Western Washington University, Department of Political Science
Classical Political Thought – PLSC 361 - Autumn2015
Time: Monday & Wednesday, 4:00 – 5:50 Classroom: AW 406
Instructor: Dr. HoffmanOH: Monday, 6:00 – 7:00
Office: 424 Arntzen
Course Description:
This course samples some of the classic texts in the tradition of Western political thought during its inception in ancient Greece. It is intended to give students a sense of both the diversity and unity of this tradition of ancient political philosophy. The heart of the classical era of Western civilization runs from the archaic Greek world (800 – 500 BC) through the rise of imperial Rome. This course emphasizes one of the most foundational periods of political philosophy in Western antiquity, the Golden Age of Greece during the 5th and 4th centuries BC, with a focus on texts generated between the Age of Pericles (463-429) through the conquest of Hellas by Philip of Macedon in 338 BC.
The issue of human virtue will be one common theme on which the various thinkers will be compared and contrasted. What virtues are required for political society to function or flourish? What qualities of character are required for an ethical life? What virtues and psychological dispensations provide a foundation for achieving eudaimonia, or the Good life in political society? How is moral virtue related to civic or public virtue? How were these concerns related to understandings of citizenship in antiquity, and how might they inform our thinking about citizenship today?
Through direct readings, lecture, and discussion we will trace the emergence of ancient Greece’s unique self-awareness of how these questions relentlessly press themselves upon us. We will encounter a succession of arguments about political obligation, justice, virtue, freedom, and citizenship that are foundational to modern democratic society, as well as distinctively classical, and in some ways curiously dissimilar to own “modern,” progressive understandings of “the political.” Other questions we will consider include: What character traits should a political system inculcate or encourage? How should citizens negotiate the inevitable, difficult, & sometimes tragic choices they face between family or household obligation and public obligation? What is the value – and what are the limits -- of philosophy, for understanding politics and for obtaining a better understanding of the human condition? We will work to identify the promising insights and the problems attributable to each of the storytellers and dramatists we encounter.
Class Format & Methods
The ancients is thought - and wrote – about morals, ethics, and the need to solve the puzzle of how best to live a good life in a good society through dramas, stories, dialogues, & witty conversation, rather than through dense philosophical treatises that emphasize linear argument or a search for a grand theory of politics & citizenship. As such, our readings from ancient, pre-modern times are best digested through careful consideration of the primary source materials in the context of ancient political society. I entreat you totry to contribute to class discussion. If you haven’t done all the readings for a given day, that is fine. Please bring your text to class;it’s essential to have the primary source readings in front of one while we analyze the key passages. Also, pleasetry not to look bored if you haven’t done a certain reading — or if a particular reading doesn’t quite click with you: we’ve all been there. For the sake of the morale of us all & le jeu d’esprit, try to mask it or to get in the game — especially when the readings or discussion do click well for you. Moreover, a creative & thoughtful intellectual environment require that we try to respond to each other’s contributions in anticipation of a fruitful evolution of our own in class analysis of the readings. The Greeks preferred to explore questions of morals, ethics, & how to be just in the context of tragedies, dialogues, and philosophical inquiry. We will have to work consistently at using our historical imagination and appreciating the unique context of the ancient world and polis as we consider the foundations of political philosophy this term.
Our study of classic Ancient texts will help foster:
an enriched understanding of classical dilemmas of moral philosophy, which continue to occupy moral & political thinkers today, and which provide (or at least ought to provide) the background for deliberation of contemporary moral dilemmas
a general knowledge of some of the classic political writings and thinkers in Greek antiquity
a better sense of the social, cultural, & technological context in which the foundational categories of western political & moral thought were established
essential skills necessary to interpret, compare, contrast, & apply arguments of political theory;
a more sophisticated political vocabulary &more functional critical thinking toolkit
Previous exposure to political theory or philosophy is helpful, but the only pre-requisite for this course is Introduction to Political Theory (PLSC 261) or its equivalent. The reading schedule will be rigorous and challenging (averaging 60-70 pages of often-difficult text per week), but rewarding. The texts we will read have a rich history and have long been seen as essential to an educated person’s background in western culture.
Required Texts:
Hall & Kitto, eds., Sophocles’ Basic Political Writings, London: Oxford University Press, 1998
ISBN 0192835882
Steinberger, Peter (ed.), Readings in Classical Political Thought, Indianapolis: Hackett, 2000
ISBN 0872205126
Optional:
Treddinick, ed., Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, New York: Penguin Classics, New Ed. Edition
ISBN 0140449493
Graded Assignments:
⏏Midterm. Combination multiple choice & short answer format. Will account for ~45% of the total course grade.
⏏Final. Essay & short response format. Will account for ~45% of the total course grade.
⏏Class attendance and 2 to 3 short quizzeswill constitute 10% of the grade.
Grading Standards:
Graded work will correspond to the following scale:
93 - 100A
90-92A-
88-89B+
83-87B
80-82B-
etc.
