POL200Y1Y L5101
Political Theory: Visions of the Just/Good Society
Themes
This course will examine some of the most important canonical texts in the tradition of political theory, including Plato’s Republic, Aristotle’s Politics, Machiavelli’s Prince, Hobbes’s Leviathan, and Locke’s Second Treatise. Through a careful reading of these foundational texts, we will explore major themes of both ancient and modern political thought, such as justice, politics, democracy, citizenship, power, liberty, violence, war, peace, gender, obedience, sovereignty, state, society, etc. By the end of the course students should be able to articulate an elaborate account of the key concepts theorized by these thinkers, acquire new knowledge of the historical and intellectual context of the period covered, as well as develop their own reflective, argumentative, and writing skills.
Texts
Plato, Republic. Trans. C.D.C. Reeve. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett, 192; Aristotle, Politics. Trans. C.D.C. Reeve. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett, 1998; Machiavelli, Selected Political Writings. Trans. David Wootton. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett, 1994; Hobbes, Leviathan. Ed. Edwin Curley. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett, 1994; Locke, The Political Writings. Ed. David Wootton. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett, 2003.
Format and Requirements
Attendance and Participation (10), First Term Essay (20%), Comparative Essay (40%), Final Exam (30%)