5 Best Political Philosophy Online Courses in 2025
Political philosophy continues to shape our understanding of governance, justice, and societal structures. In 2025, as the world navigates rapid technological advancements, cultural shifts, and global challenges, the relevance of political philosophy has grown immensely. Whether you’re a curious learner, a professional seeking intellectual enrichment, or someone grappling with modern political questions, studying political philosophy provides profound insights.
In this blog, we’ll explore the 5 best political philosophy online courses available in 2025, with a special focus on those offered by the Millerman School, a platform dedicated to in-depth philosophical learning.
Why Study Political Philosophy in 2025?
Studying political philosophy equips you to think critically about the principles underlying politics and power. It helps you analyze how ideas of justice, freedom, and governance evolve over time and adapt to current issues. In 2025, as political polarization and global crises intensify, understanding diverse political ideologies is crucial for making informed decisions and contributing to meaningful debates.
Who Should Take These Courses?
Political philosophy courses are for anyone interested in exploring the foundations of political systems, ideologies, and societal norms. Whether you’re a:
Student: Seeking a deeper understanding of classical and modern philosophical ideas.
Professional: Working in law, education, public policy, or journalism.
Lifelong Learner: Curious about how historical thinkers can inform today’s political challenges.
About the Millerman School
The Millerman School stands out as a leading platform for political philosophy education. Founded by Michael Millerman, the school is committed to providing rigorous, accessible courses for learners of all backgrounds. The curriculum spans from ancient classics like Plato’s Republic to modern thinkers like Heidegger and Dugin, offering a comprehensive exploration of political philosophy.
Who is Michael Millerman?
Michael Millerman is a scholar and educator specializing in political philosophy. His expertise in thinkers like Heidegger, Strauss, and Dugin has earned him recognition as a leading voice in the field. Millerman’s teaching emphasizes critical thinking, rigorous study, and open discourse, ensuring students develop intellectual tools to navigate the complexities of political thought.
Is the Millerman School Only for Right-Leaning People?
No. While the Millerman School explores ideas outside the mainstream liberal framework, it welcomes students from all political orientations. The school fosters meaningful discussions across diverse perspectives, encouraging a broad range of viewpoints often underrepresented in traditional academia. Students from various backgrounds, including lawyers, educators, tech entrepreneurs, Bitcoiners, investors, software developers, mystics, retirees, consultants, podcasters, content creators, political analysts, martial artists, historians, and others, engage in thought-provoking dialogue to expand their understanding of philosophy and its real-world applications.
How We Selected the Best Courses
When identifying the best political philosophy online courses, we considered the following criteria:
Content Quality: Depth, rigor, and relevance of the course material.
Instructor Expertise: The qualifications and teaching approach of course leaders.
Accessibility: Availability of courses to a global audience with flexible schedules.
Engagement: Interactive features like discussions, readings, and Q&A sessions.
Top 5 Political Philosophy Online Courses for 2025
1. The Roots of Political Philosophy
This course investigates 10 lesser-known Socratic dialogues, revealing crucial themes of justice, law, and human nature. Using Straussian interpretations, it offers a nuanced perspective on the origins of Platonic political thought.
What You’ll Learn
Justice and Law: Dialogues like Minos and Hipparchus reflect on the foundations of legal systems and morality.
Human Nature and Virtue: Laches explores courage, while Alcibiades I examines the essence of humanity and self-knowledge.
Straussian Insights: In-depth commentaries enhance the understanding of these dialogues, connecting ancient ideas to modern thought.
Why It Matters
These dialogues provide a robust basis for ethical and political philosophy, essential for any serious study of political thought.
2. Plato's Republic Seminar
This course offers a detailed study of The Republic, Plato's foundational work on justice, the soul, and governance. Structured into ten lectures covering all ten books, it uses Allan Bloom’s renowned translation. Leo Strauss's method guides the analysis, providing deep insights into Plato's arguments and their relevance today.
What You’ll Learn
Justice and the Best Regime: Analyze Plato's vision of a just society, including the class structure, the role of guardians, and the importance of societal harmony.
The Tripartite Soul and the Philosopher-King: Study the soul's rational, spirited, and appetitive parts and how they align with the ideal ruler, the philosopher-king, who seeks wisdom and truth.
The Allegory of the Cave and Forms: Explore the journey from illusion to reality through the cave allegory and learn about the Forms, especially the ultimate Form of the Good.
Why It Matters
Plato's work remains vital for understanding justice, leadership, and ideal governance.
3. Aristotle's Politics
Delve into Aristotle’s Politics to understand governance, ethics, and the nature of citizenship. This course breaks down each chapter in detail.
What You’ll Learn
Governance and Regimes: Examine democracy, oligarchy, monarchy, and mixed systems. Aristotle critiques their strengths, weaknesses, and real-world applications, offering a framework for understanding political systems.
Virtue and Citizenship: Learn how individual virtue shapes civic life and strengthens the state. Aristotle highlights the importance of political participation for a flourishing society.
Stability and Human Flourishing: Explore causes of political change and safeguards against instability. Aristotle connects ethical governance with achieving the "good life" or eudaimonia.
Why It Matters
Aristotle's work shapes modern ideas on democracy, ethics, and civic duty. His insights remain crucial for creating stable and just societies.
4. The Fourth Political Theory
This course examines Alexander Dugin's radical critique of modern political systems. It challenges the dominance of liberalism, fascism, and communism, proposing a fourth path forward.
What You’ll Learn
Post-Liberalism: Dugin rejects Western liberalism and globalism, arguing they lead to cultural decay.
Political Anthropology: He introduces a new way of viewing human nature beyond individualism and collectivism.
Geopolitical Shifts: The course highlights how global power dynamics are shifting away from Western-centric ideologies.
Why It Matters
Dugin's work challenges conventional political ideas and introduces new ways of thinking.
5. Introduction to Leo Strauss
This course covers the foundational ideas of Leo Strauss’s political philosophy. It explains his views on the crises of modernity, faith, and reason, and his method for interpreting classical texts.
What You’ll Learn
Nihilism’s Impact on Society: Strauss analyzes how modernity led to a loss of values and meaning.
Reason and Revelation: Investigate the enduring conflict between rational thought and religious belief in political theory.
Close Reading of Classics: Strauss’s approach uncovers hidden meanings in ancient philosophical works.
Why It Matters
Strauss’s philosophy helps contextualize today’s debates on morality, politics, and tradition.
What Makes the Millerman School Stand Out?
Rigorous Content and Expertise
Michael Millerman’s courses offer unparalleled depth, drawing from his extensive academic background and unique teaching approach.
Flexible Learning
All courses are online, offering recorded lectures, live Q&A sessions, and interactive discussions. This ensures flexibility for learners worldwide.
Focused Curriculum
Unlike general learning platforms, the Millerman School specializes in political philosophy. This focused approach allows for deeper engagement with the material.
Conclusion
Political philosophy is essential for understanding the principles shaping governance, justice, and societal structures. The five courses highlighted here provide profound insights into both classical and modern political thought. The Millerman School stands out for its in-depth, expertly designed curriculum that caters to learners from all backgrounds.
Embark on your journey today by enrolling in one of these transformative courses. Prepare to expand your understanding and engage deeply with the ideas shaping our world in 2025 and beyond.