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    Greek Political Thought - Syllabus - SPR

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    PaoRobledo
    This document provides the syllabus for a course on Greek Political Thought offered at Tufts University in Spring 2013. The course will survey Greek political thought from archaic times through the Hellenistic age. It will examine early reflections on justice, democracy in Athens, criticisms of Athenian democracy, imperialism, and thinkers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. The syllabus lists the course instructor, meeting times, required textbook, assignments including weekly journals, a research paper and midterm/final exams. It also provides an outline of topics to be covered over 15 weeks, with assigned readings and texts to accompany each topic.

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    Greek Political Thought - Syllabus - SPR

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    This document provides the syllabus for a course on Greek Political Thought offered at Tufts University in Spring 2013. The course will survey Greek political thought from archaic times through the Hellenistic age. It will examine early reflections on justice, democracy in Athens, criticisms of Athenian democracy, imperialism, and thinkers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. The syllabus lists the course instructor, meeting times, required textbook, assignments including weekly journals, a research paper and midterm/final exams. It also provides an outline of topics to be covered over 15 weeks, with assigned readings and texts to accompany each topic.

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    This document provides the syllabus for a course on Greek Political Thought offered at Tufts University in Spring 2013. The course will survey Greek political thought from archaic times through the Hellenistic age. It will examine early reflections on justice, democracy in Athens, criticisms of Athenian democracy, imperialism, and thinkers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. The syllabus lists the course instructor, meeting times, required textbook, assignments including weekly journals, a research paper and midterm/final exams. It also provides an outline of topics to be covered over 15 weeks, with assigned readings and texts to accompany each topic.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    283 views5 pages

    Greek Political Thought - Syllabus - SPR

    Uploaded by

    PaoRobledo
    This document provides the syllabus for a course on Greek Political Thought offered at Tufts University in Spring 2013. The course will survey Greek political thought from archaic times through the Hellenistic age. It will examine early reflections on justice, democracy in Athens, criticisms of Athenian democracy, imperialism, and thinkers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. The syllabus lists the course instructor, meeting times, required textbook, assignments including weekly journals, a research paper and midterm/final exams. It also provides an outline of topics to be covered over 15 weeks, with assigned readings and texts to accompany each topic.

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    Tufts University - Spring Courses 2013

    CLS 0084: Greek Political Thought

    CLASSICS 0084: GREEK POLITICAL THOUGHT


    Syllabus
    Class Meetings - ANDN 309
    Tuesday 10:30-11:45 am
    Thursday: 10:30-11:45 am
    Course Instructor
    Monica Berti
    Department of Classics - 326 Eaton Hall
    monica.berti@tufts.edu
    Office Hours
    Tuesday 12:00-3:00 pm; or by appointment
    Eaton 326
    Textbook
    RYAN K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006) ISBN 1-4051-0030-3
    (paperback)
    Other Readings and Texts
    Other readings and texts listed in the syllabus will be given to the students during classes and posted on the
    course Trunk site (https://trunk.tufts.edu).
    Course Description
    The modern term politics comes from the Greek politikos (of, or pertaining to, citizens and the city) and the
    reflection about political life and constitutional forms is one of the most important contributions of ancient
    Greece. The aim of this course is to explore origin and development of Greek political thought because it is
    essential for our understanding of contemporary world, especially when we discuss themes such as
    democracy, equality, justice, and the confrontation between East and West. The course will be a survey of
    Greek thought in English translation from Archaic times to the Hellenistic age. Students will also have the
    opportunity to learn Greek words of the political language by searching new digital tools available through the
    Perseus Digital Library (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/), in order to understand the etymology of much of
    our political terminology. Homeric epics, Hesiod, and the lyric poets reveal the first political reflection that
    testifies the change from the world of the kings to the new role of the aristocracy and the emerging needs of
    oppressed people. The search for justice and new solutions to civic coexistence permeate the poetry of Solon
    and the action of archaic lawgivers. In the Fifth and Fourth century we have the great explosion of the
    democratic political thinking and the debate about Athenian imperialism, which are expressed by many
    different media, as the Greek drama, the works of the great historians Herodotus, Thucydides, and
    Xenophon, orators speeches, and Sophists arguing about ethics, politics, and the relationship between law
    and nature. The discussion about the meaning of law, the relationship between the citizen and the city, and
    the teaching of virtue strongly emerge in the trial of Socrates and in the reconstruction of his personality by
    Plato, who speculates on philosopher rulers, justice, the good city, and practical politics in the Republic and the
    Laws. Aristotle is the first political scientist and his natural philosophy greatly influences his ideas about
    household, slavery, justice, and the distribution of power in the city, together with his classification of
    constitutions and theories about their evolution and change. With Alexander the Great and the end of Greek
    cities freedom we enter a new age where individual needs and a different way of conceiving politics are
    expressed by Cynics, Stoics, and the Epicureans, while Hellenistic theories concerning kingship develop a new
    conception of rulership before Greece is conquered by Rome.

