Faculty of Arts

Division of Social Science

AS/SOSC 1012 9.0A(Y) Understanding Social Theory

Course Information 2010-2011
Course Outline Fall 2010

The course provides students with an Interdisciplinary perspective on the

emergence of Social Science as an autonomous field of study. Its focus is historical. In
the first term it will study the ancient philosophical sources out of which Social Science
emerged; in the second term it will look at the emergent Social Science in the modern
era. Because this is a FOUNDATIONS COURSE it will integrate the introduction to
Social Science with a Critical Skills component, and, as well, an Interdisciplinary
approach to the issues with which it deals.

Lecture Hours: Tuesdays 12:30-2:30 ACW 004

Students should be aware of two important points: (1.) Although lecture attendance is
not a part of the final grade, it is important that students keep in mind that the lectures,
as well as tutorial discussions of lecture materials, are the basis of answers to the test
questions. (2.) Because this is a FOUNDATIONS COURSE, integrating an introduction
to Social Science, a focus on critical skills and an interdisciplinary component, it is a 9
credit course. In turn, because the student earns 9 credits, there are 4 hours of class
time every week, two in lecture and two in the tutorial. This means that the student
should expect more work is required than for a standard 6 credit course.

Tutorials:
Tutr 1 T 14:30 ACW 302
Tutr 2 W 12:30 FC 110
Tutr 3 T 16:30 R S105
Tutr 4 T 8:30 SC 221
Tutr 5 R 12:30 SC 220

Course Director: Joseph Gonda jgonda@yorku.ca

Course Policies

The Social Science Divison providesa statement of University Policy on Academic

Honesty. Please read this statement with great care. It is the only way open to you to be
certain about what constitutes cheating, plagiarism (copying the work of others), and
other forms of academic dishonesty.
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Grading

All work is graded by tutorial leaders and reviewed by the teaching team before being
returned.

Course Grading Scheme:

1. October 26: Essay: Value = 10% of final grade

2. November 30: In lecture test: Value = 15% of final grade

3. February 1: In lecture test: Value = 15% of final grade

4. March 1: Essay Value = 20% of final grade

5. March 29: In lecture test: Value = 20% of final grade

6. Tutorial Participation: based on attendance, preparedness, presentations: Value =

20% of final grade.

Required Texts
First Term:

Plato The Republic ed. and trans. Allan Bloom; Aristotle Course Kit; and Sophocles The
Theban Trilogy.

Second Term

Critical skill course kit; Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality; Comte
Principles of Positive Philosophy and course kit; Weber course kit.
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Lecture and Assignment Schedule

First Term:

Sept 14 Introductory Remarks: The View from Plato’s “Cave”.

Sept 21 Plato’s Republic Book 1.

Sept 28 Plato’s Republic Book 2. Topics for First Essay Handed Out.
.
Oct 5 Plato’s Republic Book Books 3-5

Oct 12 Reading Week

Oct 19 Plato’s Republic Books 3-5 Cont’

Oct 26 Aristotle Physics (First Term Coure Kit) First Essay Due.

Nov 2 Aristotle Poetics (First Term Coure Kit); (Sophocles The Theban Trilogy should
be read by this point.)

Nov 9 Sophocles The Theban Trilogy.

Nov 16 Aristotle Politics Book 1. Study Questions for First Exam Handed Out

Nov 23 Aristotle continued.

Nov 30 Test

Dec 7 Aristotle continued