POS 301 Gunnell

Fall 2003

HISTORY, JUSTICE, AND POLITICAL ORDER

This course is an exploration of the origins of politics and political thought in Western culture. The emphasis will be on classical Greece and the relationship between visions of political order and history, but we will examine both earlier and later periods and the nexus of politics, religion, and philosophy. The focus will be on texts but with sensitivity to their contextual setting. The centerpiece of the course will be Plato’s Republic, and we will move both toward and away from this work as we consider various pieces of literature.

The course is somewhat experimental in that it will utilize internet resources, and the course does assume computer literacy and access. The books we will be reading are, however, easily available, in local bookstores, Amazon, etc. if you should feel more comfortable with that format. In any event, you might wish to purchase Plato’s Republic on which you will be writing a 10 page paper. Earlier and later material will be the basis of two respective examinations. There are no preferred editions. The syllabus will be in printed form as well as available on a class web page where the reading can be reached electronically and read, downloaded, or printed. Reading must be accomplished prior to class discussion on the designated day. Specific reading assignments for various sections of the course will be assigned in class.

The course is very tightly structured, and regular attendance, careful notes on both class discussion and reading, and continuing intellectual engagement are essential. Several very brief quizzes will encourage attendance and reading and will count as a portion of the final grade.

My email is jgg@albany.edu ph. 442-5265

Office hours: TTH 9:30-11

Sept. 2 Introduction

4 Gilgamesh and demise of the compact universe

http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/GILG.HTM

9 Israel and history

www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook06.html

11 Minoan and Mycenaen Greece

http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/MINOA/MYCENAE.HTM

16 Homer: war and justice in the Iliad and Odyssey

http://library.thinkquest.org/19300/data/homer.htm

18 Hesiod: cosmos and polis

http://www.studylit.com/main_authorpage/hesiod.htm

23 Herodotus: history and society

http://www.livius.org/he-hg/herodotus/herodotus01.htm

25 Aeschylus: the celebration of the polis

http://www.theatrehistory.com/ancient/aeschylus001.html

http://www.geocities.com/tmartiac/thalassa/oresteia.htm

30-Oct. 9 Thucydides: the city and war

http://books.mirror.org/gb.thucydides.html

14 Sophocles and Aristophanes: politics as tragedy and comedy

http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa111897.htm

http://classics.mit.edu/Aristophanes/clouds.html

16 Examination

21-Nov. 6 Plato: philosophy and politics

http://socrates.clarke.edu/aplg0101.htm

http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.html

http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/laws.html

http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/stateman.html

11-18 Aristotle: the idea a science of politics

http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html

http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/politics.html

20 Hellenism, Rome, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Dec. 2 St. Augustine, St. Thomas: religion and political order

http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/jod/augustine.html

http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/a/aquinas.htm#Writings

http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft9902/articles/novak.html

http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/ip/rep/H021.htm

4 Conclusion

9 Examination