History of Political Thought I-II

History of Political Thought 1

 

SYLLABUS

Course Description

 

This course focuses on the seminal texts of Political Thought such as Plato’s Republic, Aristotle’s Politics, Machiavelli’s Prince, and Hobbes’s Leviathan.  We will survey important views of great political thinkers on the development of state, politics, morality, design of political and social institutions, and political order. This course aims to understand the roots and main tendencies of political thought. We will also discuss the ideas of past thinkers in the context of relation with the issues that are of vital concern today.

 

Course Requirements

 

Students should attend all sessions.  The required readings must be completed before classes.

There are two requirements for this class:

Midterm exam: short essay format. (40%)

Final exam: short essay format (%60 of).

 

Course Schedule

 

Week 1: Ancient Greece and Socrates

 

Plato’s Apology

 

Week 2: Plato

 

Thrasymachus vs. Socrates: Might makes right?

Justice as the interest of stronger? Ruling as an art, Selection of rulers, The virtues in the state,

Plato, Republic Book 1, 2

George Sabine, A History of Political Theory, chapter 4.

 

Week 3: Plato

 

The division of labor and cooperation among the three classes to realize justice in the whole; Philosopher King; Four conditions of the Soul; Cave analogy

Deterioration of regimes

Republic, Book 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

 

Week 4: Aristotle

 

Nature and origin of the state, Critique of Plato’s –”Republic”, Property: Equality or Inequality, Citizenship, Political systems, Democracy and Oligarchy, Monarchy, Liberty and Equality, The rule of law, The best State, Political moderation and stability: The middle classes

Politics, Book 1, 2, 3, 4

George Sabine, A History of Political Theory, chapters 6, 7

 

Week 5: Epicureans, Skeptics, Cynics and Stoics

 

George Sabine, A History of Political Theory, chapter 8

 

Week 6: Cicero

 

George Sabine, A History of Political Theory, chapter 10

 

Week 7: St. Augustine

 

City of God vs. Babylon; Free Will vs. Predestination

Justice – the foundation of the state; The Earthly and the Heavenly city,

Sabine, A History of Political Theory, chapter 11

 

 

Week 8: St. Thomas Aquinas

 

Faith vs. Reason

Secular authority vs. Papal power

George Sabine, A History of Political Theory, chapter 14

 

Week 9: Islamic Political Thought

Farabi

 

Week 10: Machiavelli

 

Machiavelli, The Prince

George Sabine, A History of Political Theory, chapter 18

 

Week 11: Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu, The Art of War, Books 1-13, pages 63-149

 

Week 12: Hobbes

George Sabine, A History of Political Theory, chapter 24

 

History of Political Thought II

BEHLÜL ÖZKAN

ozkanbehlul@gmail.com

–          WEEK 1: HOBBES

George Sabine, A History of Political Theory, Chapter 24, 422-440

–          WEEK 2: LOCKE

George Sabine, A History of Political Theory, Chapter 27, 478-499

–          WEEK 3: MONTESQUIEU and VOLTAIRE

George Sabine, A History of Political Theory, Chapter 28, 500-528.

–          WEEK 4: ROUSSEAU

George Sabine, A History of Political Theory, Chapter 29, 529-548

–          WEEK 5: HEGEL

George Sabine, A History of Political Theory, Chapter 31, 570-607

–          WEEK 6: LIBERALISM

George Sabine, A History of Political Theory, Chapter 33, 635-680

–          WEEK 7: MARX

George Sabine, A History of Political Theory, Chapter 34, 681-723

–          WEEK 8: LENIN

George Sabine, A History of Political Theory, Chapter 35, 724-798

–          WEEK 9: FASCISM AND NATIONAL SOCIALISM

George Sabine, A History of Political Theory, Chapter 36, 799-867

–          WEEK 10: CRITICAL STUDIES