History: 10 Political Classics that Changed the World

Join us to explore 10 different texts which help us to examine fundamental questions such as ‘what is it to live a good life?’, ‘what is the proper role of the state, and how is this best balanced with honouring individual rights?’ For each of the texts we will be looking at the historical context of the work and how it came to be produced and its impact on later thought and examining extracts from the works. Stating with Plato’s republic we will look at his views on what an ideal state looks like and investigate his influence on western philosophy. Next we will be investigating the Magna Carta and how this challenges the right of the King, raising the issue of limiting royal authority. Later sessions will focus on ‘The Prince’ by Machiavelli and we will examine its analysis of political realism, statecraft and power. How relevant is his analysis now and can we see this approach in the modern world? The Communist Manifesto will be delved into and amongst other works we will also be looking at texts which emphasis individual liberties and human rights such as the ‘Declaration of Independence, ‘The Rights of Man’ and ‘A vindication of the Rights of Women’.