Topics in Pre-Modern Political Thought

V53.0110

Spring, 2004

M, W: 12:30 – 1:45 pm

Instructor: Loretta Sorensen

Office: 726 Broadway, Rm 725

Office Hours: M, W: 2-3 pm

E-mail: loretta.sorensen@nyu.edu

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to explore significant ideas in ancient and medieval political thought. The topic we will consider in the most detail is the connection between virtue and politics. What do these thinkers mean by virtue, and what is its political role? With this in mind, we will begin with readings in Plato and Aristotle, briefly discuss the most influtential philosophies of the Hellenistic period, and then turn to Cicero and ancient Rome. Finally, we will consider the rise of Christian political thought, culminating in the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas.

The course will rely on both lecture and discussion. All students are expected to come to class having read the assigned material and prepared to discuss it. The participation grade will include attendance but will be weighted towards participation in discussion.

Course Requirements

Participation: 10 percent

Reading Quizzes: 10 percent

Paper: 20 percent

Midterm Exam: 30 percent

Final Exam: 30 percent

There will be one paper of 10 to 12 pages addressing a topic in the reading. The instructor will suggest topics by around the middle of the semester, or you may select a topic of your own – but if you select your own topic you must have the instructor’s approval.

There will be four reading quizzes, each listed on the syllabus. The quizzes will be on the reading assigned for that day’s class; i.e., on material we have not yet discussed. There will be no make-ups without a verifiable doctor’s note.

Required Texts

Available in Bookstore

Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. World’s Classics/Oxford, 1980.

_____. Politics and Constitution of Athens. Cambridge, 1996.

Aquinas, Thomas. Political Writings. Cambridge, 2002.

Augustine. City of God. Penguin Classics, 1984.

Cicero. On the Commonwealth and On the Laws. Cambridge, 1999.

_____. On Obligations. Oxford, 2000.

Plato. Meno. Hackett, 1976.

_____. Protagorus. Hackett, 1992.

Reeve, C.D.C., ed. The Trials of Socrates. Hackett, 2002.

Available on Reserve

Ambrose. De Officiis. Vol 1, selections. Oxford, 2001.

Aristotle. Physics. Book II. Clarendon Press/Oxford, 1992.

Inwood, Brad and L.P. Gerson. Hellenistic Philosophy: Introductory Readings. 2^nd

Edition, selections. Hackett, 1997.

Polybius. Histories. Book VI. Indiana University Press, 1962.

Schedule

January 21: Introduction

January 26: Constitution of Athens

Aristotle, Constitution of Athens, “The Present Constitution,” pg. 243-263.

January 28: Trial and Death of Socrates I

Plato, Apology.

February 2: Trial and Death of Socrates II

Aristophanes, The Clouds, pg. 92 (line 60) – 118 (line 509); pg. 124 (line

627) – 156 (line 1169); pg. 165 (line 1303) – end.

February 4: Trial and Death of Socrates IIII

Plato, Crito, Phaedo death scene. Xenophon, Socrates’ Defense.

February 9: Protagorus I

First Reading Quiz.

Plato, Protagorus, pg. 1-30 (line 334c).

February 11: Protagorus II

Protagorus, pg. 30 – 59.

February 16: Meno

Plato, Meno.

February 18: Aristotle: Nature

Physics, Book II, chapters 1-3, 7-9;

Politics, Book I, chapters 1-2.

February 23: Aristotle: The Good Life

Nicomachean Ethics, Book I; Book X, chapters 1-5.

February 25: Aristotle: Moral Virtue and Justice

Second Reading Quiz.

Nicomachean Ethics, Book II; Book V, chapters 1-2, 6-7, 10.

Politics, Book III, chapter 9.

March 1: Aristotle: Politics and Philosophy

Nicomachean Ethics, Book VI, chapters 1-8, 12-13; Book X, chapters 6-9;

Politics, Book VII, chapters 1-3.

March 3: Stoicism

In Hellenistic Philosophy: Diogenes Laertius, p. 190-203;

Cicero (On Goals), p. 236-241; Seneca (Letters on Ethics), p. 249-252.

March 8: Epicureanism/Scepticism

In Hellenistic Philosophy: Letter to Menoeceus, p. 28-31;

Testimony of Cicero, p. 56-61; Ethics (misc.), p. 387-397.

March 10: Midterm Exam

SPRING RECESS

March 22: The Constitution of Rome

Polybius, Histories, Book VI [1-21, 57].

March 24: Cicero

On Obligations, Book I.

March 29: Cicero

Third Reading Quiz.

On the Commonwealth, Book I.

March 31: Cicero

On the Commonwealth, Book III;

On Obligations Book III [14-64].

April 5: Cicero

On the Laws, Book I; Book II [1-18].

April 7: The Rise of Christian Thought

St. Ambrose. De Officiis, Book I [27-29, 36-37, 130-142];

Book III [7-37].

April 12: St. Augustine: The Two Cities

City of God, Book I (chapters 1-3); Book XIV (chapters 1-4, 28); Book

XV (chapters 1-2, 4-6); Book XXII (chapter 1).

April 14: St. Augustine: Virtue

Fourth Reading Quiz.

City of God, Book XIX (chapters 1-5, 18-19, 25), Book V (chapters 13-

17, 19-21); Book IX (chapter 4); Book XIV (chapter 9).

April 19: St. Augustine: Commonwealth

City of God, Book II (chapter 21); Book IV (chapters 3-4); Book V

(chapter 24); Book XIX (chapters 10-17, 20-21, 23 [final paragraph only],

24, 26-27).

April 21: St. Thomas Aquinas: Government and Politics

Summa Ia96, articles 3-4; De regimine principum, Preface and

Book I, chapters 1-10, 13-16.

April 26: Aquinas: Law

Summa IaIIae 90, 91 (articles 1-4), 94, 95 (articles 1-2), 96 (articles 1-5).

Final Papers Due.

April 28: Aquinas: Justice and Other Topics

Summa IIaIIae 58, articles 1, 3, 5, 7, 11-12; IIaIIae66, articles 2, 7; IIaIIae

40, article 1; IiaIIae 10, articles 10-11; IIaIIae 11, article 3; IIaIIae12;

article 2; Scripta super libros, article 4.

May 3: Review

May 5: Final Exam – 12:00 – 1:50 pm