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: [email protected] 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