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Capitalism v. Socialism: Fundamental Texts (UNIT 2)

SAT Score Range

•

23 sessions

•

+14

This series ended on July 11, 2023. All 1:1 and group chats related to this series are disabled 7 days after the last session.

About

Book List: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rqjpwv7Xn5WSZJJXzjFNq7QN-h-IvwwlyNrBZG9Z2SM/edit?usp=sharing Office Hours: https://schoolhouse.world/series/1639?celebrate The aim of this series is to analyze Capitalist and Socialist Theory from an objective point of view. We will read Adam Smith and Karl Marx, among many, many more. We will read their critics, discuss the ideas we read in our sessions, and (optionally) write essays analyzing, comparing, and contrasting their ideas. This series is just the second part--on the role of government (liberty v. equality). How we structure each session will be based on this guide: http://www.greatbooks.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Shared-Inquiry-Handbook.pdf Sessions will be added continually.

Tutored by

Jose Roberto Cossich G 🇬🇹

Senior Tutor

Certified in 69 topics

View Profile

A little about me: I'm about the biggest Indie fan there is, I almost exclusively watch (John Hughes>>) 80s movies or the upcoming Star Wars series, and I read sci-fi in my spare time. I tutor for the sake of those aha moments, and have taken Multivariable Calc, Linear Algebra, Real Analysis, and Complex Analysis. Who knows what I'll tutor next, hope to see you soon.

Schedule

✋ ATTENDANCE POLICY

Please do not miss any sessions, since we will have a strict timeline for reading each book. However, attendance is optional and we will be summarizing and discussing each week's reading (for those who couldn't read themselves).

SESSION 1

6

Jul

SESSION 1

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Wed 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM UTCJul 6, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM UTC

Guiding Question: How does Hobbes describe the "state of nature?" Hey guys, welcome to UNIT 2: THE PURPOSE AND EXTENT OF GOVERNMENT We shall start by discussing and analyzing "Leviathan," by Thomas Hobbes, having read parts 1-2 (approximately 250 pages).We'll discuss his arguments on why governments are necessary and what the "state of nature" is.
SESSION 2

20

Aug

SESSION 2

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Sat 11:00 PM - Sun, 1:00 AM UTCAug 20, 11:00 PM - Aug 21, 1:00 AM UTC

Guiding Question: How does Hobbes describe the "state of nature?" Hey guys, welcome to UNIT 2: THE PURPOSE AND EXTENT OF GOVERNMENT We shall start by discussing and analyzing "Leviathan," by Thomas Hobbes, having read parts 1-2 (approximately 250 pages).We'll discuss his arguments on why governments are necessary and what the "state of nature" is.
SESSION 3

17

Oct

SESSION 3

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Mon 12:30 AM - 2:30 AM UTCOct 17, 12:30 AM - 2:30 AM UTC

Guiding Question: What did Hobbes envision was the role of government? Hey guys, today we will finish discussing and analyzing "Leviathan," by Thomas Hobbes, having read parts 3-4 and the conclusion (approximately 250 pages). We'll discuss his arguments on why governments are necessary, how they should be structured, and any potential issues with his government (criticisms).
SESSION 4

22

Oct

SESSION 4

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Sat 11:00 PM - Sun, 1:00 AM UTCOct 22, 11:00 PM - Oct 23, 1:00 AM UTC

Guiding Question: What did Mills consider to be the adequate balance between rights and regulation? Are individual freedoms or collective security the priority? Hey guys, today we will discuss John Mills, "On Liberty," (115 pages) wherein he deliberates on when regulation is justified, as well as when it not and instead violates individual rights. Then, we will discuss "Utilitarianism" (65 pages), wherein he discusses whether it is moral to sacrifice individual for communal well-being. This is going to be a crucial theme since free market economics as well as socialist/communist theories assume opposite stances when it comes to government intervention. Those being minimum regulation (which purports to promote individual freedom and well-being) vs. maximum regulation in order to ensure equity (which purports to promote communal well-being). After this, we'll also discuss Robert Higg's "Fear: The Foundation of Government," (15 pages) wherein he discusses how governments expand their reach and power with indifference to individual rights under the guise of protecting their citizens.
SESSION 5

