I. Course title and description:    Classical and Medieval Political Thought:
      The development of political thought from the classical Greeks to the Renaissance with emphasis on Plato, Aristotle,  Augustine, and Aquinas.

 II. Instructor's name: Dr. Winfield H. Rose
       Office location:  FH 5A-10
       Phone numbers:  (270)809-2662 (office); 753-0126 (home); 809-2688 (fax)
       E-mail: winfield.rose@murraystate.edu
       Homepage:  http://campus.murraystate.edu/academic/faculty/winfield.rose/main.htm
       Office hours:  9:30 - 10:30 a.m. MWF, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. TTh.; 1:45 - 3:00 p.m. TTh.

III. Classroom location & meeting time:  FH 509; 12:30 -1:45 p.m. TTh, January 15 - May 1, 2008.

 IV. Purpose and objective of the course:
    To give the student an understanding and appreciation of the great political thinkers of the classical and medieval periods, the issues they addressed, how they addressed them, and to interpret them in light of their contemporary political and social situation as well as ours. Taking this course should enable the student to make significant progress toward achieving the "Characteristics of the Murray State University Graduate."

  V. Required tests:
    Three (see schedule of assignments); make-up's permitted under extreme circumstances only; all make-up's on Friday, May 2 at 2 p.m.

 VI. Required texts:
    Plato, The Republic.  Translated with an introduction by Desmond Lee.  Penguin Books, 1974.
    Aristotle, The Politics.  Translated with an introduction by T.A. Sinclair.  Penguin Books, 1981.
    George Klosko, History of Political Theory, v. 1: Ancient and Medieval Political Theory.   Thomson Wadsworth, 2002.
       You might also consider Winfield H. Rose, "The Theological, Philosophical and Historical Foundations of the American Polity" available at Copy Express for $2.55.

VII. Grading Procedure:
    Three tests:  60% (20% @)
    Class attendance (15%) and participation (5%):  20%
    Outside Writing Assignment:  20%

VIII. Teaching Method:
    The course will be conducted by the seminar (modified Socratic) method with only occasional lecturing.  Please note:  It is essential and it is expected that all students read each assignment before coming to class.  In addition, students will be expected to be present (roll will be taken every day),  to be able to ask as well as answer questions, and to participate in class discussion generally. Attempting to ride the coattails of other class members is obvious and will not be acceptable.  

    This is a course about great ideas and great thinkers.  We are their political, intellectual, and philosophical descendants.  To learn, analyze, and understand them should be a fascinating and rewarding experience.  Do not let the terms "political theory" or "political philosophy" frighten you away from these ideas and thinkers; to do so would be tragic.  Take each day's assignment as it comes, do not get behind in your reading, and in the end it will all fall into place. 

 IX.  Academic Dishonesty:  The policy statement on academic dishonesty adopted by the Board of Regents on February 14, 1975 and reprinted in the Undergraduate Bulletin is hereby  incorporated into this syllabus.

  X.   Relevant Web Sites:

Biographies: The Philosphers
EpistemeLinks.com: Philosophy Resources on Internet
Augustine
Great Books of the Western World
Primary Historical Documents from Western Europe
Hanover College Historical Texts Project
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Internet Medieval Sourcebook

Outside Writing Assignment

    A major research paper is required of all students and will be due April 15 (please do not ask for an extension).  Please pay attention!   This paper should be at least 20 textual pages in length, printed in #12 font.  It should be written according to the Style Manual for Political Science published by the American Political Science Association, with a bibliography of at least fifteen substantive sources, not all of which are from the internet (and be careful about those), at the end.  This paper should be first-class, scholarly work, the capstone of your intellectual journey thus far.  Please consult my handout "Tips on Good Writing" as well as "Citation Guide for Internet Resources," "Evaluating Web Resources" and "Plagiarism," all of which may be downloaded from my homepage. 
    A topic should be selected early in the semester and approved by me.  To assist you in choosing a topic, some suggestions are listed below.  These topics may be modified and others not listed may be chosen if approved ahead of time.

SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS:

Jan.  15   (T):   Organizational session.

        17 (Th):   Klosko, Preface, Introduction, and begin chapter 1. Peruse the Plato link under Great Books of the Western World and read Pericles' Funeral Oration
                        by Thucydides (find on internet or in library).

        22  (T):    Klosko, finish chapter 1; chapter 2.

Plato, The Republic:

        24  (Th):  Translator's Introduction (Penguin edition); Eric Voegelin, "Analytical Table of Contents" and "The Organization of The Republic" from Order and History, v. II: Plato and Aristotle,  Louisiana State University Press, 1957  (handout).

        29  (T):   Parts I and II

 Jan. 31  (Th):  Parts III & IV

 Feb.  5   (T):  Parts V & VI

          7  (Th):  Part VII

        12  (T):   Parts VIII & IX

        14  (Th):  Part IX continued

        19   (T):   Parts X & XI

        21  (Th):  Klosko, chapters 3 and 4

        26   (T):  Test 1

Aristotle, The Politics:

Mar.  4  (T):     Book I

          6   (Th):   Book II

         11  (T):     Book III

         13  (Th):   Book IV   

         18   (T):    Spring Break

         20   (Th):   Spring Break

         25   (T):     Book V

         27   (Th):   Book VI & first half of VII

Apr.     1  (T):    Second half of Book VII and all of VIII

            3  (Th):  Test 2 (read Klosko, chapter 5 for review)

            8  (T):    Klosko, chapter 6

           10 (Th):  Klosko, chapter 7

           15 (T):    Klosko, chapter 8; research paper due

           17 (Th):  Klosko, chapter 9

           22 (T):   The Theory of the Just War in Augustine and Aquinas

           24 (Th):  Klosko, chapter 10

Apr.    29 (T):    Klosko, chapter 11    

May     1 (Th):  catch-up day

            6 (T):    Final test 1:30 p.m. FH 507
 
 

 We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.  -  Plato

Anyone can become angry - that is easy.  But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not easy.
                                                                                            - Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics

It is clear then that we are not to educate the young with a view to their amusement.  Learning brings pain, and while children are learning they are not playing.  - Aristotle, Politics, 1339a26

The safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato.  -  A. N. Whitehead, Process and Reality, 1929