Phil 317 Aristotle’s Politics
Stanford University
Winter 2010-2011
Fri. 11-12:50
Instructor: Chris Bobonich
Office: 100-102H
Email: bobonich@stanford.edu
Off Hrs: Tu.: 10am-noon
Required Texts:
Jonathan Barnes ed., The Complete Works of Aristotle, Vol. 2.
All secondary reading will be available on reserve in Tanner or via
JSTOR or online.
Week 1, 7 Jan.: Introduction and Platonic Background
We shall read the Politics in its entirety and in order, so you may as
well read the entire text as soon as possible. For a fine discussion of
many key topics in the Politics, see Josh Ober, Political Dissent in
Democratic Athens, chapter 6.
Week 2, 14 Jan.: Book 1: Politics and Nature, Parts of the City,
Slavery, and Household Management.
Reading: David Keyt, "Three Basic Theorems in Aristotle's Politics" in
Keyt and Fred Miller (eds.) A Companion to Aristotle's Politics, 11841.
Richard Kraut, Aristotle, chap. 7.
Week 3: 21 Jan.: Book 2: Criticism of Other Ideal Constitutions.
Terry Irwin, "Aristotle's Defence of Private Property" in Keyt and
Miller.
Richard Kraut, Aristotle, chap. 9.
Week 4: 28 Jan. Book 3: Citizens, Citizenship and Correct
Constitutions.
Terry Irwin, Aristotle's First Principles, chaps. 18-20.
Richard Kraut, Aristotle, chaps. 10-11.
Week 5: 4 Feb.: More on Book 3: Political Friendship and the
Wisdom of the Multitude.
John Cooper, "Political Animals and Civic Friendship" in J. Cooper,
Reason and Emotion.
Jeremy Waldron, "The Wisdom of the Multitude", Political Theory
(1995), 563-84.
Week 6: 11 Feb.: Book 4: Deviant Constitutions.
Terry Irwin, Aristotle's First Principles, chap. 21.
Richard Kraut, Aristotle, chap. 12.
Week 7: 18 Feb. Book 5 (Changing the Constitution) and Book 6
(Mixed Constitution).
Richard Mulgan, "Aristotle's Analysis of Oligarchy and Democracy",
chap. 13 in Keyt and Miller.
Ronald Polansky, "Aristotle on Political Change", chap. 14 in Keyt
and Miller.
Week 8: 25 Feb. Book 7 (Ideal Constitution) and Book 8
(Education and Music).
Richard Kraut, Aristotle, chap. 6.
David Depew, "Politics, Music, and Contemplation in Aristotle's Ideal
State", chap 13 in Keyt and Miller.
Week 9: 4 March: Contemplation and Politics: NE 10. 6-9 and
EE 7.15 (=8.3).
John Cooper, "Contemplation and Happiness: A Reconsideration" in
Reason and Emotion.
Christine Korsgaard, "Aristotle and Kant on the Source of Value" in
Korsgaard, Creating the Kingdom of Ends.
Week 10: 11 March: Early Aristotle.
Protrepticus B1-B110, pp. 2403-16 in Barnes.
Chris Bobonich, "Aristotle's Ethical Treatises" in Richard Kraut (ed.)
The Blackwell Guide to Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics.
Course Requirements:
Graduate students will either (a) write 25-30 page paper, or (b)
do a 15-30 min presentation and write a 20-page paper. The paper is
due on the last day of exam period.