Textbooks: Karl Marx: Selected Writings (2nd Ed) David McLellan, ed.; On Marx by Wendy Lynne Lee; &, Why Read Marx Today? by Jonathan Wolff. Other articles will be available via web download or for reproduction in the department library. See course web page for appropriate links.

Course Description: This course will have three intertwined themes: (1) to provide a historical overview of the philosophical writings of Karl Marx; (2) to examine a number of critiques and attempts by Marxists to expand upon his ideas; and, (3) to evaluate these ideas as they apply to enduring questions regarding social justice, human nature, religion, creativity and technology. As Marx wrote in 1845: “The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point, however, is to change it.”

Preparation and expectations: Students are expected to attend all class meetings, to be familiar with the day’s assigned reading, and to actively participate in classroom discussions.

Grading: Your final grade for this course will be determined as follows: 12 evaluative essays (40%), two exams, and two précis & presentations (15% each). Participation & attendance will serve as a grade ceiling for the course (see below).

· Exams: There will be both a mid-term and a non-cumulative final exam in this course. Each exam will include both short answer and essay questions.

· Evaluative Essays: Through the course of the semester, each student is required to submit 12 critical, one-page essays on the assigned material. See notes at the course web page for further information.

· Précis & presentation: Each student is expected to draw up and present a précis of at least two of the assigned readings. See notes at the course web page for further information.

· Class attendance: Roll will be taken regularly and will act as a ceiling on the student’s grade for the course. Regardless of grades received on the various assignments, a student’s final course grade will not exceed the percentage of classes attended.

· No extra credit is available nor are makeup exams given.

Important Notes:

· The academic community regards academic dishonesty as an extremely serious matter, with serious consequences that range from a failing grade to expulsion from the University. When in doubt about plagiarism, quotation, or collaboration, consult the course instructor. For further information regarding UCA’s academic misconduct policy, see the Undergraduate Bulletin or pages 21-22 of the online UCA Student Handbook.

· The University of Central Arkansas adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need an accommodation under this act, contact the Office of Disability Support Services at 450-3135.

· Sexual harassment by any faculty member, staff member, or student is a violation of both Federal law and university policy and will not be tolerated at UCA. For further information regarding the university’s sexual harassment policy, see the Undergraduate Bulletin or pages 56-59 of the online UCA Student Handbook.

Week

Topic

Date

Readings & Exams

An Aperitif

08/20

Introductory Whatnots

Early Marx

08/23

08/25

08/27

Einstein “Why Socialism?” (1949)

Wolff 1-12

Engels “Speech at the Grave of Karl Marx” (1883)

Woods “The Communist Manifesto After 150 Years”

Singer “Why we need a new manifesto”

Introduction Part 1 (SW 5-8)

Marx “Critique of Hegel’s `Philosophy of Right’” (SW 32-45)

08/30

09/01

09/03

Lee Preface & Chapter 1

Marx On the Jewish Question (SW 46-64)

Marx On the Jewish Question (SW 64-69)

Novy “Denial and Negation: … Anti-Semitism in Marx’s On the Jewish Question ”

09/06

09/08

09/10

Labor Day Holiday

Marx “Towards a Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right: Introduction” (SW 71-82)

Wolff 13-47

09/13

09/15

09/17

Lee Chapter 2

Marx EPMSS “Preface” (SW 83-85) & “Alienated Labor” (SW 85-95)

Marx EPMSS “Private Property and Communism”(SW 95-104) & “On Money” (SW 118-120)

Historical Materialism

09/20

09/22

09/24

Wolff 48-66

Marx “Preface to A Critique of Political Economy” 424-427

Lee Chapter 3

Introduction Part II (SW 141-143)

Marx “Theses on Feuerbach” 171-173

09/27

09/29

10/01

Marx The German Ideology 175-184

Marx The German Ideology 184-201

Marx Communist Manifesto 245-262, 270-271 (I, II & IV only)

Economics

10/04

10/06

10/08

Levine & Sober “What’s historical about historical materialism?” (1985)

Exam 1

Introduction Part III (SW 375-377)

Wolff 66-99

10/11

10/13

10/15

Marx Capital Vol. 1(SW 452-480)

Marx Capital Vol. 1 (SW 481-508)

Fall Holiday

An Interlude

Revolution

10/18

10/20

10/22

Marx Capital Vol. 1 (SW 508-525)

Marable: “Introduction” from How Capitalism Underdeveloped Black America

DuBois: ”Negroes and the crisis of Capitalism in the United States – Reprise”

Lee Chapter 4

10/25

10/27

10/29

Arneson “Marxism and Secular Faith” (1985)

Kurrild-Klitgaard “The paradox of rebellion”

Geras: “Minimum Utopia: Ten Theses” (2000)

Reading Day – No class!

Women & Men

11/01

11/03

11/05

Lee Chapter 5

Engels “The Monogamous Family” in Origins of the Family, Private Property …

Davis: “The Approaching Obsolescence of Housework”

Humans & Nature

11/08

11/10

11/12

Russell: “A Value-Theoretic Approach to Childbirth a Reproductive Engineering

Engels “Letter to Pyotr Lavrov” (1875)

Pannekoek from “Marxism and Darwinism” (1909) (sections TBA)

Marx “Letters on Darwin” (SW 565)

Lee Chapter 6

Foster “Marx’s Ecology in Historical Perspective” (2002)

Imperialism & Globalization

11/15

11/17

11/19

Marx The British Rule in India (1853)

Marx The Future Results of the British Rule in India (1853) (SW 362-367)

Foster “Marx and Internationalism” (2000)

Marx Inaugural Address 1^st International (1864) (SW 575-581)

Marx Letter to Lincoln (1865)

Monthly Review Kipling, the White Man’s Burden, and US Imperialism (2003)

Kipling “The White Man’s Burden” (1899)

Twain “Comments on the Moro Massacre” (1906)

Justice

11/22

11/24

11/26

Edward Nell and Onora O’Neill: “Justice under socialism” (1972)

Thanksgiving Holiday

Who are we?

11/29

12/01

12/03

Fromm “Character and Social Process” from Fear of Freedom (1942)

Fromm “Individual and Social Origins of Neurosis” (1944)

Mao “Study” from “The Little Red Book”

Breton & Rivera “Manifesto for an Independent Revolutionary Art”

Baran “The Commitment of the Intellectual” (1961)

Reading Day

12/06

Exam 2; 11:00-1:00