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How to Rule the World:

Introduction to Political Theory

Department of Political Science

Boston College

***

Instructor: Professor Robert C. BartlettBehrakis Professor in Hellenic Political Studies

Boston College

Email: robert.bartlett@bc.edu

***

Our introductory course will be devoted to exploring what may well be the highestpolitical theme: the requirements of great political rule. What must we do in order to govern

well? Even more important, what must we know? Does great political leadership in democratictimes differ in any important way from that seen in the great nations of the past? With these and

related questions in mind, you will be asked to read, reflect on, and write carefully about a

handful of foundational texts that all deal, in very different ways, with the question of therequirements of great political leadership.

After a brief look at Abraham Lincolns reflections on grand ambition in the context of

modern American democracy, we will turn to the most famous, or infamous, book about politicsever written, Machiavellis The Prince. We will follow as carefully as possible its indications of

what a great leader must know and do. In particular, we will pay close attention to the books thatMachiavelli himself indicates are essential: the Bible (not least its account of King David, in 1

and 2 Samuel) and Xenophons The Education of Cyrus, his marvelous account of the founder of

the Persian Empire. But before we turn to those books, we will read Shakespeares critique of

someone who explicitly attempts to follow Machiavellis precepts, Englands King Richard III.In the final part of the course, we will depart from Machiavelli entirely and hear from the

political philosopher Socrates, as he cross-examines one of the most famous teachers of politics

in antiquity, a sophist named Protagoras, who claimed to offer the very knowledge of politicalrule that we are seeking.

Over the course of the semester, we will thus read a political treatise, a philosophical

dialogue, a play, an historical novel, a political speech, and portions of the Hebrew Bible. Inaddition to introducing students to the discipline of political theory, then, this course also seeks

to demonstrate that the lasting questions of concern to us as students of the social sciences can be

approached through a diverse set of texts that are often treated in other disciplinesphilosophy,history, theologybut that rightly belong to the unity that is a liberal education.

I. REQUIRED TEXTS

Please purchase only the editions indicated; this is particularly important in the case of

translated works. Please bring the relevant text to the discussion sections.

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1. Robert Alter, ed. The David Story: A Translation with Commentary of 1 and 2 Samuel. W. W.Norton, 2000. ISBN 0393320774.

2. Abraham Lincoln. The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions: Address Before the Young

Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois. In Great Speeches. Ed. Roy Basler. Dover. ISBN

978-0486268729. This speech is widely available online; just be certain to obtain acomplete version

3. Niccolo Machiavelli. The Prince. Ed. and Trans. Harvey C. Mansfield, Jr. 2nd

Edition.

University of Chicago Press.ISBN9780226500447.4. Plato. Protagoras and Meno. Ed. and trans. Robert C. Bartlett. Cornell/Agora Paperbacks.

ISBN 0801488656.

5. Shakespeare.Richard III. Signet. ISBN 978-0451526953.6. Xenophon. The Education of Cyrus. Trans. Wayne H. Ambler. Cornell/Agora Paperbacks.

ISBN 0801487501.

.

II. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Attendance/Participation: 20%2. Weekly Quiz: 10%

3. Weekly Written Response 10%4. 1

stEssay: 20%

5. 2nd

Essay: 20%

6. Final Examination: 20%

Your first and most important task is to do each weeks reading on time and with great care.

Please come to class ready to reflect on the portion of the text assigned for that day or week.Each week you will be asked to complete a timed quiz, and you must take the quiz before you

will be able to proceed with the weeks lecture.

Please note well: no late papers can be accepted, and extensions of the paper deadlines may be

granted only under the most extreme circumstances (e.g., serious illness, family emergency). The

first essay is due [date]; the second essay is due [date]; and the third essay is due [date]. Thetopics for the essays are available in advance [location].

Each week, you are responsible for submitting a written response to the weekly discussionprompt question. These responses should be no more than 1 single-spaced page (or 2 double-

spaced pages) and are due no later than the morning of the day of our live discussion. You may

be called upon to present your response to the group.

The final examination, which will cover all the course material, will be administered in the

fifteenth week of our course. It will be a timed, take-home examination comprising short answerquestions, identifications, and one essay.

