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POLS 301: Classical Political Thought Department of Political Science

Emory University Spring 2012

TuTh: 2:30pm-3:45pm, White Hall 103 Gregory A. McBrayer gmcbray@emory.edu (404) 727-6969

Office Hours: T 4-6:00 p.m. noon And by appointment

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*** Socrates and Alcibiades

This course is meant to serve as an introduction to Classical Political Thought by examining the intersecting lives of two of the most illustrious characters from the classical world, Socrates and Alcibiades. In the first part of the course, we will explore Socrates’ attempt to educate Alcibiades and briefly consider Alcibiades’ subsequent political career as he sought to raise the Athenian Empire to its greatest heights. In the next part of the course, we will turn first to an attack on the Socratic education and way of life and then to two defenses of that education and way of life. We will end the course with the story of a conversation that takes place at a drinking-party hosted on the eve of Athens’ greatest military undertaking, a conversation in which both Socrates and Alcibiades participate, and one that, despite its levity, might prove to be of fundamental importance regarding the political life, the philosophic life, and education, the main themes of this course.

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I. Required Texts Please Note: I apologize, but I must insist that you purchase the editions listed below and bring them to class the days we cover them.

1) David Johnson. Socrates and Alcibiades. Focus: 2003. ISBN: 1585100682 2) Plato. Protagoras and Meno. Trans. Robert C. Bartlett. Cornell: 2004.

ISBN: 0801488656 3) Plato. Symposium. Trans. Seth Benardete. Chicago: 2001. ISBN:

0226042758 4) Thomas G. West & Grace S. West, Trans. Four Texts on Socrates. Cornell:

1998. ISBN: 9780801485749 5) Strunk & White. Elements of Style. 4th edition. 6) Thucydides and Xenophon readings will be placed on-line. You are required

to print them out and bring them to class when we do these readings.

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II. Course Requirements Due Date

1. Preparation & Participation 10% 2. Quizzes 10% 3. First Essay (1000-1250 words) 10% Feb. 14 4. Second Essay (1250-1500 words) 15% Mar. 8 5. Third Essay (2000-2500 words) 30% Apr. 24 6. Final Essay (1750-2000 words) 25% May 7 7. Four Outlines of Text See Below 2/23, 3/27, 4/10, 5/1

Class Preparation, Participation, and Attendance: The readings for this class will require time for serious reflection. Your primary task is to come to class each day having read very carefully and to be prepared to talk intelligently about the material. First, do not miss class. Second, read the texts very carefully. Take notes as you read, and outline arguments and the work as a whole. Think about what you are reading, and reflect on the human importance of it. Analyze the arguments. Are they persuasive? Do they convince you? Above all, come prepared. Class discussion is imperative, and for that, attendance is mandatory. There are many classes on campus where the instructor has a greater tolerance for absences than I do, so if you find this requirement unreasonable, I would urge you to find another course. Quizzes. There will be, from time to time, Pop Quizzes. These are simple and meant only to reveal to me whether you in fact have read the text. Essays: To receive credit for this course, students must also write all four essays. These essays are meant to encourage you to wrestle with the text. I expect papers that are well argued, original, succinct, and beautiful. I want to enjoy reading them. I am not looking for summary; we have all read the text. Make an argument. You should feel free to take the author to task. Agree or disagree with interpretations offered in class. I encourage you to write and rewrite, read and proofread. I will count off for bad arguments, and I will also hold you accountable to the highest standards of style. This includes grammar. Grammatical mistakes often indicate a lack of time and effort spent on a paper. One of the great benefits of this course is that you will hopefully learn—in addition to a something about Political Thought—how to read and write carefully. These are great tools that will aid you in whatever you pursue. Failure to meet the minimum word count will result in a grade reduction. More instructions will follow. Please be advised, however, that late papers will not be accepted after the dates listed above and extensions are granted in the rarest of circumstances. Outlines of the Text: Students must turn in four outlines of the complete text during the semester, to be handed in on the final day of that reading. The four texts are: Protagoras, Clouds, Plato’s Apology of Socrates, and the Symposium. They are due at the beginning of class on 2/23, 3/27, 4/10, and 5/1, respectively. No late outlines will be accepted.

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One of three grades can be achieved for these assignments: check minus, check, or check plus. Checks do not affect your final grade. For every check minus your final grade will drop by 1 point. Every check plus will raise your final grade by .5 points. If you fail to turn in the minimum number of outlines, your final grade will drop 3 points for each outline you are short. III. Miscellanea:

1. Academic Integrity: All work must be done in strict accordance with the letter and spirit of the Honor Code of Emory University. All violations will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. If you have any doubts or questions whatsoever as to what constitutes a violation, please speak to me ahead of time. When writing papers, you are not permitted to use outside sources. This means Cliff’s Notes, the internet, scholarly journals, etc. You are to remain solely within the confines of the texts at hand. Part of this course is learning how to think for oneself about the issues raised in the text. For questions about the Honor Code, please consult the following website:

http://college.emory.edu/home/academic/policy/honor_code.html

2. Students with documented disabilities should see the instructor. Their needs, contingent upon College approval, will be accommodated. 3. Class absences will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis by the instructor of the course. If a student misses class for any reason (for example, religious observances, college trips, family emergencies, or illness), the student must discuss this absence with the instructor in advance. The student will be responsible for making up any missed work as a result of a class absence. Please be advised, more than six absences will result in a failing grade for this course.

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IV. Schedule of Readings Jan 19 Introduction, review of syllabus and expectations Jan 24 Plato, Alcibiades I 103a-114e Jan 26 Plato, Alcibiades I 115a-118b Jan 31 Plato, Alcibiades I 118b-127d Feb 2 Plato, Alcibiades I 127d-end Feb 7 Plato, Alcibiades II, entire Feb 9 Plato, Protagoras 309a-317e Feb 14 Plato, Protagoras 317e-328d Essay 1 Due Feb 16 Plato, Protagoras 328d-338e Feb 21 Plato, Protagoras 338e-351b Feb 23 Plato, Protagoras 351b-End Outline 1 Due Feb 28 Thucydides, Peloponnesian War V.84-116 Mar 1 Thucydides, Peloponnesian War VI.8-53, 61 Mar 6 Thucydides, Peloponnesian War VI.88.7-VI.93;

VIII.45-54, 81-83, 88-90, 97

Mar 8 Xenophon, Hellenika Book I; Book II.1-II.3.10 Essay 2 Due Spring Break Mar 20 Aristophanes, Clouds Lines 1-517 Mar 22 Aristophanes, Clouds Lines 518-1130 Mar 27 Aristophanes, Clouds Lines 1131-end Outline 2 Due Mar 29 Plato, Apology of Socrates 17a-28b Apr 3 Plato, Apology of Socrates 28b-35d Apr 5 Plato, Apology of Socrates 35e-38b Apr 10 Plato, Apology of Socrates 38c-End Outline 3 Due Apr 12 Xenophon, Apology of Socrates to the Jury, entire Apr 17 Plato, Symposium 172a-178b Apr 19 Plato, Symposium 178b-189c Apr 24 Plato, Symposium 189c-201d Essay 3 Due Apr 26 Plato, Symposium 201d-212d May 1 Plato, Symposium 212d-End

Outline 4 Due

Final Essay Due Monday, May 7 at 4:30