    Tufts University - Spring Courses 2013


    CLS 0084: Greek Political Thought

    Course Requirements and Expectations


    Preparation for attendance and participation in seminar discussions.
    Assigned Readings: to be read before class.
    Assigned Texts: to be read and discussed in class with the instructor.
    Written assignments: weekly journaling exercises of roughly two pages double-spaced that engage critically
    with the Texts read and discussed in class during the week. A printed copy of the journal is due on
    Tuesday before class.
    Research Project abstract of 1-2 pages double-spaced with preliminary bibliography (March 7) that results
    in a Paper of 8-10 pages (April 18). The aim of the Research Paper is to analyze topics treated in class
    focusing on the terminology of Greek political thought. Students are expected to use search tools available
    through the Perseus Digital Library to find words of the political language in Classical sources.
    N.B. Written assignments that are submitted late will be penalized one-half letter grade per day late.
    Examinations
    Midterm Examination (Tuesday, March 12).
    Final Examination (Thursday, April 25).
    Topics and Reading Assignments
    WEEK ONE
    1. Introduction to the Course
    THURSDAY, JANUARY 17
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 1-15 (Chapter 1.
    Introduction: How to Do Greek Political Thought)
    Text: Aristotle, Politics 1.1252a.24-1253a.29
    WEEK TWO
    2. Justice in Homer and Hesiod
    TUESDAY, JANUARY 22
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 16-37 (Chapter 2.
    Archaic Greece and the Centrality of Justice. Achilles, Agamemnon, and Fair Distribution. Justice as
    Distinctively Human. Institutions and Values of the Early Polis. What is Justice? The Voice of the
    Oppressed and the Origins of Political Thought. The Egalitarian Response. The Elitist Response)
    Text: Homer, Iliad 18.478-607; Homer, Iliad 2.207-282; Hesiod, Works and Days 11-46, 213-285
    3. Archaic Lawgivers and Archaic Sparta
    THURSDAY, JANUARY 24
    Readings: K.A. RAAFLAUB, Poets, Lawgivers, and the Beginning of Political Reflection in Archaic Greece, in
    C. ROWE & M. SCHOFIELD (eds.), The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Political Thought, Cambridge
    University Press (Cambridge 2008), pp. 42-48 (7. Archaic lawgivers); R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought,
    Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 37-41 (Case Study: Sparta and the Politics of Courage)
    Texts: Plutarch, The Life of Lycurgus 1, 4-6; Xenophon, The Spartan Constitution 2-4
    WEEK THREE
    4. Democracy at Athens
    TUESDAY, JANURAY 29
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 41-57 (A Second
    Case Study: Archaic Athens and the Search for Justice. Chapter 3. Democratic Political Thinking a Athens.
    Evidence and Sources. Democracy Ancient and Modern)
    Texts: Plutarch, The Life of Solon 13-16; Herodotus 3.80-82

