Four Political Classics

Course Summary

A brief critical introduction to four famous works in political philosophy:

• Plato, Republic (c. 380BC), an account of the ideal state, which will be ruled by philosophers (who may include women).
• Aristotle, Politics (c. 330BC), in which he supports various arrangements (including slavery and the subordinate status of women) as ‘natural.’
• Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince (1513), in which he holds that the ruler must learn ‘how not to be virtuous.’
• Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (1651), in which he argues that a very powerful sovereign is needed to keep us out of the dreadful ‘state of nature.’

A few pages of notes (with some key excerpts from the texts, and commentary) will be sent by email, prior to each class.  No purchases are required. 

Dr Douglas Adeney lectured in philosophy for many years at Melbourne State College and then the University of Melbourne. Since 2011 he has greatly enjoyed teaching numerous CAE philosophy courses.