syllabus

ISTANBUL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
M.A. Program In Political Studies
Ancient Political Theory - SYC 516E
Doç. Dr. G.S. Bove
Office: FEB 306
Office Hours: TBA
Email: gbove@itu.edu.tr
Course Description: This course begins by looking at the origins of political thought in ancient
Greece, beginning with Herodotus of Halicarnassus (Bodrum), and his influence on the philosophies of
Plato and Aristotle. We will study in depth the political climate in which the trial and execution of
Socrates occurred and its impact on world history, as well as Plato's attempts to build a psychological
and natural account of justice in the face of the early convention (contract) theory of the Sophists. We
will finish with an examination of Aristotle's attempts to provide a cosmological/biological account of
the human being in a teleological political system that is also natural. The course, then divides into the
following sections:
1. Herodotus and Political Thought
Readings
Herodotus: Ring of Gyges, Solon, Types of Government (Histories)
Plato: Ring of Gyges (Republic)
Aristotle: Solon, Types of Government (Ethics, Politics)
2. The Trial and Execution of Socrates
Readings: Plato, Euthyphro, Apology, Crito
Recommended: I.F. Stone, The Trial of Socrates; Brickhouse T. and and Smith, N., The Trial and
Execution of Socrates: Sources and Controversies; Kamtekar, R., Plato's Euthyphro, Apology and
Crito; A.E. Taylor, Plato: The Man and His Work.
3. Plato's Political Thought
Readings: Plato, Republic I, Clitophon, Republic II-VII
Recommended: Julia Annas, An Introduction to Plato's Republic; A.E. Taylor, Plato: The Man and His
Work; Bowe, G., "In Defense of Clitophon".
4. Aristotle's Political Thought
Readings: Aristotle, Physics, Metaphysics, On the Soul, Ethics, Politics
Barnes, J., The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle;
Grading:
Presentation 25%
Short Paper 25%
Term Paper 50%
Schedule:
Date
Topic
Readings
Activity
Week 1
Introduction
--
Overview Lecture
Week 2
Herodotus and Political Herodotus: excerpts
Lecture
Thought
from The Histories
Plato: (Republic) Ring
of Gyges
Aristotle: (Ethics) Solon
and Croesus, (Politics)
Types of Government
Week 3
The Trial and Execution Euthyphro, Apology,
of Socrates
Crito
Lecture
Week 4
The Trial and Execution Euthyphro, Apology,
of Socrates
Crito
Presentations
Week 5
Plato's Political
Thought
Lecture
Week 6
Plato's Political Thought Clitophon
Lecture/Presentations
Week 7
Plato's Political Thought Republic II - VII
Lecture
Week 8
Plato's Political Thought Republic II - VII
Presentations
Week 9
No Class
Week 10
Aristotle's Political
Thought
Physics and
Metaphysics
Lecture
Week 11
Aristotle's Political
Thought
On the Soul
Lecture
Week 12
Aristotle's Political
Thought
Ethics and Politics
Lecture
Week 13
Aristotle's Political
Thought
Ethics and Politics
Presentations
Week 14
Review
Republic I