PHI 405 Populism Ancient and Modern

The aim of the seminar is to trace the historical roots of the manifold term "populism", while paying special attention to the original, indispensable link between populism and democracy. The starting point of our exploration will be the Greek form of democracy and its contemporary critique, which includes Plato's diagnosis of those who wished to win the admiration and love of "the people". Using various texts, we will strive to define not only the term "demos" but also "demagogues". Then, we will move on to the important shifts that took place during the Roman period, especially in the waning days of the Roman Republic, when the influence of elected politicians started to increase. We will find out who, according to Cicero and other writers, were populares and optimates and whether populares were the precursors of modern populists. This particular question, along with more general discussions of the importance of personal charisma in the history of populism, will allow us to draw connections with the scholarship on contemporary populism. In this context, we will also consider the difference between ideological populism and populism without ideology.

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
- Summarize and analyze the arguments presented by philosophers on populism throughout history
- Comprehend and critically discuss the nature of ancient, medieval and modern concepts of populism
- Conduct basic academic research and analytical writing appropriate to the undergraduate level.
- Communicate with improved analytical, argumentative, and writing skills.
- Apply knowledge and critical thinking and theoretical insights to contemporary issues