This article examines a mock trial I have developed and used in
teaching the history of political thought. Mock trials have been
underused but have great potential to become an effective and
exciting tool for student learning in this area. In this mock trial,
the plaintiff, defendant, attorneys, and witnesses are eminent
political or economic thinkers or political leaders of the past.
Active engagement in this mock trial helped my students immensely in
gaining deeper insight into and a more nuanced understanding of the
ideas of the thinker they represented, as well as enhancing their
critical and analytical abilities and improving their research
skills. As a teaching tool that is amenable to creative adaptation,
a mock trial can be an engaging and effective exercise for delving
into the history of political thought and making it more
relevant.