Department of Justice, Law and Society School of Public Affairs The American University Fall 2001 JLS-200-001 - DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY Wednesdays, 11:20 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. Ward 205 Faculty: Dr. Jeffrey A. Schaler jschale@american.edu http://www.schaler.net Office: Dept. of Justice, Law, and Society, Ward Building, 2nd Floor Telephone: (301) 585-5664 in Silver Spring, Md. Office hours: (by appointment) Course Description "They say that freedom is a constant struggle," sang the Mississippi "freedom fighters" during the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. Today, there are less visible struggles for freedom, yet they are no less constant. One concerns the right to be left alone--the liberty of individual autonomy against the restraint of government authoritarianism. Is it constitutional for government to protect citizens from themselves and deprive them of liberty in the process? Freedom of and from religion were dear to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The First Amendment was written to separate church and state and serves to protect against those who would deprive us of liberty in the name of religion. According to some influential writers over the past 40 years, psychiatry now replaces religion and is used by government to justify paternalism, that is, it is used to deprive citizens of liberty. For example, behaviors formerly considered "good" and "bad" are now labeled as medical signs of "mental health" and "mental illness." Psychiatrists are empowered by the state to restore liberty and autonomy in those persons considered "mentally ill"--even if those labeled sick don't want to be "cured." Thus, do have what has come to be known as "the therapeutic state" (a term created by Szasz). To what extent (if at all) has institutional psychiatry, that is, psychiatry sanctioned by the state, replaced the religious tyranny Jefferson and Madison worked so hard to protect us against? Suicide (not "physician-assisted suicide") is considered one of the most controversial and taboo topics for discussion today. Is suicide a symptom of "mental illness?" Does a person have a right to die? If the Constitution guarantees our right to life, liberty and property, doesn't it also guarantee our right to self-destruction and death? How might government authoritarianism evolve to ultimately deprive citizens of individualism and liberty in this situation? Might such policies ultimately lead to a totalitarian society? When, if ever, is such deprivation of liberty constitutionally justified? In this course we examine the answers to those and related questions. We will discuss and examine the political, and ethical issues involved in the right to suicide. We will study how the Nazis used medical rhetoric to justify persecution and murder in the name of public health. We will discuss the ways government deprives individuals of liberty in a free society by focusing on the relationship between liberty and responsibility, psychiatry and government, and most important, the origins of totalitarianism according to F.A. Hayek's critique of socialism and collectivism. Your life is going to change as a result of taking this course. Lecture and discussion format. DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY is one of the courses in Curricular Area 4, Social Institutions and Behavior, in the university's General Education Program. This course is taken as part of a two-course sequence. The foundation courses preceding it include Individuals and Organizations (54.105), Psychology: Understanding Human Behavior (57.105), and Justice in America (73.100). DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY explores in more depth a topic introduced in those three foundation courses. Course Objectives 1. To improve the student's legal, philosophical and policy-oriented thinking about liberty in a constitutional democracy. 2. To evaluate the values, costs, and logic of the ways in which classes of people (e.g., drug users and those labeled as mentally ill) are defined as dangerous to themselves and others and deprived of liberty. 3. To explore the social, economic and political origins of totalitarianism and their relationship to authoritarian and paternalistic government policies in the US today. 4. To understand the meaning of "the therapeutic state" and what happens in involuntary treatment for mental illness and drug addiction; the structure and function of the insanity defense; and deprivations of due process via psychiatric testimony. 5. To understand the basic principles of public policy based in classical liberalism and collectivism. 6. To develop skill in debating controversial legal and public policy issues. Required Texts Hayek, F.A. (1994). The road to serfdom. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Proctor, R.N. (1988). Racial hygiene: Medicine under the Nazis. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. Szasz, T.S. (2001). Pharmacracy: Medicine and politics in America. Westport, CT: Praeger. Szasz, T.S. (1997) Insanity: The idea and its consequences. Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press. Course Requirements and Grades Mid-term examination 30% Final examination 35% Paper 25% Class participation 10% Total = 100% Paper: Write an 8 to 10 page paper on any contemporary issue you believe involves the deprivation of liberty. Focus on the relationship between the individual and state. Include principles we've covered in class. State the problem, as you see it, clearly. Differentiate between fact and your opinion. You're encouraged to express your opinion, just make sure you articulate the difference between fact and opinion. Discuss a solution to this problem. Describe possible problems created by your solution. Typed. Double- spaced. References as on this syllabus. We will talk more about this in class. --> Clear and accurate writing will be taken into account in assigning grades, as well as participation in class discussions. Material discussed in class, or in films, and not in any of the readings, may form the basis for questions on the examinations. One grade reduction for over three class absences. Students are responsible for anything covered in class during their absence. Readings must be completed by the session to which they are assigned. Additional readings may be assigned during the course. Students are encouraged to form study groups on their own. Grades: A-=90, B+=89, B-=80, C+=79, C-=70, etc. If you're having trouble with this course make an appointment to talk about it. Academic Integrity Code "Standards of academic conduct are set forth in the University's Academic Integrity Code. It is expected that all examinations, tests, written papers, and other assignments will be completed according to the standards set forth in this code. By registering, you have acknowledged your awareness of the Academic Integrity Code, and you are obliged to become familiar with your rights and responsibilities as defined by the Code. Violations of the Academic Integrity Code will not be treated lightly, and disciplinary action will be taken should such violations occur. Please see me if you have any questions about the academic violations described in the Code in general or as they relate to particular requirements for this course."CLASS SCHEDULE August 29 Introduction to the therapeutic state Szasz--Insanity Behavior, explanations, policies Illness September 5 Insanity -- Legal issues Parts II and III September 12 Finish Insanity Part IV September 19 Medicine Szasz, Phar.1-3 Scientific Medicine:Disease Clinical Medicine: Diagnosis September 26 Certifying Medicine Szasz, Phar. 4-6 Psychiatric Medicine Philosophical Medicine October 3 Political Medicine Szasz, Phar. 7 October 10 Mid-term examination Note: You must take the mid-term on the date assigned. No exceptions. October 17 Origins of Racial Hygiene Proctor 1-3 "Neutral Racism" Political Biology October 24 Sterilization Law Proctor 4-6 Control of Women Anti-Semitism October 31 Destruction of Lives Proctor 7-8 Organic Vision November 7 Medical Resistance Proctor 9-10 Politics of Knowledge November 14 Individualism and Collectivism Hayek Central Planning, Planning and Rule of Law Why the worst get on top November 21 Thanksgiving Break November 28 Papers due December 5 Lecture, discussion: Film December 19 Final Examination 11:20am to 2:00pm Note: You must take the final exam on December 19. No exceptions.
