Description: The failure of Communism may have proven wrong Marx's claim that capitalism will inevitably self-destruct. But has it made Marx's critique of capitalism irrelevant? Has it proven that socialism is a mistake? Marx gives one of several versions of socialism, and some of these versions point to different ideals. Are any of the ideals of socialism good ideals? Ideals that can be put into practice? We shall consider these questions by studying the ideas of Marx, non-Marxist socialists, and critics of socialism and redistribution.

Office Hours: tba

Requirements: Grades are based on participation, two papers each of 5-7 pages, and a take-home final exam.

Reading: The following required books should be at the campus bookstore and on reserve: Isaiah Berlin, Karl Marx; The Marx-Engels Reader, 2d edition (referred to as M/E); Hegel, Reason in History; Bernard Shaw, The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism; Robert Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia. There is also a xeroxed reader.
Helpful Websites: Marxists.org

Schedule

Reading listed under each class is to be done prior to that class meeting. An * indicates reading is in the xeroxed reader.

Introduction
1. Introduction: What is socialism?

Fabian and Utopian Socialism

2. Fabian Socialism. Rdg: Shaw, The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism (pp. v-xliii; pp. 7-8; and chapters 1-15, 17, 21-24, 26-28)

3. Fabian socialism (continued). Rdg: Shaw, The Intelligent Woman's Guide (chapters 32-34, 42, 46, 69-70, 75-81, 86; and appendix)

4. Utopians: Charles Fourier. Rdg: Fourier: Selected Texts, pp. 107-49, 233-245, 257-70, 274-283, 297-322, 332-343*

5. Utopians: Robert Owen. Rdg: Owen, A New View of Society, available online

Marx's and Engels' approach to history and politics

6. Hegel and the Young Hegelians. Rdg: Berlin, Karl Marx, chapters 1,2 (pp.1-26); begin Hegel, Reason in History

7. Hegel's philosophy of history. Rdg: Hegel, Reason in History

8. Marx's critique of Hegel. Rdg: Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right: Introduction (M/E, pp.53-65); Theses on Feuerbach (M/E, pp.143-145)

9. Marx's concept of ideology. Rdg: Berlin, chapters 3-6 (pp.27-116); begin German Ideology (M/E, pp.146-200)

10. The German Ideology. Rdg: German Ideology (M/E, pp. 146-200)

11. Is an ideology a 'false consciousness'? Rdg: Marvin Harris, selections from Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches*

12. Marx's theory of history. Rdg: Communist Manifesto (M/E, pp.469-500)

13. Historical materialism. Rdg: Preface to Critique of Political Economy (M/E, pp.3-6); Engels, 'Speech at the Graveside of Karl Marx' (M/E, pp.681-2)

14. Scientific socialism. Rdg: Engels, Socialism: Utopian and Scientific (M/E, pp. 683-717);

The 'Early' Marx's concern with alienation

15. Marx on alienation. Rdg: Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts (M/E, pp.66-125)

16. Contemporary views on alienation. Rdg:  'Alienation and Social Classes' (M/E, pp.133-135); Erazim Kohak, "Possessing, Owning, Belonging"*; 'No Time to Smell the Roses', review of The Overworked American*

Marx's theory of capitalism

17. The neoclassical theory of capitalism. Rdg. Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations (selections)* and tba

18. Marx's theory of capitalism. Rdg: Marx, Wage Labour and Capital, (M/E, pp. 203-217); begin Capital (M/E, pp.294-465)

19. Rdg: continue Capital (M/E, pp.294-465)

20. Rdg: continue Capital (M/E, pp. 294-465)

21. Rdg: continue Capital (M/E, pp. 294-465)

Is Capitalism immoral? Is socialism just?

22. Marx's conception of justice. Rdg: Marx, Critique of the Gotha Program (M/E, pp.   ); begin Nozick, Anarchy, State, Utopia, chapters 7, 8

23. Nozick's defense of capitalism. Rdg: Nozick, Anarchy, State, Utopia, chapters 7, 8

Socialism Today

24. Why no socialism in the U.S.? Rdg: Irving Howe, "Thinking About Socialism"*; and tba
Film: Seeing Red
On the web: Socialist Party of the U.S.

25. Socialism today. Rdg: Alec Nove, "Feasible Socialism?"*

26. Rdg: Walzer, "Politics in the Welfare State"*Arnold, "Marx, Central Planning, and Utopian Socialism"*

Capitalism and Developing Countries

27. Rdg: Kai Nielsen, "Global Justice, Capitalism, and the Third World"*

28. Rdg: P.T. Bauer, "Western Guilt and Third World Poverty"*