Ancient and Medieval Political Philosophy
Spring 2010
POL 3133 901
TR 12:30-1:45
BB 3.04.06/FS 2.506
Email: daniel.engster@utsa.edu
Dan Engster
Office: MS 4.03.36
Office hrs.: TR 2:00-3:00
Office phone: 458-5645
This course explores the development of political philosophy in the West from the ancient
Greeks to the early modern period (16th and 17th centuries). We begin by studying two of the
most important thinkers from the classical Greek tradition: Plato (428-348 b.c.e.) and
Aristotle (384-322 b.c.e.). We then read two prominent examples of ancient Roman political
thought: On Duties by Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 b.c.e.) and the Meditations of the
Roman emperor/philosopher Marcus Aurelius (121-180). In the third section of the course,
we study medieval Christian political thought by reading selections from the writings of St.
Augustine (354-430) and St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274). The last section of the course is
devoted to two foundational texts of modern political thought: Machiavelli’s The Prince and
John Locke’s A Letter Concerning Toleration. Central themes of the course include the
purpose of politics (What should politics aim to do?), the nature of the good life for human
beings (Are some types of lives better than others? Is there one best life for all human
beings?), the relationship between morality and politics (Should governments promote the
good life for human beings?), and the proper behavior of virtuous citizens. By the end of the
course, students should be able to explain the central differences between classical Greek,
classical Roman, Christian medieval, and modern approaches to these themes, and have a
deeper understanding of the changing nature and definition of politics over time.
REQUIRED BOOKS:
St. Thomas Aquinas, On Law, Morality, and Politics, second edition, (Indianapolis: Hackett,
2002).
Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998).
Aristotle, The Politics, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998).
Cicero, On Duties, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991).
St. Augustine, The Political Writings, (Chicago: Regnery Gateway, 1962).
Machiavelli, Niccolo, The Prince, (New York: Bantam, 1981).
Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations, (Mineola: Dover, 1997).
Plato, The Trial and Death of Socrates, (Mineola: Dover, 1992).
Plato, Republic, (Indianapolis: Hackett, 1992).
The final course readings, John Locke’s A Letter Concerning Toleration, and Jonas Proast’s The
Argument of the Letter Concerning Toleration, are available on the class Blackboard webpage.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1) Papers: You are required to write two papers. Each paper should be five to six pages, typed
and double-spaced. Each paper counts 25% toward your final grade. I will pass out more
detailed instructions about these papers later in the semester.
2) Exams: There are two in-class short answer exams: a mid-term exam and a comprehensive
final exam. The mid-term exam counts 15% toward your final grade. The final exam counts
20% toward your final grade. Make-up exams will be given only to students who present a
note from the Dean or a doctor explaining their absence on the day of the exam. In any case,
all make-up exams will be penalized a minimum of 10 percentage points.
3) Participation: Your participation grade counts 15% toward your final grade. Your
participation grade will be based on two factors: reading quizzes and in-class group
projects. Reading quizzes will be given at the beginning of class to test whether or not
you have completed the reading before coming to class. You will receive credit or no
credit for these quizzes. Group projects will be assigned periodically in class. These
projects are written assignments that you will produce as a group in response to questions
related to the course topics and readings.
Support services, including registration assistance and equipment, are available to
students with documented disabilities through the Office of Disability Services (DSS),
MS 2.03.18. Students can contact that office at 458-4157 to make arrangements.
Any student who submits plagiarized work for any assignment in the class, including
summaries and papers, will receive a F for the class. For more information about
plagiarism, see the plagiarism class hand-out.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
1/12: Introduction
CLASSICAL GREEK POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
1/14: Plato, The Apology and Crito [complete].
1/19: Plato, Republic, Bk. I, (327a-354c), p 1-31.
1/21: Plato, Republic, Bk. II, III (357a-383c, 412a-417b), p 32-59, 88-93.
1/26: Plato, Republic, Bk. IV, (419e-445e), p 94-121.
1/28: Plato, Republic, Bk. V, (449a-480a), p 122-156.
2/2: Plato, Republic, Bk. VI-VII, (503b-521c), p 176-193.
2/4: Plato, Republic, Bk. VIII, IX (543a-569c, 586a-592b), p 213-240, 257-263.
2/9: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Bk. I, p 1-27.
2/11: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Bk. II, p 28-47, Bk. III, p 63-78.
2/16: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Bk. VIII, p 192-219.
2/18: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Bk. X, p 248-276.
2/23: Aristotle, Politics, Bk. I, chapts. 1-7, p 7-20, Bk. II, chapts. 1-5, p 38-51.
2/25: Aristotle, Politics, Bk. III, chapts. 1-18, p 84-132.
3/2: Aristotle, Politics, Bk. IV, chapts. 1-16, p 133-177.
3/4: MIDTERM EXAM.
3/5: FIRST PAPERS ARE DUE IN THE MAIN POLITICAL SCIENCE OFFICE (MS
4.03.62) by 1:00 pm.
ROMAN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
3/9: Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Bks. I-VI, p 1-46.
3/11: Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Bks. VII-XII, p 47-99.
3/15-19: SPRING BREAK
3/23: Cicero, On Duties, p 1-48, 59-62
3/25: Cicero, On Duties, p 101-147.
MEDIEVAL CHRISTIAN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
3/30: St. Augustine, Political Writings, p 1-18, 28-57.
4/1: St. Augustine, Political Writings, p 135-153, 162-183, 305-317.
4/6: St. Augustine, Political Writings, p 193-231.
4/8: St. Thomas Aquinas, On Law, Morality, and Politics, p 16-55, 203-210.
4/13: St. Thomas Aquinas, On Law, Morality, and Politics, p 130-143, 173-196
THE TRANSITION TO MODERN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
4/15: Machiavelli, The Prince, chapts. 15-19, 24-26, p 56-72, 82-90.
4/20: Machiavelli, The Prince, chapts. 1-9, p 12-42.
4/22: John Locke, A Letter Concerning Toleration and Jonas Proast, The Argument of the
Letter Concerning Toleration Briefly Consider’d and Answer’d (Available on Blackboard).
4/27: Locke, A Second Letter Concerning Toleration and Proast, To the Author of the Second
Letter Concerning Toleration (Available on Blackboard).
5/5: FINAL EXAM 10:30-1:00. SECOND PAPER IS DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF
THE EXAM (10:30).