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PLSC 114: Introduction to Political Philosophy

Lecture 01 - Introduction: What is Political Philosophy? Professor Smith discusses the nature and scope of "political philosophy." The oldest of the social sciences, the study of political philosophy must begin with the works of Plato and Aristotle, and examine in depth the fundamental concepts and categories of the study of politics. The questions "which regimes are best?" and "what constitutes good citizenship?" are posed and discussed in the context of Plato's Apology. (from oyc.yale.edu)

Lecture 01 - Introduction: What is Political Philosophy?

Time Lecture Chapters
[00:00:00] 1. What Is Political Philosophy?
[00:12:16] 2. What Is a Regime?
[00:22:19] 3. Who Is a Statesman? What Is a Statesman?
[00:27:22] 4. What Is the Best Regime?

References
Lecture 1 - Introduction: What is Political Philosophy?
Instructor: Professor Steven B. Smith. Resources: Plato, Apology [ebook]. Transcript [html]. Audio [mp3]. Download Video [mov].

Go to the Course Home or watch other lectures:

Lecture 01 - Introduction: What is Political Philosophy?
Lecture 02 - Socratic Citizenship: Plato's Apology
Lecture 03 - Socratic Citizenship: Plato's Crito
Lecture 04 - Philosophers and Kings: Plato's Republic, I-II
Lecture 05 - Philosophers and Kings: Plato's Republic, III-IV
Lecture 06 - Philosophers and Kings: Plato's Republic, V
Lecture 07 - The Mixed Regime and the Rule of Law: Aristotle's Politics, I, III
Lecture 08 - The Mixed Regime and the Rule of Law: Aristotle's Politics, IV
Lecture 09 - The Mixed Regime and the Rule of Law: Aristotle's Politics, VII
Lecture 10 - New Modes and Orders: Machiavelli's The Prince (chaps. 1-12)
Lecture 11 - New Modes and Orders: Machiavelli's The Prince (chaps. 13-26)
Lecture 12 - The Sovereign State: Hobbes, Leviathan
Lecture 13 - The Sovereign State: Hobbes, Leviathan
Lecture 14 - The Sovereign State: Hobbes, Leviathan
Lecture 15 - Constitutional Government: Locke's Second Treatise (1-5)
Lecture 16 - Constitutional Government: Locke's Second Treatise (7-12)
Lecture 17 - Constitutional Government: Locke's Second Treatise (13-19)
Lecture 18 - Democracy and Participation: Rousseau's Discourse on Inequality (Part I)
Lecture 19 - Democracy and Participation: Rousseau's Discourse on Inequality (Part II)
Lecture 20 - Democracy and Participation: Rousseau's Social Contract, I-II
Lecture 21 - Democratic Statecraft: Tocqueville's Democracy in America
Lecture 22 - Democratic Statecraft: Tocqueville's Democracy in America
Lecture 23 - Democratic Statecraft: Tocqueville's Democracy in America
Lecture 24 - In Defense of Politics