HERTOG POLITICAL STUDIES PROGRAM Week-By-Week Schedule
Week 1: What Is Political Philosophy? Sun., June 19 Mon., June 20 Tues., June 21 Wed., June 22 Thurs., June 23 Fri., June 24 Sat., June 25
Group Breakfast
Introduction Session 2 Session 3 GW 1957 E, Rm 111 Speaker:
Berkowitz Berkowitz Berkowitz 7:30 AM – 8 AM Charles Krauthammer Session 4 Check-In GW 1957 E, Rm 111 GW 1957 E, Rm 111 GW 1957 E, Rm 111 GW Rm 111 Berkowitz GWU 9 AM – Noon 9 AM – Noon 9 AM – Noon 10:30 AM – Noon National Gallery of Art 1959 E Street NW GW 1957 E, Rm 111 Tour
3 PM – 5 PM 8 AM – 11 AM Group 1 Speaker:
Sen. Tom Cotton 1 PM – 2 PM Free Time & Private Weekly Group Lunch
Study Russell Senate Office Group 2 Building GW Rm 111
2 PM – 3 PM 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Free Time & Private Free Time & Private Welcome Dinner Study Study Speaker Reception & Session 5 Dinner:
Teddy & the Bully Bar Robert Doar Free Time & Private Berkowitz (1200 19th St NW) Study
Mayflower Hotel GW 1957 E, Rm 111 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM (1127 Connecticut Ave
NW) 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
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HERTOG POLITICAL STUDIES PROGRAM 2016 SUMMER FELLOWSHIP SYLLABUS Washington, DC
All readings will be provided and should be completed before the class discussion.
Plenary sessions will feature distinguished speakers on a variety of topics and special events. A shaded text box designates plenary sessions.
Sunday, June 19, 2016
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Arrival and Check-in — George Washington University, 1959 E St NW
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Arrival Reception and Dinner — Teddy and the Bully Bar Welcoming Remarks: Peter Berkowitz 1200 19th St NW
WEEK 1—WHAT IS POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY? Peter Berkowitz, senior fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
In this opening week, led by Program Dean Peter Berkowitz, we introduce the study of politics by exploring the work of Leo Strauss, one of the twentieth century’s most consequential teachers and scholars of political philosophy.
Location: This class will take place at George Washington University’s Elliott School: 1957 E Street NW, Room 111.
Monday, June 20, 2016
9:00 a.m. to Noon Introduction
• Leo Strauss, “What is Political Philosophy?”
Questions: 1. What does Jerusalem stand for (pp. 9–10), and how is it related to the problem of political philosophy? 2. What is political philosophy, and how does it differ from political theory, political theology, and political science? 3. What is positivism, and what are its limitations? 4. What is historicism, and why is it “the serious antagonist of political philosophy” (p. 26)?
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Tuesday, June 21, 2016
9:00 a.m. to Noon Session 2
• Leo Strauss, “What is Political Philosophy?”
Questions: 1. What are the distinguishing characteristics of classical political philosophy? 2. What are the “two very common objections” (p. 36) to classical political philosophy, and how might classical political philosophy reply?
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
9:00 a.m. to Noon Session 3
• Leo Strauss, “What is Political Philosophy?”
Questions: 1. What are the distinguishing characteristics of modern political philosophy? 2. What is the first wave of modernity? 3. What is the second wave of modernity? 4. What is the third wave of modernity?
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Speaker Reception & Dinner — Robert Doar, scholar, American Enterprise Institute Mayflower Hotel Palm Court Ballroom, 1127 Connecticut Ave NW
Thursday, June 23, 2016
****** EARLY START ******
7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Group Breakfast — Rm 111, GWU
8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Session 4
• Leo Strauss, Preface to Spinoza’s Critique of Religion, pp. 1–15 (ending with “only if Spinoza were wrong in every respect”), and pp. 28–31 (beginning with “The results of this examination”).
Questions: 1. What is the theologico-political predicament? 2. What about Weimar made liberal democracy in Weimar weak? What about liberal democracy made liberal democracy in Weimar weak?
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3. How was Zionism a response to the weakness of liberal democracy in Weimar? What are the limits of the Zionist response? 4. How was a return to Judaism a response to the weakness of liberal democracy in Weimar? What are limits of the return-to-Judaism response?
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Speaker — Senator Tom Cotton, member, U.S. Senate Russell Senate Office Building (Travel as a group from GWU)
Friday, June 24, 2016
****** LATE START ******
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Speaker — Charles Krauthammer, syndicated columnist, The Washington Post GWU, Rm 111
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Weekly Group Lunch — Rm 111, GWU
1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Session 5
• Leo Strauss, Preface to Spinoza’s Critique of Religion
Questions: 1. What is Heidegger’s challenge? 2. What is Nietzsche’s challenge? 3. What are the practical and theoretical implications of the challenges of Heidegger and Nietzsche? 4. What are the implications of Nietzsche’s failure “to escape from the evidence of the Biblical understanding of man” (pp. 12–13, and 30–31)?
Saturday, June 25, 2016
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. American Art Tour (Group 1) National Gallery of Art Travel to this event will be by Metro.
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. American Art Tour (Group 2) National Gallery of Art Travel to this event will be by Metro.
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