ESP Biography

"To be feared is much safer than to be loved." -Niccolo Machiavelli Why are citizens today so distrustful of their governments? Why are we so apprehensive of our politicians? Our class will focus on ethical theories in political philosophy. We will discuss different moral systems in the realm of political and social thinking, such as utilitarianism and libertarianism. We will cover the writings and thoughts of Niccolo Machiavelli, John Rawls, and more. We will also have discussions, debates, and time permitting, simulations to further the proposed curriculum. Ready to question your own worldview? Join us for an exciting journey through history and politics!

At the height of the Roman Empire, a Roman citizen could walk from one end of the empire to the other end armed only with the words "civis Romanus sum," and he/she could remain assured that no harm would befall him/her. What were history's great empires? What led to their rises to power? And what caused their dramatic declines and collapses? What lessons do the stories of these empires teach us about our world today and the international system of great power politics? We will cover a selection of case studies. Potential studies include the Roman Empire, the German Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire, and more. We will discuss some of the trends in the histories of these civilizations and compare them to the United States today.