Plato's Politics (Outside the Republic)

Undergraduate / Graduate

The study of Plato's political thought usually takes its point of departure from his most systematic-and systematically political-works: the Republic and Laws. Over the course of this seminar, we will look outside of these seminal texts with a view towards exploring Plato's political vision as captured across a broad range of dialogues. We will begin with Plato's depiction of Socrates' trial and imprisonment (Apology, Crito) before turning to dialogues reflecting on the use and abuse of rhetoric (Gorgias), the teachability of virtue (Protagoras), the nature of desire (Symposium, Phaedrus), and his trilogy on knowledge and its bearing on political rule (Theaetetus, Sophist, Statesman), before concluding with the death of Socrates in the Phaedo. Prior acquaintance with Plato's writings is highly recommended but not required.