Simmons College

Mischa Beckett is an Instructor in Political Science and International Relations.  She received an honors B.A., magna cum laude, from Marquette University, where she studied political science and philosophy, minoring in history.  Beckett received her Ph.D. in political science from Boston College in 2008.  Dr. Beckett's dissertation, titled Poetry and Philosophy in Aristophanes' Clouds and Plato's Republic, focused on ancient Greek political philosophy.  Her research is focused on the revolutionary role philosophy played in early democratic society and the potentially damaging social and political effects of philosophic skepticism.  Her current research examines the poet Aristophanes' account of desire, including its role in human nature and political society.

Beckett's teaching interests include political theory, especially ancient political theory, women and political theory, and literature and philosophy.  Dr. Beckett is also interested in American politics, particularly Constitutional law.

This year, she will be teaching POLS 103, The Nature of Politics; POLS 214, Constitutional Law; POLS 232, Theories of Justice; and POLS 236, Political Novels.