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Academic Year 2001/2002


Athens and Jerusalem: Philosophy and Religion in Politics
GOVT 397 FA

Clusters:

Christian Studies
Jewish and Israel Studies

Two approaches to the human condition stand at the beginning of western political thought--philosophy and religion. How are they distinct and what do they have in common? How have they contributed to political life? Have they also detracted from it? We will examine their respective views of knowledge, character, justice, and political action, with examples from ancient, medieval and modern times.

MAJOR READINGS

Leo Strauss, JERUSALEM AND ATHENS Plato, APOLOGY, CRITO, PHAEDO, (ALCIBIADES I), LACHES, STATESMAN OLD and NEW TESTAMENT, Selections Emil Fackenheim, ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN JUDAISM AND MODERN PHILOSOPHY Alasdair MacIntyre, WHOSE JUSTICE, WHICH RATIONALITY? Ernst Kantorowicz, THE KING'S TWO BODIES Edmund Morgan, THE PURITAN DILEMMA Thomas Pangle, THE MORAL VISION OF THE AMERICAN FOUNDERS AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF JOHN LOCKE Charles Leibman & Eliezer Don-Yehiya, CIVIL RELIGION IN ISRAEL Ber nard Lewis, THE POLITICAL LANGUAGE OF ISLAM

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

One short paper and class presentation, based on the reading for class; one term paper (15 to 20 pages).

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS GOVT    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2002


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