Course Policies
Academic Ethics: Academic dishonesty is a serious offense, potentially grounds for dismissal from the university. It is also inimical to the development of good character. Dishonesty includes plagiarism, cheating on exams, and so forth. Please consult for an explanation of what constitutes plagiarism. Western’s policy on plagiarism can be found at
Please note that I must follow university procedures when I identify a case of plagiarism.
Please note that the schedule of reading and assignments may be changed – all changes will be posted to the course website at Rescheduled/makeup exams can only be arranged in case of a properly documented illness or emergency.
Special Accommodations: Western Washington’s policy and practice is to make reasonable accommodations for students with properly documented disabilities. Written notification from disAbilities resources (DRS) is required. If you are eligible to receive an accommodation and would like to request it for this course, please discuss it with me as soon as possible. This conversation will be kept strictly confidential. If you have questions about DRS and filing for an accommodation, please visit disability Resources for Students in Old Main 110 (650-3083). Their email is .
PLSC 361 Course Webpage:
Course Outline and Schedule of Readings
28 & 30 Sep Course Introduction
The Athenian Political Experience
Film: The Greeks, Crucible of Civilization
Read for class:Introductionand Notes on the Textsto the Hall & Kitto edited volume
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5 Oct The Athenian Political Experience (con’t)
Drama & Tragedy in Democratic Athens: Loyalty and the Public Trust
Read for class:Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, from the Hall & Kitto edited volume
7 Oct The Classic Antigone
Read for class: Sophocles’ Antigone,1st half, from the Hall & Kitto edited volume
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12 Oct The Classic Antigone, (con’t)
Read for class: Sophocles’ Antigone,2ndhalf, from the Hall & Kitto edited volume
14 OctFrom the Pre-Socratics to the Socratic Philosophy & the Athenian Enlightenment
Socratic methods of critical thinking vs. Humanism & Relativism of the Sophist
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19 OctPlato, Son of Ariston: Literary & Moral Foundation of Political Studies
Book I of The Republic
Read for class: Plato’s Republic, Book I [Steinberger, 166-171]
21 Oct Book I of The Republicand Overview of The Republic & its Structure
Read for class: Plato’s Republic, Book I [Steinberger, 171-181]
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26 Oct Book II of The Republic: Glaucon’s Devil’s Advocate Argument & Socrates Response
Read for class: Plato’s Republic, first part of Book II [Steinberger, 181--188left side, bottom]
28 Oct The 3 Parts of the State, the Myth of the Metals, and Socrates’ Defense of the founding myth
Read for class: Plato’s Republic, Book III middle – Book IV [Steinberger, 188 -218]
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02 Nov The 4 Cardinal Virtues in the State & in the Soul
Read for class: Plato’s Republic, Book III middle – Book IV [Steinberger, 218-229]
04 Nov Justice in the State & Soul depends on finding a Philosopher King (PK)
The Philosophical vs. the Philodoxical; Philosopher King (PK); Justice requires PK
Just skim the first two-thirds ofBook V in Republic, Steinberger, pp. 229-242 left top
Read for class: Plato’s Republic, Books V & VI[Steinberger, p. 242 left bottom – p. 254]
The Four Modes of Cognition & the Analogy of the Divided Line
Read for class: Plato’s Republic, Book VI [Steinberger, 254 - 262top]
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9Nov Midterm Exam
11 Nov Veterans Day Holiday
______
16Nov Finding the Philosopher King: The Four Modes of Cognition & the Allegory of the Cave
Read for class: Plato’s Republic, Book VII [focus on pp. 262 – 266 & pp. 275 - 276]
18 Nov Ideal Disposition for the Ruling Class: la vita contemplativa, la vita activa, or both(con’t)
Read for Class: EM Cornford, Editor’s analysis of The Republic (off the course website)
Decline of Society; The Just & Unjust State & Soul Compared (Books 8 & 9)
Read for class: Simon Blackburn, “Disorderly Cities, Disorderly People” (website)
Skim Plato’s Republic, Books VIII & IX [Steinberger, 276-303]. Blackburn’s essay treats Book 8 & Book 9. To complement Blackburn, I suggest reading Steinberger, pp. 276 277; 282 left – 286 left (on the democratic city & democratic soul); and 300 – 303 left(where Socrates finishes his argument on Justice as intrinsically good).
______223 Nov Concluding Discussion of Simon Blackburn reading & Republic Books VIII & IX
Continuation and conclusion of our discussion of Blackburn & Books VIII & IX from our class on Nov 18.
The Last Days of Socrates: Socrates On Trial
Read for Class: General Introduction to The Last Days of Socrates (Thematic Essay on Course Website)
Plato’s Apology [Steinberger, 147-159]We will start this on Nov 23 & finish it on Nov 30)
25 Nov Happy Thanksgiving
______
30 Nov Last Days of Socrates (con’t)
Plato’s Crito [Steinberger, 159-165] (This is much shorter than Apology)
Platonic Justice vs Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Introduction, Book I, & Book II
2 Dec Platonic Justice vs Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics (con’t)
Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Book X (Part V – IX only in Book X)
Review for Final Exam
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Thursday Dec 10 3:30 – 5:30 Final Exam
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