This course is designed to trace the development of European political thought from the ancient Greek philosophical schools to the origins of modern political thought in the 19th century. Issues concerning the origins of political thought will be investigated with particular emphasis on the contribution of Ancient Egypt to Greek philosophy. The precursors to modern political thought and the evolution of political values and ideologies will be identified. Theories of the state and their socio historical milieu will be examined and the contribution of political philosophy to the development of political institutions will be addressed. The historical sources of contemporary civil arrangements and their philosophical assumptions will be reviewed and assessed. Emphasis and focus on particular philosophers and thinkers will vary from time to time. It is a course designed to provide tools of philosophical analysis for the political scientist.
Course Code
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