POLI 4081: POLITICAL THEORY FROM
PLATO TO SIR JOHN FORTESCUE
Fall
Semester 2009
Prof. Ellis Sandoz: 212 Stubbs Hall; 225 578-2552,<esandoz@lsu.edu>
10:40-Noon,
TTh, Stubbs Hall 220
Conference hour: 12-1:00 p.m. daily or by appointment.
Required Texts:
*Plato,
Great Dialogues of Plato, trans. Rouse
(NAL/Signet)
*Voegelin,
The New Science of Politics (NSP) (UChicago
Press)
Aristotle,
Nicomachean Ethics, trans. Ostwald (LLA/Macmillan)
Aristotle,
Politics, rev. ed., trans. T. A. Sinclair & T. J. Saunders (Penguin)
Aquinas,
Political Ideas of St. Thomas Aquinas, ed. Bigongiari (Free Press)
Bonaventure,
Journey of the Mind to God, ed. S. F. Brown (Hackett)
Corwin,
Edward S. Higher Law Background
of American Constitutional Law (Liberty Fund/Amagi Bks)
Fortescue,
On the Laws and Governance of England, ed. Lockwood
(Cambridge UP)
* Needed immediately!
Course & Requirements: The purpose of the course is to
acquaint advanced undergraduates and entering graduate students with some
classics of ancient and medieval political philosophy through a close reading of
a few texts, thereby tracing the lines of development of philosophical
reflection on human reality from Hellenic antiquity to the Renaissance. The
importance of this subject matter for Anglo-American constitutionalism and
political theory is stressed; so also is the relation of classical and Christian
theory to the restoration of political science so that it, once again, attains
the status of a comprehensive philosophical science of human affairs. Hence we
will emphasize theoretical understanding of personal, social, and historical
dimensions of reality and their participatory connections.
All students
are expected to: attend every class; keep up with the reading; and
be prepared to enter into class discussion of assigned material. Bring to class
the text under discussion! Grades are based on three (3) essay
exams weighted at 30% +30% +40% (final). Review questions usually will be
provided and review sessions organized. Graduate students only will be
required to do a research paper of 6000+ words extent (see instructor by
9/14): a grade of AT LEAST "B" on the paper is necessary in order to
qualify for a possible "A" in the course. Tests will cover the reading
material as well as--and independently of--the lectures; you should,
therefore, take notes on the reading so you know the
contents and can review! Group study and outside discussion
groups are effective means of thinking through & mastering the
material. The Final Exam is cumulative, i.e., covers the entire course! N.B.:
Cheaters will not fare
well!
2009
Weekly Schedule & Calendar
Aug.
25: Introduction; read Plato's Apology, Crito, & Phaedo
Sept.
1: Cont’d; Plato, Symposium.
" 8: Plato, Republic,
Bks. I-VII; Voegelin, NSP, Intro (pp.1-26)
" 15: Cont’d
"
22: Plato, Republic, Bks.
VIII-X
" 29:>>>TEST I:
counts as Mid-Term. Absence means 7% penalty on makeup, without ironclad
excuse; must take by Oct. 6 or grade goes to zero.
>>>Fall Holiday Oct. 1-4
Oct.
6:
Aristotle, Nic. Ethics, Bks.I-V & X; Note
“Glossary,” pp. 303ff
" 13: Aristotle,
Nic. Ethics , Bks. VI-IX;
Voegelin, NSP, Chaps. 1-3 (pp. 27-106)
"
20: Aristotle, Politics,
Bks. I-IV
" 27: Aristotle,
Politics, Bks. V-VIII
Nov.
3 >>> TEST II on 11/3
covers everything since Test I (final day to drop/resign is Nov. 6);
begin Aquinas!
" 10: Aquinas,
Political Writings, pp. 1-91;
" 17: Aquinas,
pp. 92-195; Bonaventure, Journey
of the Mind to God, pp. 1-39 & notes;
“
24: Cont’d: Fortescue, In
Praise of the Laws & Governance of England, pp. 3-123;
Voegelin, NSP, Chap. 4 (pp. 107-132);
Grad. Students: Research
papers due!:
>>>Thanksgiving, Nov. 26
Dec.
1: Corwin, Higher Law
Background, Parts 1-3 (pp.1-54); Course review–Dec. 3 = last class
meeting!
Dec.
7-12: FINAL EXAM– TBA
-- Exam cumulative but concentrates on the material
assigned