Classical Political Thought
- Course Code
- PSCI 0020 / CLAS 0020
- Course Type
- Tutorials
- Subject Credit
- Course Availability
This course covers the political thought of the ancient world, from Classical Athens to the Roman Empire. This period saw the formulation of fundamental elements in political thought: the state, justice, citizenship, notions of democracy, aristocracy and monarchy, and the concept of politics in itself. At the end of the period, Augustine of Hippo integrated elements of classical political thought into his Christian theology. Key thinkers are explored with reference to their historical and intellectual context.
Sample topics
Plato, The Republic
Plato, The Laws
Aristotle, Politics
Epicurean political thought
Cicero’s political thought (On Duties and other texts)
Seneca’s political thought
Augustine, The City of God