    Tufts University - Spring Courses 2013


    CLS 0084: Greek Political Thought

    5. Democracy and Freedom


    THURSDAY, JANUARY 31
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 57-63 (Democratic
    Conceptions of Freedom)
    Text: Thucydides 2.35-46
    WEEK FOUR
    6. Democracy and Deliberation
    TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 63-68 (Democratic
    Deliberation)
    Texts: Plutarch, The Life of Aristides 7; Pseudo-Andocides, Against Alcibiades 2-6
    7. Democracy and Leadership
    THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 68-73 (Courage,
    Trust, and Leadership)
    Texts: Aristophanes, Knights 40-68, 125-144, 179-193, 211-219, 225-229, 667-682, 1110-1150
    WEEK FIVE
    8. Democratic Political Thought
    TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 73-85 (Democratic
    Political Thought outside Athens? Protagorean Arguments for Democracy. Democratic Conceptions of
    Equality. Justice and the Demos)
    Texts: Diodorus of Sicily 11.86.4-87.6; Plato, Protagoras 320d-328d
    9. Democracy and Tragedy
    THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14
    Reading: S. GOLDHILL, Greek Drama and Political Theory, in C. ROWE & M. SCHOFIELD (eds.), The
    Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Political Thought, Cambridge University Press (Cambridge 2008), pp. 60-81
    (1. The Institution of the Theatre. 2. 2. Political Themes of Tragic Writing. 3. The Oresteia)
    Text: Aeschylus, Eumenides 443-753
    WEEK SIX
    10. Criticizing Athenian Democracy
    TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 86-97 (Chapter 4.
    Criticizing Democracy in Late Fifth-Century Athens. Mapping out the Problem: The Old Oligarch); P.
    CARTLEDGE, Ancient Greek Political Thought in Practice, Cambridge University Press (Cambridge 2009), pp. 140142 (Appendix II: The Old Oligarch: a close reading)
    Texts: Thucydides 1.23, 3.82-84; The Old Oligarch (Constitution of the Athenians) 1
    11. Law, Nature, and Athenian Imperialism
    THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 97-113 (Modern
    and Ancient Quandaries. Nomos and Phusis. The Challenge of Trasymachus and Callicles. Thucydidean
    Imperialists Revisit Nomos and Phusis)
    Text: Thucydides 5.84-116

    Tufts University - Spring Courses 2013


    CLS 0084: Greek Political Thought

    WEEK SEVEN
    12. Socrates and Athens
    TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 113-137 (Socrates
    and Nomos. Logos and Ergon. Democratic Epistemology and Relativism. Democratic Epistemology and
    Untrustworthy Rhetoric or, Where Does the Truth Lie? Socrates and Athens)
    Texts: Plato, Crito 49e-54d; Plato, Apology 28a-34b
    13. Imperialism in Fifth-Century Greece
    THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 138-176 (Chapter
    5. Imperialism. Aristotle Analyzes Imperialism. Definitions and History. Monarchic Imperialism. Natural
    Superiority? Debating Athenian Imperialism. Final Thoughts)
    Texts: Thucydides 1.68-88; Xenophon, Cyropaedia 1.1.1-5, 8.8
    WEEK EIGHT
    14. The Debate on Athenian Imperialism and the Democracy of the Fathers
    TUESDAY, MARCH 5
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 177-187 (Chapter
    6. Fourth-Century Revisions. The Ancestral Republican Solutions. The Monarchic Solution)
    Texts: Lysias, Funeral Oration 17-57; Isocrates, On the Peace 95-135; Isocrates, Areopagiticus 20-55; Xenophon,
    Agesilaos 5-8
    15. Plato and the Superiority of Philosophy to Politics
    THURSDAY, MARCH 7
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 187-197 (Platos
    Solutions. Criticizing Contemporary Politics. Plato on Rhetoric and Order in the Gorgias)
    Texts: Plato, Republic 7.514a-520a; Plato, Gorgias 506c-523a
    WEEK NINE
    16. MIDTERM EXAMINATION - TUESDAY, MARCH 12
    17. The Ideal City of Plato
    THURSDAY, MARCH 14
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 197-209 (The
    Priority of Reason in City and Soul: Platos Republic. Educating Citizens in the Classical Context. Politics and
    Ethics. Philosophical Rulers)
    Texts: Plato, Republic 4.434d-445e; 5.449a-464b; 6.484a-502b
    WEEK TEN
    18. Platos Political Philosophy in the Statesman and the Laws
    TUESDAY, MARCH 26
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 210-226 (Platonic
    Political Philosophy after the Republic)
    Texts: Plato, Statesman 287b-305e; Laws 12.960b-969d
    19. Aristotle and the Analysis of Constitutions
    THURSDAY, MARCH 28
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 227-234 (Chapter
    7. Aristotles Political Thought. Civic Cinflict, Emotion, and Injustice: Observing the Polis as It Is)
    Texts: Aristotle, Politics 4.1288b.9-1290a.29, 5.1301a.19-1304b-19; Constitution of the Athenians 41

