COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND PHILOSOPHY

University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City

A. Course Catalogue Description

 Course Number Soc Sci II
 Course Title Social, Economic and Political Thought
 Course Description A survey of social, economic and political thought from classical
to contemporary times.
 Prerequisite None
 Semester Offered First and Second Semesters including Midyear Term
 Course Credit 3.00
 Number of Hours 3 hours/week
 Meeting Type Lecture-Discussion
 Course Goals For students to: (1) describe the main themes of selected social,
economic and political thinkers of various periods of western civilization; and (2)
demonstrate the continuity and discontinuity in their “great conversation”.

B. Rationale and Philosophy of the Course

Today’s youth, particularly university students enrolled in General Education

(GE) programs are expose and immerse with diverse and plurality of ideas, views,
thoughts and perspectives emanating from various origins and sources, may it be their
families, communities, the church, the school, the peers and the media. It is for this
reason that the youth of today needs to develop critical thinking, discerning attitude and
reflective minds in its critical examination and cogent evaluation on the whether such
ideas, views and thoughts transmitted and handed out to them are essentially truthful,
valid and accurate.
Furthermore, as a university student, they need to sharpen and harness not only
their ability or capacity to think critically and reflectively, but more importantly, to
reinforce and strengthen their problem-solving capacities in dealing with the social,
economic and political issues and challenges which besets, engulfs and besets the
contemporary and post-modern society in which they live. It is at these backdrops that the
course is introduced and proposed, a) to enable university students to acquire, possess
and actualize multi-disciplinary thinking in describing, analyzing, examining and
synthesizing the contemporary social, economic and political discourses, themes and
issues, b) draw and extract the leading teachings, philosophies, messages as culled from
the leading works and writings of various great philosophers and thinkers of our times
and, c) apply and interrelate these teachings, philosophies, messages and lessons derived

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to the contemporary social, economic and political condition, situation and contexts, and
finally d) offer a synthesis and solution in dealing and addressing the contemporary
issues, challenges and trends, utilizing the discernment, prescriptions and reflections
learned from the socio-economic and political thinkers of our times as a bases of
reference.

Finally, the course intends and hopes that students will be able to produce, create,
write and articulate a comparative critique and reflective papers tackling the Western
philosophers and thinkers on the basis of their biographical notes, historical antecedents,
leading works and writings, significant teachings and messages, and philosophize on its
impact and contribution to the various social, economic and political dimensions of
contemporary and post-modern society as tangible outcomes of the course.

C. Course Outline

1. COURSE OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

CO 1. Describe various social, economic and political ideas of selected Western thinkers;
CO 2. Explain these ideas and theories in their proper historical context;
CO 3. Analyze contemporary national and international issues and problems using these
ideas;
CO 4. Appraise the relevance and limitations of these ideas in making sense of the world.
CO 5. Examine the content of the leading works, writings and teachings of the philosophers
and thinkers as it relates to contemporary social, economic and political settings and
conditions
CO6. Write and articulate a comparative critique paper on the basis of the selected
thinker’s biography, historical antecedents, leading works and writings and
significant teachings, messages and philosophies useful in post-modern society.

Course Outcomes and Relationship to GE Objectives

I (introduced), D (demonstrated) or R (reinforced)

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 GE Objectives*
Course Outcome
A B C D E
CO 1.Describe various social, economic and political ideas of selected
I I D D
Western thinkers
CO 2. Explain these ideas and theories in their proper historical context D D I
CO 3. Analyze contemporary national and international issues and
D R R D R
problems using these ideas
CO 4. Appraise the relevance and limitations of these ideas in making
D D D I
sense of the world
CO 5. Examine the content of the leading works, writings and teachings of
the philosophers and thinkers as it relates to contemporary social, economic
R R D R D
and political settings and conditions

CO 6. Write and articulate a comparative critique paper on the basis of the

selected thinker’s biography, historical antecedents, leading works and
writings and significant teachings, messages and philosophies useful in R R R R D
post-modern society.

