POL 211 - Classical Political Thought

What is politics? Why do communities and societies need a state? What is the basis of the authority of a ruler or a state? What is justice? The course will answer these questions through thinkers in pre-Enlightenment political thought from Socrates to Machiavelli.

Students will be taught classical political thought from the birth of political philosophy in Ancient Greece, namely Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, followed by the examination of the political ideas of Cicero and St. Augustine. The ideas of Thomas Aquinas and Niccolo Machiavelli will be illustrated as examples of continuity and transformation in the renaissance period of the classical political thought.

Andrew Heywood, Political Theory: An Introduction

David Boucher, Political Thinkers: From Socrates to the Present

George Klosko, History of Political Theory: An Introduction, Volume I

Two course assesments

Mid-Term Exam: 35%

In-Class Test: 15%

Final Exam: 50%

In response to changing events, these assessments may be modified.

Exam essay format

Introduction, body and conclusion

Students should demonstrate the following elements in their answers: knowledge of the course materials, a clear and coherent essay structure and their point of view and interpretation.

Student attendance

Less than 50% of class attendance will disqualify students from sitting the final exam regardless of whether the mid-term exam or in-class test were taken.

Rules of conduct in the classroom for quizzes and exams

Students are not allowed to have mobile phones, digital watches and bags with me them during examinations. If these items or objects are with students, this will result in an automatic grade of 0%.

Any evidence of cheating such as pieces of paper with notes found on students or writing on students' hands and wrists will result in an automatic grade of 0%. Students who have been caught cheating during exams will be subject to a faculty disciplinary investigation that may lead to them being suspended from university and the punishment being in their student record.