This class has dual purposes:

  1. To understand the basis for political systems and discover how different types of governments answer the fundamental questions of governance. Such as:

    Which is more important freedom or security?
    Who holds ultimate power in a society?
    How should rights be divided between citizen and country?
    Where does authority come from?
    Why do laws exist?
    Who has rights?
    What is the best form of government?
    How is wealth to be distributed?

  2. To teach you to read, write, and think like a social scientist

To survive in the modern world you must be able to read and understand complex texts, think critically and communicate clearly in writing.

To answer these questions we will read, discuss, and write about excerpts from many of the classic philosophical texts that explain and investigate different political theories.