* A Broaden intellectual and cultural horizons

B Hone critical and creative thinking
C Develop a passion for learning and scholarship
D Cultivate a high sense of intellectual and moral integrity
E Foster a commitment to nationalism and social justice

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2. COURSE OUTLINE

Course Topics Time Allotment

I. Introduction: Overview of the course 9 hours

Greek Classical Philosophy

 Plato
 Aristotle
II. Medieval Political Thought and Age of Renaissance 9 hours
 St. Augustine
 St. Thomas Aquinas
 Niccolo Machiavelli
III. The Age of Reason and Enlightenment 9 hours
 Thomas Hobbes
 John Locke
 Jean-Jacques Rousseau
IV. Liberal Political Economy 9 hours
 Adam Smith
 David Ricardo
 John Stuart Mill
V. Structuralism and Social Constructivism 9 hours
 Karl Marx
 Max Weber
 Emile Durkheim

VI. Synthesis/ Integrative Review/ Current Debates in Social Sciences 3 Hours

Total Number of Hours 48 Hours

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 3. COURSE COVERAGE

WEEK LEARNING CONTENT/TOPICS LEARNING LEARNING ASSESSMENT

OUTCOMES ACTIVITIES RESOURCES
1-3 CO 1, CO 2, THE GREEK CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHY Plato’s Republic, Assignments
Discovery Channel
CO 3, CO 4 DVD, FC 3134 Seatworks
Plato (c. 428-348 B.C.) Lectures Quizzes
Life of Plato Michael Curtis (ed.),
1. Family and educational background Discussion Great Political Reflection paper
2. Pre-Socratic and Socratic influences Cooperative Theories Volume I
3. Plato’s political thought (New York: Avon
a. Conventional view of justice Learning Books, 1981) pp. 26- Formative and
questioned Brainstorming 28, 34-64. Summative
b. Theory of justice Readings in Social
c. Origin of the polis Science II (Quezon
d. Justice in the individual and the Film City: University of the
polis Philippines, 1995), pp.
e. The just polis Showing: 1-27.
f. Existing polis compared with the Brave New
just polis VCD Player
The purpose of existing polis World
The purpose of the just polis Multi-
4. Economic ideas of Plato media/Audio
Division of labor Lecture
Common ownership of property Viewing Visual materials
among guardians

Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

1. Brief biography
Family background
Education in Plato’s Academy
Academic work in the Lyceum Reading assignments
2. Political thought of Aristotle Curtis, pp. 28-30, 64-
a. Natural kinds of rule in the polis 101.
Rule of the father over his Readings in Social
family Science II, pp. 28-53.
Rule of parents over children
Rule of master over slave Lecture by Professor
b. Criticism of ideal polis and Felipe B. Miranda
existing polis (DVD),
Criticism of Plato, Phaleas,
and Hippodamus
Criticism of Sparta, Crete,
and Carthage
c. On citizenship, kinds of
constitutions, and distributive
justice
1. Concept of citizenship and
comparison
between good citizen
and good person
2. Kinds of constitution
3. Who should rule?
d. The best practicable way of
governing the polis and a guide to
law-making
1.Doctrine of the mean applied to
practical governance
2. Principles for law-making
3.The best polis

