This course will be delivered in person as per WebAdvisor.

This course introduces students to some of the key ideas in political theory. What is the basis for political legitimacy and authority? What is the origin of justice? Is it an instrumental or intrinsic virtue? Are all humans free and equal by nature? What is the best form of government? Etc. We shall examine the views that some of the key figures in political thought have on these questions. We shall start from the earliest thinkers on the subject, such as Confucius, Aristotle and Cicero. We will then examine some medieval thinkers such as Mohammad, Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas. Finally, we shall examine some of the major contemporary trends in political thought.