History of Political Thought I

Course content

This two-semester course aims to give the students a broad perspective on the developments in the history of political philosophy. It starts with the pre-Socratic philosophers of nature and Socratic criticism of conventions through dialogue. Following the significant turn brought by the Platonic-Aristotelian tradition, the course examines Hellenistic worldviews and medieval outlook to political affairs. Some of the themes that are surveyed in this course are early philosophical reflection on nature and human essence, time and matter, theory of forms, questions of justice, equality and freedom, practices concerning the self and the good life, and, the rising or declining significance attributed to political participation.