Elizabeth K. Markovits

Assistant Professor of Politics

Specialization
ancient and contemporary political thought, with special interests in Plato, ancient tragedy, rhetoric, feminism, citizenship, and democratic theory

Elizabeth Markovits's research interests range from ancient Greek political thought to contemporary feminist and democratic theory. She is the author of The Politics of Sincerity: Frank Speech, Plato, and Democratic Judgment (Pennsylvania State University Press, 2008). The book explores the dangers that invocations of sincerity hold for contemporary democracy through an examination of Plato's Socratic dialogues and the work of Hannah Arendt. Her work has also appeared in the Journal of Political Philosophy and the online journal POROI (Project on the Rhetoric of Inquiry).

Markovits is currently working on an essay exploring the politics of interpreting Plato, as well as another essay on intergenerational justice in Aeschylus's Oresteia trilogy. The latter piece is part of a larger project, which draws on ancient authors to explore the implications of human reproduction for democratic theory.

At Mount Holyoke, Markovits teaches a variety of courses, including a first year seminar, "Foundations of Political Theory." Students in the class focus on a fundamental political question—what is the relationship between truth & politics?—through an engagement with a variety of texts from the history of political thought. In addition, she teaches Invitation to Feminist Theory, Ancient & Medieval Political Thought, and an advanced seminar on Politics & Rhetoric.

Markovits is the Executive Co-Director for the interdisciplinary Association for Political Theory (2007-2010).