Aristotle in his Political Context

Level
Semester
Fall 2025
Instructor(s)
Units
4
Section
1
Number
214
CCN
24880
Times
Fri 2-5pm
Location
SOCS749
Course Description

Please join us as we slow-read the whole of Aristotle's Politics, spending two weeks on each book (and combining 7 and 8 for this purpose). Prior knowledge of ancient Greek is not necessary, although we will have the original on hand and will be discussing the meanings of the various Greek terms as we go. Theory grads in their first and second years are particularly encouraged to attend, but all graduates with an interest in theory in our department and other proximate ones are welcome. Topics of interest to include the polis (city-state), oikos (household), freedom, slavery, Aristotle's interpretation of Plato, citizenship, democracy, oligarchy, Aristotle's ideal political system, the political implications of economic disparity, and how to think about (and potentially avoid) political revolution.