This lecture is an introduction to the life and works of Rousseau, as well as the historical and political events in France after the death of Louis XIV. Writing in a variety of genres and disciplines, Rousseau helped bring to fruition the political and intellectual movement known as the Enlightenment. Among his most important works is the Second Discourse (Discourse on Inequality), in which Rousseau traces the origins of inequality and addresses the effects of time and history on humans. He goes on to discuss a number of qualities, such as perfectibility, compassion, sensitivity, and goodness, in an attempt to assess which ones were a part of our original nature.

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

This course is intended as an introduction to political philosophy as seen through an examination of some of the major texts and thinkers of the Western political tradition. Three broad themes that are central to understanding political life are focused upon: the polis experience (Plato, Aristotle), the sovereign state (Machiavelli, Hobbes), constitutional government (Locke), and democracy (Rousseau, Tocqueville). The way in which different political philosophies have given expression to various forms of political institutions and our ways of life are examined throughout the course.