Political Science 265 - Plato and Rousseau

Why approach political questions philosophically? Why dream up an ideal city in order to learn about political rule and legislation? Why dwell in abstract reflections on the nature of knowledge or the structure of the soul in order to understand freedom, justice, and equality? 

In this course we learn what it means, and how it rewards us, to think philosophically about politics through a careful study of Plato and Rousseau. Our key themes will include the purpose of political rule, the duties of citizenship, and the importance as well as the liabilities of ideals such as equality and democracy. We will explore these themes by reading fictional dialogues, utopian designs, speculative histories, and more. The specific texts we will study are Plato's Alcibiades, Republic, and Meno; and Rousseau’s Discourse on Inequality, Émile, and On the Social Contract.

"Nearly all of our work in this course will be devoted to understanding the authors on their own terms. The focus is on interpreting texts. Students who would like to develop close-reading skills are especially encouraged to consider this course."

Limited to 20 students. Fall semester. Assistant Professor Park.

How to handle overenrollment: Priority to political science majors

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: An emphasis on close reading; in-class exams; oral presentations. Students should expect to attend all class sessions, starting on the first day.