Wolin, Chapter Two—Plato.
1.
On
pp. 27-31, Wolin describes what he calls the great
achievement of the Greek political thinkers. What was it
2.
pp. 33-4. What was PlatoÕs ÒvisionÓ? Why should we pursue it?
3.
pp. 35-7.
What is the role of knowledge in the reform of society and the moral
improvement of its members?
4.
pp. 37-9.
What was PlatoÕs indictment of politicians? For an example of a politicianÕs
approach to events, see PericlesÕ
funeral oration.
5.
pp. 40-1.
How did PlatoÕs sense of the political link to his desire for order?
6.
pp. 42-7.
You might think of this section as an account of how Plato conceives of
the claim, Òdesire is the enemy.Ó
In the good community, what is to be done with desire?
7.
pp. 47-9.
The topic of question 6, just above, is continued here. Wolin
criticizes PlatoÕs approach, and yet concludes with a
recognition of a Ògreat contribution.Ó How are these related to each
other? The point at the bottom of
p. 49 is continued through the top of p. 51. Note this is a repeated and enduring
theme in political philosophy.
8.
From
pp. 49-53 Plato discusses the motivation of philosophers, and contrasts that
with a brief comparison with Aristotle. What, according to Wolin,
was the central disagreement between these two positions?
9.
pp. 54-58.
This section is entitled Òpolitical knowledge and political
participation.Ó What, according to Wolin, is the difficulty in thinking clearly about these
concepts?
10.pp. 58-61. Wolin accuses
Plato of a fatal defect. What is
it? What did he mean, on p. 60, by
Ò(i)ts tutelary deity is Proteus, not ProcrustesÓ?
11.pp. 61-2. If Plato had that fatal defect, why does
Wolin suggest we should not dismiss him?
Wolin, Chapter Three—Age of Empire
1.
Wolin suggests that this age can be interpreted as a
shift of political philosophy from the municipal to the imperial level. What does this mean?
2.
What
makes something political? (63-4)
3.
How
does the Ònew spatial dimensionÓ affect our thinking about politics? (65-7) Does this seem to have
implications for our own situation?
4.
One
development (at p. 69) was the rise of personified power. This will show up in a later section.
5.
On
p. 70 Wolin begins a section on the Cynics,
Epicureans, and early Stoics. What
does he mean by Òa minimal commitment to an association of limited valueÓ? (p. 71)
6.
What,
according to Wolin, was the failure of the
Stoics? (73)
7.
What,
according to Wolin, was Òthe important developmentÓ
that had taken place since the time of Aristotle? (74)
8.
The
Romans were important for political theory, in large part, because of their use
in managing politics through institutional forms. How did they do this? (75-8)
9.
What,
in this Roman conception, was justice?
(78)
10.There is a trap
in the politics of interest—making politics about interests gets away
from some sources of conflict, but, according to Wolin,
this route carries a great peril.
What is it? (79-82)
11.What does Wolin mean by a Òpower organizationÓ? (82) What becomes of citizenship in a
power organization? It is in this
section that we revisit that idea of politics becoming identified with the
personal qualities of a leader.
12.What does Wolin mean by the decline of political philosophy, in the
section beginning on p. 85?