26

Oct

SESSION 5

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Wed 11:00 PM - Thu, 1:00 AM UTCOct 26, 11:00 PM - Oct 27, 1:00 AM UTC

We will continue to discuss last session's content https://whiteboard.fi/h4978
SESSION 6

29

Oct

SESSION 6

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Sat 11:00 PM - Sun, 1:00 AM UTCOct 29, 11:00 PM - Oct 30, 1:00 AM UTC

Today we will discuss "Utilitarianism" (65 pages), wherein he discusses whether it is moral to sacrifice individual for communal well-being. This is going to be a crucial theme since free market economics as well as socialist/communist theories assume opposite stances when it comes to government intervention. Those being minimum regulation (which purports to promote individual freedom and well-being) vs. maximum regulation in order to ensure equity (which purports to promote communal well-being). After this, we'll also discuss Robert Higg's "Fear: The Foundation of Government," (15 pages) wherein he discusses how governments expand their reach and power with indifference to individual rights under the guise of protecting their citizens.
SESSION 7

4

Nov

SESSION 7

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Fri 10:30 PM - Sat, 12:30 AM UTCNov 4, 10:30 PM - Nov 5, 12:30 AM UTC

Continuing last Saturday's session!
SESSION 8

6

Nov

SESSION 8

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Sun 1:00 AM - 3:00 AM UTCNov 6, 1:00 AM - 3:00 AM UTC

Guiding Questions: What is Rousseau's main thesis in his "Discourse on Inequality" (approximately 95 pages (including his notes))? How does he support his thesis and how does this relate to any socialist thought? Does this cut down at the idea of Capitalism at the root of inequality?
SESSION 9

21

Nov

SESSION 9

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Mon 12:30 AM - 2:30 AM UTCNov 21, 12:30 AM - 2:30 AM UTC

Continuing last Saturday's session.
SESSION 10

1

Dec

SESSION 10

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Thu 12:00 AM - 2:00 AM UTCDec 1, 12:00 AM - 2:00 AM UTC

Jamboard:https://jamboard.google.com/d/1jWTC7fbXGGgW0J7_oYjaFVRUM7X1ZIu-_C1_fbvdXqE/edit?usp=sharing Guiding Question: What is Rousseau's main thesis in his "On the Social Contract" (100 pages) and How does Higgs criticize Social Contractarianism? Is this criticism valid? What are both of their main arguments and how do they support or contradict each other?
SESSION 11

18

Dec

SESSION 11

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Sun 11:00 PM - Mon, 1:00 AM UTCDec 18, 11:00 PM - Dec 19, 1:00 AM UTC

Guiding Question: How does Rawl's idea of societal "tendency to equality" contrast the ideas proposed in Rousseau's "Discourse on The Origin of Inequality?" What threat, does Rawls propose, could disrupt the quest to equality and justice? Today we will discuss part 2 (pg. 172-347).
SESSION 12

22

Dec

SESSION 12

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Thu 12:00 AM - 2:00 AM UTCDec 22, 12:00 AM - 2:00 AM UTC

Guiding Question: How does Rawl's idea of societal "tendency to equality" contrast the ideas proposed in Rousseau's "Discourse on The Origin of Inequality?" What threat, does Rawls propose, could disrupt the quest to equality and justice? Today we will discuss part 2 (pg. 172-347).
SESSION 13

27

Dec

SESSION 13

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Tue 12:00 AM - 2:00 AM UTCDec 27, 12:00 AM - 2:00 AM UTC