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 e. Economic ideas of Aristotle
1.Management of the family
2.Natural and unnatural
exchange
3.Private property
LEARNING LEARNING ASSESSMENT
WEEK OUTCOMES LEARNING RESOURCES
TOPIC
ACTIVITIES
4-7 CO 1, CO 2, Lectures Reading assignments Assignments
THE MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE Curtis, pp. 141-43,
CO 3, CO 4, THINKERS Discussion 146-156. Seatworks
CO 5, CO 6 Cooperative Readings in Social Quizzes
St. Augustine (354-430 A.D.) Science II, pp. 58-68.
1.Brief biography Learning Critique paper
a.Family background Brainstorming
b.Conversion to Christianity
c.The fall of Rome and theological Role-playing Multimedia
discourses Debate resources Formative and
2.Political thought of St. Augustine
a.Origin of the state Summative
b.Two visible cities Lecture
c.Two invisible cities
d.“Justice reigns in the city where Viewing and
Christ rules” Listening
3.Economic ideas of early Christian leaders
a.Teachings of the Apostles
b.Discourses on wealth and Oral
property
Presentation
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Reading assignments
1.Life and times of St. Thomas Aquinas Curtis, pp. 177-78.
a.Early education 196-210.
b.Theological studies, rediscovery Readings in Social
of Aristotle Science II, pp. 86-95.
c.Teaching career in the University
of Paris Multimedia
d.Scholasticism: blending of faith
and reason resources
2.Political thought of St. Thomas Aquinas
a.The inadequacy of the state
b.The state is natural
c.The state has divine nature Lecture by Professor
d.Two spheres theory: the church Athena Lydia Casambre
over the state (DVD),
1.Individual and the state
2.Four kinds of law
3.Limited sovereignty
3.Economic ideas of St. Thomas Aquinas
a.Private property is not against
natural law
b.Trading is legitimate
c,Just price
d.Usury is a sin

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)

1.Brief biography Reading assignments
a.What was reborn in the Curtis, pp. 215-17,
Renaissance? 219-29.
b.Domestic and foreign rivalries Readings in Social
c.Second secretary of the chancery Science II, pp. 86-95.
d.Foreign missions to France and
Vatican Multimedia
2.Political thought of Machiavelli
a.Break between politics and ethics resources
b.Establishment of a “new order”
and its
Lecture by Professor

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 preservation Francisco Nemenzo
c.The ecclesiastical principality (DVD)
d.Nationalism and liberation
3.Machiavelli’s place in the history of political
thought
4. Machiavelli and the rise of political realism
Reading assignments
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) Curtis, pp. 354-370.
1.Brief biography Readings in Social
a.Educational background Science II, pp. 96-
b.Tutor in the household of the Earl of 109.
Devonshire
c.Civil war: Crown versus Parliament
d.Political sanctuary in France
2.Social contract theory of Thomas
Hobbes
a.Human passions determine good
and evil
b.Human passions lead to enmity
and distrust
c.The extreme insecurity in the state
of nature prevented a socially
ordered life
d.The “mutuality of protection and
obligation” in civil society
e.The state is superior to the church

Synthesis/Integrative Written
and Oral Report of the
Project/Comparative Critique
Paper on the Life, Works,
Writings, Teachings, Legacies
and Significance of Assigned
Philosophers and Thinkers
(From Plato- Hobbes)
FIRST LONG EXAMINATION
8-9 CO 1, CO 2, THE AGE OF REASON AND Assignments
ENLIGHTENMENT
CO 3, CO 4, Lectures Multimedia Seatworks
CO 5, CO 6 John Locke (1632-1704)
Discussion resources Quizzes
1.Brief biography Cooperative Critique paper
a.Family background Learning
b.Education and academic career in
Oxford Brainstorming Lecture by Professor
Carolina G. Hernandez
Major Exam
University Written and (DVD)
c.Career in politics
d.Glorious revolution of 1688 Group Written Formative and
2.Social contract theory of John Locke and Oral Summative
a.Divine rights of king questioned
presentation Reading assignments
b.“True original extent, and end of
Curtis, pp. 359-60,
civil government”
372-89.
c.State of nature
Role-playing Readings in Social
1.Origin of property
Science II, pp. 109-
2.Origin and end of civil society Debate 26.
3.Limited government
4.Right to resist
3.Locke’s economic thought Lecture
a.Theory of property
b.Labor theory of value Viewing
c.Money

JEAN JACQUES ROSSEAU

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 1.Brief biography
a.Family background
b.Adventurous life: from Geneva to
Savoy to Paris
c.A niche in the literary and
philosophical circles of Paris and
the world
2.Social contract theory of Rousseau
a.Passions of self-preservation and
fellow feeling of the primitive Reading assignments
person Curtis, Volume 2, pp.
b.Origin of civil society 15-17, 18-34
c.Social contract for a just civil Readings in Social
society Science II, pp. 127-
d.The legislator and establishment 45.
of a just civil society
e.Sovereign and government
f.How the government should be
constituted

