Elements of Political Theory

The principal aim of this course is to provide an introduction to the field of political philosophy. The texts to be read are among the most important works in the field covering a period of twenty-four hundred years. In order to give a comprehensive overview of the history of political thought, we will be studying works written by Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Locke, the authors of the Federalist Essays, and Marx. Each of these thinkers presents a different perspective concerning the best manner in which politics ought to be practiced. It is hoped that a thorough reading and comprehension of these works will (1) familiarize the student with the general concerns of political thought, (2) demonstrate that political thought is an ongoing dialogue among thinkers from various times and historical circumstances, and (3) suggest that some of the concerns that confronted philosophers centuries ago are still relevant to the problems of today. This course has been renumbered, effective Fall 2014. A student who earned credit for GOVT 117 Elements of Political Theory in a prior term should not enroll and cannot earn credit in this class.