01
The course
What is the essence of political life, and what is its proper purpose? This course explores how key figures in political thought in the ancient and early modern era (before ca. 1700) answered these questions. Central concepts include virtue, justice, order, authority, rights, and the common good. Authors include Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke
02
The particulars
Texts
Plato, Republic; Aristotle, Politics; Machiavelli, The Prince; Hobbes, Leviathan; Locke, Second Treatise of Government and Letter on Toleration.
Format & requirements
One short paper (Fall term); one longer paper (Winter term); term exam (Fall); final exam (Winter); attendance and participation.
Exclusions
POL200Y5/POLC70H3/POLC71H3
03
Pathways
Comes after
Courses on this list named in the prerequisite or preparation line.
No course on this list is named as a prerequisite. Check the calendar text above for credit-count requirements.
Opens onto
Courses on this list that name this one as a prerequisite.
- POL303H1Women in Western Political ThoughtFall · offered
- POL307H1Japanese PoliticsWinter · offered
- POL320H1Modern Political Thought: Freedom and EqualityFall · offered
- POL321H1Modern Political Thought: Progress Through HistoryWinter · offered
- POL333H1Global Politics and Global Political ThoughtFall · offered
- POL348H1Privilege and Race in Global PerspectiveTBA · not offered 26–27
- POL352H1Introduction to Qualitative Research MethodsFall · offered
- POL381H1 · L5101Elites, Parties, and Democracy: Transnational Debates in Political, Legal, and Social TheoryTopics in Political Theory · Fall · offered
- POL381H1Thucydides’ War of the Athenians and the PeloponnesiansTopics in Political Theory · TBA · not offered 26–27
- POL381H1The Conflictual Body Politic: Political Conflict in Historical and Contemporary PerspectivesTopics in Political Theory · TBA · not offered 26–27
- POL381H1 · L0101Contemporary Social and Political ThoughtTopics in Political Theory · Winter · offered
- POL381H1 · L0201Classical Political ThoughtTopics in Political Theory · Winter · offered
- POL421H1Maimonides and His Modern InterpretersFall · offered
- POL469H1Ethics and International RelationsFall · offered
- POL475H1Postmodern and Contemporary ThoughtFall · offered
- POL480H1Studies in Comparative Political TheoryWinter · offered
- POL484H1Democratic TheoryTopics in Political Thought I · Fall · offered
- POL484H1Institutions of Liberal DemocracyTopics in Political Thought I · TBA · not offered 26–27
- POL484H1The Thought of Emil FackenheimTopics in Political Thought I · TBA · not offered 26–27
- POL484H1Black Political ThoughtTopics in Political Thought I · TBA · not offered 26–27
- POL485H1Democracy: Theory and Practice (from Pericles to Populism)Topics in Political Thought II · TBA · not offered 26–27
- POL485H1The Black Radical TraditionTopics in Political Thought II · TBA · not offered 26–27
- POL485H1Rousseau’s Social ContractTopics in Political Thought II · TBA · not offered 26–27
- POL485H1Leadership and Democracy: Perspectives from 20th-century and Contemporary Political and Legal TheoryTopics in Political Thought II · Winter · offered
04
Reading the code
POLPolitical ScienceDepartment of Political Science
200200-levelYear of study this course sits in
YFull course1.0 credit (FCE)
1St. GeorgeDowntown Toronto campus
YBoth termsRuns across the full year
L5101Lecture sectionA distinct section with its own topic and instructor