    Tufts University - Spring Courses 2013


    CLS 0084: Greek Political Thought

    WEEK ELEVEN
    20. Naturalism and Slavery in Aristotle
    TUESDAY, APRIL 2
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 234-245
    (Exploring What Ought To Be: Aristotles Naturalism. Aristotle on the Good Life. Nature in the Politics.
    Aristotle on Slavery)
    Text: Aristotle, Nicomeachean Ethics 1.1094a.1-1094b.11; Politics 1.1252a.1-1255b.40
    21. Citizens and Citizenship in Aristotle
    THURSDAY, APRIL 4
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 245-257 (Polis and
    Citizenship in General. Aristotles Best Polis. Political Possibilities in Existing Cities)
    Texts: Aristotle, Politics 3.1274b.33-1275b.23, 3.1284a.1-1284b.34, 4.1293b.22-1294b.43, 4.1295a.25-1296b.13,
    7.1328a.23-1329a.39
    WEEK TWELVE
    22. Aristotle and the Classification of Constitutions
    TUESDAY, APRIL 9
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 257-261 (The Best
    Constitution in Relation to Existing Conditions. Classification of Constitutions)
    Text: Aristotle, Politics 3.1278b.6-1281a.11
    23. Aristotle and the Masses
    THURSDAY, APRIL 11
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 261-265 (The
    Power of the Masses. Conclusion)
    Text: Aristotle, Politics 3.1281a.12-1283a.22
    WEEK THIRTEEN
    24. Political Thought in the Hellenistic Age
    TUESDAY, APRIL 16
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 266-280 (Chapter
    8. Hellenistic Political Thought. Theory of Kingship. The Traditional Schools)
    Texts: Diodorus of Sicily 17.117; Pseudo-Aristotle, Rhetoric to Alexander 1420a.6-1421b.7; Letter of Aristeas to
    Philocrates 9-11, 184-202
    25. Cynicism, Stoics, and Epicureans
    THURSDAY, APRIL 18
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 280-297 (New
    Directions: Cynics, Stoics, and Epicureans. The Politics of Cynicism? Stoicism and Epicureanism)
    Texts: Diogenes Laertius, Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers 6.21-38, 7.110-126, 10.117-121a, 10.139-154
    WEEK FOURTEEN
    26. Graecia capta: Greek Thought and Roman Conquests
    TUESDAY, APRIL 23
    Reading: R.K. BALOT, Greek Political Thought, Blackwell Publishing (Malden, MA 2006), pp. 298-302 (Chapter
    9. Epilogue: The Question of Politics); P. CARTLEDGE, Ancient Greek Political Thought in Practice, Cambridge
    University Press (Cambridge 2009), pp. 131-137 (The Greek Legacy and Democracy Today)
    Texts: Polybius, Histories 6.3-4, 6.11-14
    27. FINAL EXAMINATION - THURSDAY, APRIL 25

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