10-12 CO 1, CO 2, THE CLASSICAL LIBERAL

Lectures Assignments
CO 3, CO 4, POLITICAL ECONOMISTS Discussion Seatworks
CO 5, CO 6 Cooperative Reading assignments Quizzes
Adam Smith (1723-1790) Curtis, Volume 2, pp.
1.Brief biography Learning 105-17. Critique paper
a.Family background Brainstorming Readings in Social
b.Education and academic career Science II, pp. 145-
c.Tutor in the household of the Written and 50. Formative and
Duke of Buccleuch Group Written Summative
2.Smith’s theory of morality
a.The question of virtue is and Oral Lecture by Professor
intimately linked with sentiment. presentation Emmanuel de Dios
b.Sympathy and imagination make
(DVD)
a person a social being.
c.Private interest for common Lecture
benefit
3.Laissez faire: “The obvious and simple Viewing
system of natural liberty”
a.Aim of society – “to better the
condition of man” – best served
through Its opulence
b.Division of labor and productivity
c.Theory of value
d.Analysis of distribution
e.Theory of capital accumulation

David Ricardo (1772-1823)

1.Brief biography
a.Family background Reading assignment
b.Public debates over the currency Readings in Social
issue and corn law Science II, pp. 151-
c.Influence of Adam Smith and 55.
James Mill
2.Contributions to classical political economy
a.Theory of rent
b.Reformulation of theory of value
c.“Laws of distribution”
d.Law of comparative advantage

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)

1.Brief biography
Reading assignments
a.Unorthodox education
Curtis, Volume II, pp.
b.Intellectual influences

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 2.Social and political thought 105-8, 125-29.
a.Revision of utilitarianism Readings in Social
b.Education is the responsibility of Science II, pp. 155-
the government 59, 160-77.
c.Progress: from barbarism to
civilization
d.Modern representative
government
e.Liberty: precondition for modern
society
f.Revision of classical political
economy
1.Revision of theory of value
2.Modification of law of
distribution
3.Acceptance of stationary state
4.State intervention

13-14 CO 1, CO 2, Lectures Lecture by Professor Assignments

STRUCTURALISM AND SOCIAL Francisco Nemenzo
CO 3, CO 4, CONSTRUCTIVISM Discussion (DVD) Seatworks
CO 5, CO 6 Karl Marx and the Communist Manifesto
Cooperative Quizzes
Marxism Through Time Learning Readings in Critique paper
Brainstorming Social Science
Written and II, 178-207; Formative and
Group Written Wiser, 351-378, Summative
and Oral 656-679.
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
presentation Lecture by Professor
Maria Cynthia Rose
1.Brief biography
Banzon Bautista (DVD
2.Division of labor in society Lecture
a.Two kind of solidarity
b.Two kinds of societies Viewing Reading assignment
c.Collective consciousness and
Readings in Social
society
Science II , pp. 219-
d.Social differentiation and division
31.
of labor
e.Origin of social differentiation

Max Weber (1864-1920)

Reading assignment
1.Brief biography
Readings in Social
2.Sociology of religion
Science II, pp. 207-
3.Political sociology
19.
4.Theory of social science

15-16 CO 1, CO 2, Synthesis/Integrative Written Cooperative Group dynamics

CO 3, CO 4, and Oral Report of the Learning
CO 5, CO 6 Project/Comparative Critique Brainstorming Major Exam
Paper on the Life, Works, Focus Group
Writings, Teachings, Legacies Discussion
and Significance of Assigned Oral
Philosophers and Thinkers Presentation
(From Locke- Marx and other
contemporary thinkers)

Current Debates in Social Sciences

SECOND LONG
EXAMINATION

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4. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Your performance in this course will be evaluated through the requirements enumerated
below. The nature and details of each requirement and their corresponding percentages
are also explained. Please note that in the computation of your final grade, the raw points,
not their grade equivalents, will be used.

