PO250 Justice and the Good Society
In this course students will develop an understanding of major themes in western political thought, focusing on essential questions of communal life. We will reflect on topics like the nature of justice, the best form of government, the purpose of law, and the proper relationship between church and state. In the course of this exploration, students encounter some of the classic texts in political thought, from Plato's consideration of the just state to Marx's call for the abolition of the nation. Students are encouraged to apply what they learn from these seminal works in political philosophy to contemporary regimes and teh challenges we face in the American political system.