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Sophomore/Junior/Senior · 3 weeks (June 21 - July 12) · 3 credits
The law, perhaps more than other professions, has deep roots in the Western tradition. The foundations of contemporary jurisprudence and the modern legal system have their basis in the Judeo-Christian and Enlightenment concepts of right and wrong, and of a just order. This program, for students interested in a legal career or in the history of political ideas, will introduce you to the rich intellectual heritage, especially related to the ideals of freedom and justice, on which the modern legal and political systems is based.
Under the leadership of Professor Isaac Kramnick, one of Cornell's most distinguished faculty members, you'll discuss:
- Law, community, and wisdom in Greco-Roman thought
- Plato's alternative to the rule of law
- Law and God in the Judeo-Christian tradition
- Liberal notions of rights, law, and the state, and
- Inequality and the law, with a focus on gender, class, and race
Readings will be taken from the "Great Books" of Western social thought: Plato, Cicero, the Old and New Testaments, St. Augustine, St. Thomas, Locke, Burke, Wollstonecraft, J.S. Mill, Marx, and M. L. King, Jr.
The afternoon seminar will supplement the morning's intellectual and philosophical exploration of the law and politics. Twice each week, you'll meet and talk with a variety of people involved in legal and political life, such as Ithaca's mayor, a district attorney, local judges, and practicing attorneys, all of whom will describe what they do and discuss the relationship between the law in practice and the ideals of freedom and justice.
To be eligible for this program, you must have completed your sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school by June 2008.
Course
You'll be enrolled in Introduction to Political Philosophy (GOVT 1615). This course meets Mondays through Fridays, 9-11:45, and Mondays through Thursdays, 1:15-4:30.
Academic director
"The excitement that comes in doing research and then transforming that very private work into a book for others to read is indescribable. But even more exhilarating is the joy I derive from teaching. The communication is instant and there can be no greater thrill than having students tell you that you opened up the world of ideas for them. It's what it's all about." ~ Isaac Kramnick
Isaac Kramnick, the Richard J. Schwartz Professor of Government, is one of Cornell University's most prominent scholars and teachers. Recipient of Cornell's Clark Distinguished Teaching Award and named a 1998 Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow, he has been recognized for his effective and lively teaching.
Professor Kramnick was vice provost for undergraduate education at Cornell and previously served the University as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, faculty trustee, chair of the Residential Learning Committee, chair of the Government department, member of the College of Arts and Sciences admissions committee, and in many other capacities.
Professor Kramnick, the author of many books on political philosophy, has been honored with some of the most prestigious scholarly awards in his field. He is a fellow of Great Britain's Royal Historical Society and a recipient of the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in April 1997.
Required textbooks
| Title | Author | Cost |
| Princeton Readings in Political Thought | Mitchell Cohen and Nicole Fermon, Editors | $39.95 |
| The Republic | Plato (translated by Robin Waterfield) | $9.95 |
A typical day in the Freedom and Justice program
| Time | Event |
| 7:00 - 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9:00 - 10:15 a.m. | Monday - Friday Lecture with Professor Kramnick |
| 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. | Monday - Friday Discussion sections with your teaching assistant |
| 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. | Lunch and Break at Trillium |
| 1:15 - 2:45 p.m. | Monday & Wednesday Writing tutorials with your teaching assistant |
| Tuesday & Thursday Lectures & Discussions: Case Studies and Legal Theory with legal practitioners and guest faculty | |
| 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. | Tuesday & Thursday Discussion section with Professor Kramnick |
| 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. | Dinner - will be served at North Star Dining in Appel Commons |
| 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. | Sunday - Thursday Study Hours |
| 11:00 p.m. | Nightly Check-In: Sunday - Thursday |
| 12:00 a.m. | Nightly Check-In: Friday and Saturday |
| Don't miss it... | |
| Friday, July 4 | In observance of Independence Day, we will not have class. |
| Friday, July 11 | College Fair 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. |
| Monday, July 7 | College Admissions Workshop 2:30 - 3:45 p.m. |
Graduation
Students and their families are cordially invited to join the Body, Mind, and Health and Freedom and Justice faculty for an informal graduation on Saturday, July 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the David L. Call Alumni Auditorium, Kennedy Hall. Students will receive a Cornell University Summer College certificate and be able to take farewell photos with their friends and faculty. Note that attendance is not required, but is a nice way to conclude the program.