The principal aim of this course is to provide an introduction to the field of political philosophy, especially in respect to the interrelationship between politics and ethics. The fundamental question to be explored concerns how one can be both a morally responsible agent and a politically responsible citizen. In the past, the vast majority of political thinkers viewed politics and ethics as inextricably connected; both the individual and the political community of which he or she was a member required politics to address ethical concerns in order that both the citizen and the regime could live well and flourish. The texts to be read are among the most important works in the field over a period of twenty-four hundred years. It is hoped that a thorough reading and comprehension of these works will: (1) familiarize the student with the general concerns of political thought; (2) indicate the close connection between political and moral philosophy; (3) demonstrate that political thought is an ongoing dialogue among thinkers from various times and historical circumstances; (4) suggest that some of the concerns that confronted philosophers centuries ago are still relevant to the problems of today. In addition to a basic exposure to the political and moral issues confronted by political philosophers, the readings also contain a thematic thread tying them together – the concept of republicanism.