What is justice? Does it ever conflict with the laws of the land? What is the proper role of the state? What would an ideal one look like? Are there better or worse ways for human beings to live out our lives? How do we even go about answering such a question? And what, if anything, does it have to do with politics? These are the issues that we will explore through in-depth reading and sustained discussion of key works by Plato and Aristotle. Format: seminar with added lecture as needed. Requirements: class participation, short (1 page) writing exercise, two (6-7 page) papers, and an exam. No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 39 (expected: 15) Preference given to Political Science majors. Political Theory Subfield.