First and Second Long Examinations (50%)

There will be two long examinations for this course. The first long examination covers
the first half of the course; the second long examination, the second half of the course.
Please read exam instructions carefully and follow them. Failure to do so would mean
deductions from the student’s final exam score. Simple memorisation will not take you
very far in the exams. You must be able to understand, distinguish, and synthesise the
ideas you have studied in class. Answer the questions in a direct, concise, but
comprehensive manner. In the case of essay answers, long paragraphs, flowery words,
convoluted sentences, and flattery will not impress the instructor. In addition, the exam is
your exam; it is meant to test your knowledge, not the instructor’s. So, when answering
the questions, do not assume that since the instructor already knows the answers, you
don’t have to discuss your answers thoroughly. The instructor grades the exams based on
what he reads in the blue books or exam papers. He does not assume that you know more
than what you have written. It is also expected that students cite or identify the authors or
scholars used in their essay answers. Absolutely no make-up exams will be given to those
who miss any of the exams unless the student has a valid excuse, i.e. illness, and an
official excuse slip. Each exam constitutes 25 per cent of your grade, or a total of 50 per
cent for the two.

Term Paper (25%)

Group dynamics, cooperative learning and participatory research is highly-encouraged in
the class. Each student groups is required to submit a term paper on the life, works,
writings and teachings of social, economic and political thinkers and their impact,
significance and relevance on contemporary society. Such term paper is intended to be
reported, cascaded and discussed orally in the classroom. The instructor will provide
other detailed instructions for the paper. Please note that late submissions will incur a
deduction of five points (on a scale of 0 to 100) per day late.

Quiz (15%)
There will be a short philosophy quiz of 10 to 15 items every other week or once
discussion on the philosopher topic at hand is finished.. Questions on philosophers and
thinker's life, works, writings and teachings may be asked. Students are expected to read
books and articles or check news websites for latest information. Questions relating to the
assigned reading material may also be included. This requirement will constitute 15 per
cent of the final grade.

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Participation in Class Discussion and Activities (10%)
Aside from the usual lecture and discussion, there will be class activities, announced or
otherwise, which require the participation of the class, either as a group or individually.
Logically, if a student’s attendance record is erratic, his or her class participation will also
be unsatisfactory. If a student has not read and understood the assigned literature, he or
she will naturally be a poor participant in class activities. Students are also encouraged to
raise questions in class.

5. COURSE REFERENCES

Main Text: Reading in Social Science II: Socio, Economic and Political Thought.
Selected by the General Education-System- Wide Workshop on the Teaching of Social
Science II. 1993. Diliman, Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press.

Ebenstein, William & Ebenstein, Alan O. (1990). Great political thinkers: Plato to the
present. USA: Holt, Rinehart and Winston Inc.

Boucher, David & Kelly, Paul. (2017). Political philosophers: From Socrates to the
present (3rd Edition). Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.

Wolff, Jonathan. (2016). An introduction to political philosophy (3rd Edition). Oxford and
New York: Oxford University Press.

Little, Daniel. (2016). New directions in the philosophy of social science. London:
Rowman and Littlefield International.

Wiser, James. (1983). Political philosophy. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall

Wolff, Jonathan. (2016). An introduction to political philosophy (3rd Edition). Oxford and
New York: Oxford University Press.

Video Materials:

Public Lectures of Professor Emeritus Felipe Miranda, Carolina Hernandez, Francisco

Nemenzo, Randolf David and Professors Malaya Ronas, Cynthia Rose Bautista,
Emmanuel de Dios and Athena Lydia Casambre accessible and available at the UP
Diliman Department of Political Science

Film Videos: The Brave World, Danton and The Animal Farm (VCDs) accessible and
available at the UP Department of Political Science

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Corresponding email: dennisblanco45@gmail.com
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dennis_Blanco/publications

Office Address: Room 216, Silangang Palma (CSSP Faculty Centre)

Consultation Hours: TTh, 1000-1200
WF, 1000-1200 and 1500-1700

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