peer editing in class—bring paper copy of outline

W 10/14 Last day to withdraw with a grade of W

R 10/15 Nicholas Wolterstorff, “The Role of Religion in Decision…” (1997) pgs. 96–120

T 10/20 Jeffrey Stout, “Religious Reasons in Political Argument” (2004) pgs. 63–77

R 10/22 Jeffrey Stout, “Religious Reasons in Political Argument” (2004) pgs. 77–91

M 10/26 First draft due by 2 pm

T 10/27 Michael J. Perry, “Christians, the Bible, and Same-Sex Unions” (2003) Bring paper copy of first draft to class to give to peer reviewer

R 10/29 Michael J. Perry, “Religion, Politics, and Abortion” (2003) Peer editing in class

T 11/3 Christie Hartley and Lori Watson, “Feminism, Religion, and Shared Reasons” (2009)

COURSE CALENDAR (subject to change with advanced notice)

Date Reading/Assignment

Genealogical and Definitional Critiques of Liberalism and Religious Restraint

R 11/5 Winnifred F. Sullivan, “Free Religion” (2005)

T 11/10 Craig Martin, “Configured for Exclusion: Characterizations of Religion…” (2010)

R 11/12 Saba Mahmood, “Religious Reason and Secular Affect…” (2009)

M 11/16 Second draft due by 2 pm

Presentations

T 11/17 Panel TBD

R 11/19 Panel TBD

T 11/24 R 11/26

Thanksgiving Break No Class

T 12/1 Panel TBD

R 12/3 Panel TBD

M 12/7 Final paper due by 2 pm

T 12/8 Mandatory Final Meeting: Discussion of Papers, Selection of Anthology Title and Cover, Philosophy Program Exit Survey (2–4:30 pm)

COURSE CALENDAR cont. (subject to change with advanced notice)