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GOVT397

Athens and Jerusalem: Philosophy and Religion in Politics
GOVT397 FA

Not Currently Offered

Two approaches to the human condition stand at the beginning of western political thought--philosophy and religion. How are they distinct and what do 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
Bernard 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 Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UG Credit: 1.00 Gen Ed Area & Dept: SBS GOVT

Prerequisites: None

Last Updated on MAR-22-1999




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