Introduction to Political Philosophy
The major texts of Western political thought, taught by Steven B. Smith, Yale's Alfred Cowles Professor of Political Science, across 24 lectures recorded in Fall 2006. The course moves through four organizing ideas: the polis experience in Plato and Aristotle, the sovereign state in Machiavelli and Hobbes, constitutional government in Locke, and democracy in Rousseau and Tocqueville, reading primary texts like the Republic, The Prince, and Leviathan directly rather than summaries. Coursework is three short papers, a final exam, and weekly discussion section participation. All lectures, audio, and transcripts are free on Open Yale Courses, and the syllabus doubles as a reading list for the eight core texts if you want to work through them independently. Smith later published a companion book, Political Philosophy, with Yale University Press.