Seminar on Political Philosophy: Topics in the History of Political Philosophy

We will take up a number of topics in the history of political philosophy, beginning with such questions as: what is political philosophy; what is political about it and what is philosophical; and what are the occasion and purpose of it? Further topics include theory and practice; history, historicity, and philosophy; the proposition that politics consists of speeches and deeds; civil society and politics; the city of God and the city of man; and science and politics. Finally, we will look at some complements of political life like family, economic activity, friendship, and war; we will consider the rank of politics among these activities and studies of them. We will read Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, Farabi, Montaigne, Hobbes, Pascal, Hegel, Max Weber, Hans Jonas, Michael Oakeshott, and Leo Strauss.(PSCI 0101 or 0107 or by waiver) 3 hrs. sem. (Political Theory)/