Yale Course , Fall 2006 , Prof. Steven B. Smith
Overview
Introduction: What is Political Philosophy - Socratic Citizenship: Plato's Apology-Plato's Crito - Philosophers and Kings: Plato's Republic,Plato's Republic,Plato's Republic - The Mixed Regime and the Rule of Law: Aristotle's Politics - New Modes and Orders: Machiavelli's The Prince - The Sovereign State: Hobbes' Leviathan - Constitutional Government: Locke's Second Treatise - Constitutional Government: Locke's Second Treatise - Democracy and Participation: Rousseau's Discourse - Democratic Statecraft: Tocqueville's Democracy in America - In Defense of Politics
Lecture Details
Introduction to Political Philosophy (PLSC 114)
In the Apology, Socrates proposes a new kind of citizenship in opposition to the traditional one that was based on the poetic conception of Homer. Socrates is a philosophical citizenship, relying on ones own powers of independent reason and judgment. The Crito, a dialogue taking place in Socrates prison cell, is about civil obedience, piety, and the duty of every citizen to respect and live by the laws of the community.
0000 - Chapter 1. Was Socrates Guilty or Innocent?
0222 - Chapter 2. The Socratic Citizen
0939 - Chapter 3. Principled DIsobedience to the Law
2407 - Chapter 4. Critos Apology "Companion Dialogue"
4222 - Chapter 5. Applying Lessons from Fourth-Century Athens to Our World Today
Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website httpopen.yale.educourses
This course was recorded in Fall 2006.