GC UNIVERSITY LAHORE

Department of Political Science

Program B.S Political Science

Course Title Western Political Thought-I
Course Code PS-3101
Year III
Semester IV
Course Duration One Semester (16 weeks of study)
Credit Hours 03
Course Coordinator Muhammad Naseer Ahmad Taib
(0332-1451768)
Course developed by Muhammad Naseer Ahmad Taib
0332-1451768

Course Description:
Political Thought is one of the most important subjects in Political Science because it set the
foundation of the subject. It enlightens the students about the different discourses presented by
philosophers to expand their horizon. Political Thought (I) deals with ancient Greek and Roman
Political Thought; its basis, ideas and their relevance to the contemporary issues. This course does
not only deals with the contents rather inculcate the comparative and analytical skills among
students.
Course Objectives:
1. To analyse different ontological positions to understand objective and subjective reality in
Political Thought.
2. To elaborate the basis of Political Thought
3. To elucidate the characteristics of Greek Political Thought.
4. To highlight the role of Socrates in the development of Greek Political Thought.
5. To discussed in detail the Platonic Political Thought its scope and significance.
6. To illustrate Aristotelian Political Thought and its scope and significance.
7. To highlight the role of Cicero in the development of ancient western Political Thought.
8. To make a comparative analysis of different Political ideas presented by ancient Political
Philosophers.
A. Learning Outcome
1) Understanding Political Thought and its Scope and significance.
a. Why Political Thought matter and its basis
b. Viewing Ancient Political Thought and its basis
c. Understanding the characteristics of Greek Political Thought.
d. Understanding Political Thought and its scope and significance.
2) Ontology and its role in the development of Political Thought:
a. Understanding Ontology and its meaning
b. Elaborating Ontology and its different kinds.
c. Explain the role of Ontology in the development of Political Thought.
3) Socrates and his role in the development of ancient Greek Political Thought:
a. Elaborating different political notions in pre-Socrates period; being versus becoming,
empirical versus ethical knowledge.
b. Understanding Virtue and its different implications.
c. Discuss the Socrates’s role in the development of Greek Political Thought.

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Department of Political Science

4) Plato and his role in the development of ancient Greek Political Thought:
a. Sketch out the basis of Platonic Political Thought.
b. Explain in detail the Platonic Conception of an Ideal state.
c. Elucidate the concept of Justice and injustice. How justice is achieved.
d. Explore the nature of education and how it affects the whole political discourse in the
ancient Greek.
5) Aristotle and his role in the development of Greek Political Thought:
a. Discuss in detail the basis of Aristotelian Political Thought.
b. Discuss in detail the classification of government/Constitution.
c. Sketch out the conception of Aristotelian ideal state.
d. Discuss the critic made by the Aristotle on the Platonic thought.
e. Discuss in detail the Aristotelian concept of education.
f. Highlight the fundamentals of Aristotelian conception of Justice.
6) Cicero and his role in the development of Greek Political Thought:
a. Discuss in detail the basis of Cicerone Political Thought.
b. Discuss the Cicero’s role in the development of Greek Political Thought.
c. Discuss in detail the Cicero’s conception of Justice and how it is achieved.
d. Sketch out the characteristics of Cicero’s ideal state.

B. Course Contents:
 Political Thought and its Scope and significance.
 Basis of Political Thought.
 Characteristics of Greek Political Thought.
 Ontology and its role in the development of Political Thought.
 Socrates and his role in the development of ancient Greek Political Thought.
 Plato and his role in the development of ancient Greek Political Thought:
 Aristotle and his role in the development of Greek Political Thought:
 Cicero and his role in the development of Greek Political Thought

C. Outline of Weekly Lectures & Readings.

Week 1 Enrollment
Introduction of the course and its contents
Discussion about Assessment methodology
Week 2 Why Political Thought matter?
Harmon, Mont Judd. "Political thought from Plato to the present." (No Title)
(1964).1-10
Week 3 Ontology and Political Thought:
Goodin, Robert E., ed. The Oxford handbook of political science. OUP
Oxford, 2009.78
Week 4 & 5 Basis of Political Thought and characteristics of Greek Political
Thought :
Prem Arora and Brij Grover. “Political Thought from Plato to
Marks.”(Gurgaon: Cosmos publisher) 1-5
Week 6&7 Socrates and his role in the development of ancient Greek Political
Thought:

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Department of Political Science

Nelson, Brian R. Western political thought: From Socrates to the age of

ideology. Waveland Press, 2015.5-22
Week 8-11 Plato and his role in the development of ancient Greek Political
Thought:
Russell, Bertrand. History of western philosophy. Routledge, 2004.
Harmon, Mont Judd. "Political thought from Plato to the present." (No Title)
(1964).29-53
Mid Exam--------------
Week 12-14 Aristotle and his role in the development of Greek Political Thought:
Russell, Bertrand. History of western philosophy. Routledge, 2004.
Harmon, Mont Judd. "Political thought from Plato to the present." (No Title)
(1964).53-75

Week 15&16 Cicero and his role in the development of Greek Political Thought:
Nelson, Brian R. Western political thought: From Socrates to the age of
ideology. Waveland Press, 2015.69-103
Harmon, Mont Judd. "Political thought from Plato to the present." (No Title)
(1964).84-86

D. Recommended text:

 Nelson, Brian R. Western political thought: From Socrates to the age of ideology. Waveland
Press, 2015.
 Harmon, Mont Judd. "Political thought from Plato to the present." (No Title) (1964).
 Russell, Bertrand. History of western philosophy. Routledge, 2004.
 Goodin, Robert E., ed. The Oxford handbook of political science. OUP Oxford, 2009.
 Sabine, George H., and Thomas L. Thorson. A history of political theory. Oxford and IBH
Publishing, 2018.

Assessment Policy
The instructor should follow the following scheme for semester work for this course:
Sr. No Assessment Tool Weightage
th
1. Mid Test 8 Week 20%

2. Quiz 10%
3. Assignment 20%

4. Final Exam 50%

A student is expected to pass semester work in all the above contents along with qualifying
the final examination. Minimum pass marks for the entire module are 50% gained in each
strand.

E. Attendance Policy:

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Department of Political Science

Attendance Policy
Attendance must be 80% to be eligible to appear in
the final exam.

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