Guiding Questions: What is Rawls's fundamental assumption in "A Theory of Justice"? Why does Rawls place fairness and equality as the fundamental aim of just governments? How does this relate to the idea of the "veil of ignorance"? We will start by introducing John Rawl's "A Theory of Justice," having read Part 1 (pg.3-171), discussing his underlying assumptions and how those axioms allow him to place equality as the principle around which societies should strive to aim.
SESSION 14

28

Dec

SESSION 14

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Wed 11:00 PM - Thu, 1:00 AM UTCDec 28, 11:00 PM - Dec 29, 1:00 AM UTC

Guiding Questions: What is Nozick's assumption in "State, Anarchy, and Utopia?" How does he oppose Rawls? Today we'll be starting "Anarchy, State, and Utopia" by Robert Nozick, having read Part 1 (pg. 3-149). We'll be discussing why he constructs his notion of a "minimal" government, one which would favor a capitalist economy, around the idea of liberty. How does this contrast Rawls's approach of an egalitarian society?
SESSION 15

1

Jan

SESSION 15

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Sun 11:00 PM - Mon, 1:00 AM UTCJan 1, 11:00 PM - Jan 2, 1:00 AM UTC

Guiding Question: What is the proper balance between liberty and equality? Is it ok to sacrifice individual rights for communal well-being? Are all stable governments by necessity democratic? Is there a true tendency to equality? We will cover part 2 of the book (pg.150-297)
SESSION 16

8

Jan

SESSION 16

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Sun 12:00 AM - 2:00 AM UTCJan 8, 12:00 AM - 2:00 AM UTC

Today we will finish A Theory of Justice by John Rawls, particularly part 3 (pg.343-517).
SESSION 17

15

Jan

SESSION 17

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Sun 1:00 AM - 3:00 AM UTCJan 15, 1:00 AM - 3:00 AM UTC

We will cover part 3 of the book (pg.298-335). Then, we will review UNIT 2: THE PURPOSE AND EXTENT OF GOVERNMENT We will review the central ideas of equality proposed by Rawls and Rousseau to those of liberty proposed by Nozick and Mills. Those who wish to write their essays answering these/related questions, please let me know on your progress. Thus we conclude our second unit.
SESSION 18

6

Feb

SESSION 18

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Mon 11:00 PM - 11:40 PM UTCFeb 6, 11:00 PM - 11:40 PM UTC

Guiding Question: How did George Orwell's experience during the war influence his political views? (We will explore this further when we read his 1984 and Animal Farm in Unit 3) Today we will explore our final piece, Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell (approximately 250 pages).
SESSION 19

31

Mar

SESSION 19

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Fri 11:00 PM - Sat, 1:00 AM UTCMar 31, 11:00 PM - Apr 1, 1:00 AM UTC

Part 1 - John Rawls's A Theory Of Justice
SESSION 20

2

Jun

SESSION 20

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Fri 11:00 PM - Sat, 1:00 AM UTCJun 2, 11:00 PM - Jun 3, 1:00 AM UTC

Hey guys, we'll do our second set of essay presentations here!
SESSION 21

20

Jun

SESSION 21

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Tue 11:00 PM - Wed, 1:00 AM UTCJun 20, 11:00 PM - Jun 21, 1:00 AM UTC

Part 1 - John Rawls's A Theory Of Justice
SESSION 22

28

Jun

SESSION 22

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Wed 11:00 PM - Thu, 12:00 AM UTCJun 28, 11:00 PM - Jun 29, 12:00 AM UTC

Part 1 - John Rawls's A Theory Of Justice
SESSION 23

10

Jul

SESSION 23

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Mon 11:00 PM - Tue, 12:00 AM UTCJul 10, 11:00 PM - Jul 11, 12:00 AM UTC

Part 1 - John Rawls's A Theory Of Justice

Public Discussion

Please log in to see discussion on this series.

Jul 6 - Jul 11

53 weeks

40 - 120 mins

/ session