III. SCHEDULE OF REQUIRED READINGS

WEEK 1:a. Introduction; Lincolns The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions: Address Before the

Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois and Political Ambition in America

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b. Machiavelli, The PrinceDedicatory Letter and Chs. 1-3

WEEK 2:

a. Machiavelli, The PrinceChs. 4-6

b. Machiavelli, The PrinceChs. 7-14

WEEK 3:

a. Machiavelli, The PrinceChs. 15-18

b. Machiavelli, The PrinceChs. 19-23

WEEK 4:

a. Machiavelli, The PrinceChs. 24-26b.Richard IIIAct I

WEEK 5:

a.Richard IIIAct II

b.Richard IIIAct III

WEEK 6:a.Richard IIIActs IV-V

b. 1 Samuel Chapters 1-18

WEEK 7:

a. 1 Samuel Chapters 19-31

b. 2 Samuel Chapters 1-12

WEEK 8:a. 2 Samuel Chapters 13-24b. Xenophon, The Education of CyrusBook I

WEEK 9:a. Xenophon, The Education of CyrusBook I (continued)

b. Xenophon, The Education of CyrusBook II

WEEK 10:

a. Xenophon, The Education of CyrusBook III

b. Xenophon, The Education of CyrusBook IV

WEEK 11:

a. Xenophon, The Education of CyrusBooks V and VIb. Xenophon, The Education of CyrusBook VII

WEEK 12:

a. Xenophon, The Education of CyrusBook VIIIb. summary/conclusion of the whole book

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WEEK 13:

a. Plato, Protagoras309a-320cb. Plato, Protagoras320c-333e

WEEK 14:

a. Plato, Protagoras349a-362ab. Summary and Conclusion

WEEK 15:Final examination

IV. Grading Scale

The following descriptions have been adopted by the Political Science Department and will be

adhered to in this course.

A Exceptional Performance.

Consistently outstanding work on all course-related tasks at a level that

distinguishes the student from other members of the class. A comprehensiveand incisive command of the issues, literature, and substantive information

relevant to the course. A frequently demonstrated exceptional capacity for

original, creative, critical and logical thinking. The ability to master andintegrate large amounts of factual material and abstract theories. An

outstanding ability to discuss effectively course subject matter using both

written and oral communication skills.

A- Excellent Performance.

Consistently strong work on all course-related tasks. A comprehensive

command of the issues, literature, and substantive information relevant to thecourse. A clearly demonstrated capacity for original, creative, critical and

logical thinking. Understands well and can integrate the relevant factual and

theoretical material central to the course. A strong ability to discusseffectively course subject matter using both written and oral communication

skills.

B+ Very Good Performance.

Consistently above average work on all course-related tasks. A very goodgrasp of the issues, literature, and substantive information relevant to the

course. A generally demonstrated capacity for original, creative, critical, and

logical thinking. A very good command of factual and theoretical material,

and some capacity to integrate the two. A solid ability to discuss effectivelycourse subject matter using both written and oral communication skills.

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B Good Performance.

Good and generally consistent work on all course-related tasks. A general

understanding of the issues, literature, and substantive information relevant to

the course. Modest evidence of the capacity for original, creative, critical andlogical thinking. A good understanding of factual and theoretical material,

but limited evidence of the capacity to integrate the two. A basic ability to

discuss effectively course subject matter using both written and oralcommunication skills.

B- Satisfactory Performance

Satisfactory work on course-related tasks. A reasonable understanding of the

issues, literature, and substantive information relevant to the course. An

infrequently demonstrated capacity for original, creative, critical and logicalthinking. Understands at a basic level the facts and theories related to the

course, but demonstrates weak integration skills. A limited or inconsistentability to discuss effectively course subject matter using both written and oral

communication skills.

C+/C/C- Adequate Performance

Adequate performance on course-related tasks. An understanding of the basic

elements of the issues, literature, and substantive information relevant to thecourse. A rarely demonstrated capacity for original, creative, critical and

logical thinking. An inability to go beyond a recitation of basic factual

material related to the class. Demonstrated weaknesses in the ability to

discuss effectively course subject matter using both written and oralcommunication skills.

D/D+ Minimal Passing Performance.

Barely acceptable work on course-related tasks. A generally superficial andoften inconsistent familiarity with the issues, literature, and substantive

information relevant to the course. A failure to demonstrate the capacity for

original, creative, critical and logical thinking related to course content. Anuneven understanding of basic factual material related to the course; no

evidence of fact/theory integration. Demonstrates significant gaps in the

ability to discuss effectively course subject matter using both written and oral

communication skills.

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F Unacceptable Performance

Fails to meet minimum course expectations. Unable to understand even the

most basic elements of the issues, literature, and substantive information

relevant to the course. Demonstrates an inability to engage in coherent

written or oral discussion of course material. Does not satisfy specific courseexpectations with respect to attendance, deadlines, participation, etc.