Plato,
Machiavelli, Hobbes, Rousseau, and Marx - all of these important
thinkers were forced to confront a common set of questions. How can
large groups take divergent interests into account, and make decisions
that serve the greater good - even if that sometimes means repressing
the interests of some members of the political body?
These philosophers answered these questions in remarkably different ways and, in so doing, came to envision political societies premised on radically different assumptions - assumptions that have had far-reaching implications for how we understand the role of government, our political liberties and obligations, etc. Moving from Ancient Greece to modern times, this course offers an introduction to the history of political thought and, along the way, describes how influential theorists have contributed to the emergence of modern political movements and institutions.
The next session begins January 28th, 2005. Tuition is US$695.
In this course students will be expected to complete extended readings and to write regular essays. Students will interact with each other and with the instructor via an asynchronous discussion board and synchronous chat sessions.
The Humanities courses are open to students who are presently Juniors or Seniors in High Schools. Younger students who have successfully completed two EPGY writing courses at the W11 level or higher may also register.