R. Maxwell Racine, Miami University, Spring 2023
Political Philosophy (PHL-331-A)
First Module Response Instructions
Requirements
– 3 full pages double spaced.
– Submitted through our courseàCanvas page in the ssignments4ab by 11:59pm on
Friday, February 24 (see the syllabus for the late work policy).
– Papers should be Word documents or PDFs and 12-point Times New Roman font. They
should have page numbers and standard margins. They should also have a bibliography,
reference list, or works cited page (depending on the citation style you use).
– Regarding citations, you can use whichever style you prefer, but do be consistent (see the
handout with advice on the module responses for more on citation styles).
– Do not consult any texts except for the ones assigned, and do not consult the internet.
– Use the editions of the texts posted to Canvas.
Expectations
– In your module responses, you will juxtapose and evaluate thinkers, concepts, and/or
arguments we have discussed from the first three modules of the course.
– I expect you to identify and articulate the positions of both philosophers on the topic in
question and to argue which of the two you think has a more compelling position on that
topic.
– First, explicate each philosopheràposition on the topic as thoroughly, precisely, and
concisely as possible. Consider everything that is relevant to each philosopherÊjustification of and argument for the position that they take on the topic, and make sure to
explain how the different steps of the philosopheràposition are related to each other. In
the process, show how and where the two positions are similar and different.
– Second, evaluate which of the two philosophers has a more compelling position on the
topic. Two ways to do this are to argue for the position you find to be more compelling
and to argue against the position you find less compelling. Whatever you decide to argue,
you must defend your evaluation by providing reasons for it. To put it differently, provide
evidence for your evaluation.
Prompts (choose one of the following)
(1) Evaluate whether Thomas Hobbes or Jean-Jacques Rousseau has a more compelling
account of the social contract, including but not limited to the entering into the social
contract.
(2) Evaluate whether Hobbes or Rousseau has a more compelling account of the concept of
liberty.
(3) Evaluate whether Hobbes or Rousseau has a more compelling account of the concept of
sovereignty.
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