GOVT. 303: SURVEY OF POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY – ANCIENT POLITICAL THOUGHT, FALL 2006
Sec:01, Tu & Th, 11:00am-12:20 pm, 40 Morton Hall
Sec:02, Tu & Th, 3:30-4:50 pm, 39 Morton Hall
Professor Simon Stow
32 Morton Hall
sastow@wm.edu
Tel: 221-3048
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday & Thursday 2-3pm, and by appointment.
This course examines the works of several key political philosophers in the Western tradition,
starting with the Greeks, through the Romans up to early Christian political thought. We will be concerned
to read and analyze these thinkers’ central texts, seeking to discern what is being said, what this tells us
about the politics of the societies in which they were written, and how this compares and contrasts with our
own society and thought about politics. In addition to the study of specific thinkers and specific texts, we
will also seek to consider more broadly what it means to think critically about politics, and the strategies
available for doing so.
This class fulfills GER 7. For the Ger 7 requirements go to www.wm.edu/fas/undergraduate/ger.php. The
class seeks to fulfill these requirements though a combination of essays, in-class discussions, and an
examination.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Two short papers (6-8 pages) 30% each; Final Examination 30%; and class
attendance and participation, 10%.
REQUIRED TEXTS: Available in the Bookstore.
Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War (trans: Rex Warner)
Plato The Republic (trans: Allan Bloom)
Aristotle The Politics (trans: Carnes Lord)
Cicero The Republic (trans: Niall Rudd)
Augustine The Political Writings
In addition, other readings will be available on Blackboard and for copying in Morton Hall 19.
Week 1, Aug. 31: No Class.
Week 2, Sept. 5: Organization and Introduction “Organized Crime, Prostitution, and the Karate Kid.”
Sept. 7: Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War
Introduction, pp.35-49
The Dispute over Epidamnus, pp.49-53
The Dispute over Corcyra, pp.53-68
Week 3, Sept. 12 -14: Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War
The Debate at Sparta and Declaration of War, pp.72-87
Pericles’ Funeral Oration, pp.143-151
The Plague, pp.151-156
The Policy of Pericles, pp.157-164.
Week 4, Sept. 19-21: Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War
The Mytilenian Debate, pp. 212-223
Civil War in Corcyra, pp.236-245
The Melian Dialogue, pp.400-409
The Debate at Camarina, pp.455-465
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Week 5, Sept. 26-28: Plato Republic, Books I & II
Week 6, Oct. 3-5: Plato Republic, Books III-VI
Week 7, Oct. 10-12: Plato Republic, Books VI-IX
*** FIRST PAPER TOPICS GIVEN OUT OCTOBER 12***
Week 8, Oct.17: No Class (Fall Break).
Oct. 19: Plato Republic, Book X
*** FIRST PAPERS DUE OCTOBER 24 (AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS)***
Week 9, Oct. 24-26: Aristotle The Politics
Book I, Book II (Chps. 1-6); Book III.
Week 10, Oct. 31-Nov. 2: Aristotle The Politics
Book IV (Chps. 1-11), Book V (Chps. 1-9).
Week 11, Nov. 7-9: Aristotle The Politics, Book VIII (Chps. 1-7).
Polybius The Histories (a.k.a. The Rise of the Roman Republic). Extract.
Week 12, Nov.14-16: Cicero The Republic.
***SECOND PAPER TOPICS GIVEN OUT NOVEMBER 14***
Week 13, Nov. 21: Cicero The Republic.
Nov.23: No Class (Thanksgiving Break).
*** SECOND PAPERS DUE NOVEMBER 28 (AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS)***
Week 14, Nov, 28-30: St. Augustine The Political Writings
Week 15, Dec. 5-7: St. Augustine The Political Writings
Last Class/Review.
EXAMS: Section 01 Wednesday, December 20, 1:30-4:30 pm. 40 Morton.
Section 02 Friday, December 15, 1:30-4:30 pm. 39 Morton.
The course instructor reserves the right to amend the syllabus as the semester progresses.
It is the student’s responsibility to keep copies of all work submitted for this class until the final grades
have been awarded.
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