Political Philosophy

subfield of political science

most fundamental part of political science
oldest branch of political science
questions on the discipline of the field
no permanent answers

Why study philosophers?

even though political science is not fixated on ancient times,

researchers continue to ask the same questions before.
remains constitutive of how we see politics today
storehouse of information

Critical thinking is when we dont submit to authority and we rely on own

judgement or reasoning. Questions on:
What is justice? God? Love? Does He exist?

a.k.a Aristocles
Greek philosopher
Ariston father presumably from Poseidons lineage
student of Socrates
went to Italy and spoke again the tyranny of Dionysus I -> was sold as
a slave
built the Academy first university
- comprehensive
- most prominent student is Aristotle
author of Republic, which focused on the nature of justice
other works include: Crito, Apology, Phaedo of which dealt with the
trial and execution of Socrates
died at 80 years old

Republic

similarity of Polis to the individual soul rational person, truly human,

animals have no power to reason
human nature is not satisfied
luxuries -> thrust into a luxurious state
desire to gain luxury -> psychological root of war
end goal of the state -> secure the greatest possible happiness for the
community as a whole
state must not be too big: excessive wealth and greed, must not be too
small: meanness and viciousness
strongest are the states rulers: systematic reasoning, critical thinking,
control education, social legislation, not enact laws for self-benefit

What is a just state?

Justice exist when one relates his natural soul with his function in society
Utopia ideal state
Basic tasks a state should perform:
1. must have material base
2. protection and order
3. principles of ordering: guides or policies

PLATO

Polis - city, essence of the political society

gave an account on how Polis arise
in order to discover, seeks how the Polis arise
Polis arises out of the needs of men
e.g. Stone Age division of labor focuses on food and clothing

All these three are encompassed in the individual soul in different proportions.
These proportions determine your occupation in the state.
1. Appetitive Man material base: businessman, banking
2. Spirited Man protection and order: soldier, doctor
3. Man of knowledge principles of ordering: scientist, scholar
If you dont follow the tendency of your soul, you will be unhappy.
State

Classification

Rulers,
guardians,
philosoph
er kings
Auxiliary,
fighters
Workers,
appetitive
men

Gold

Silver
Brass / Iron

Natural
Inclination
Principles
of order

Virtue

Body

Soul

Wisdom

Head

Reason

Protection/
order
Economic/
appetitive
gain

Courage
/bravery
Appetite

Chest

Will/
spirit
Appetite

Abdomen

Philosopher Kings

must rule the society

must possess the intelligence; quick learner
must be passionate about getting wisdom
must be passionate about seeking the truth
free from love of money
must not possess private property -> conflict of interest
depend on appetitive men for basic necessities
cannot have a family
a planning committee on the procreation of philosopher kings

Auxiliary or Spirited Men

ability to serve
courage
enforcer of philosopher kings decision
cannot have the luxury of a monogamous marriage or family

Appetitive Men

harbor desires and emotion

can have family, marriage, private property
most numerous
preserved institutions

How does Plato see education?

20 years old literature and gymnastics

21 to 30 years old spirited men training and natural sciences
31 to 35 years old dialectics

3 ways in order to achieve the ideal state:

1. equality of men and women
2. abolition of family
3. philosophers must be kings
Democrats vs. Plato

mode of election: popular vote vs. natural inclination

rights available to people
educational opportunity: free education for all vs. natural inclination

Types of Government

A.
B.
C.
D.

Aristocracy ruled by a few or philosopher kings

Timocracy ruled by the people who have honor and ambition for war
Oligarchy rule of the wealthy
Democracy rule of the people, lower class, too much freedom given
to the people
E. Tyranny chaos eliminated, most imperfect, ruler control the people

ARISTOTLE

from Stagira
at 17 years old was a student of Plato
went to Asia Minor after the Persian king persecuted Hippias
part of the Macedonian Royal Court
tutored Alexander The Great
founded Lyceum
convicted or accused for impiety disrespect towards god, fanatics of
Alexander The Great thought he was disrespecting him
died of stomach illness chassis
focused of political science : science of the good, politike episteme

3 Main Branches of Science

1. Contemplative knowledge for its sake: metaphysics, physics, truth
2. Practical good, action: political science end is noble action,
happiness of citizens, attain human good
3. Productive beauty, art, what looks good
Eudaimonia happiness

How to attain good? Happiness?

Why do we do anything?
What can man do which other species cannot do?
What makes us human?

End goal of the state is happiness and good life.

2 Aspects of the Soul
1. Irrational
a. Vegetative nutritive, excretion, plants, animals
b. Appetitive part of emotions
2. Rational developed through discipline; aspects that makes us
humans are achieve
Happiness is peculiar to human. Rationality to the fullest leads to happiness.

2. maintain constitution or introduce reforms based on necessity

Idea of Individuals
Man by nature is a social and political animal.
active participation in the community
men meant for political association
Naturally ruling vs, naturally ruled

naturally ruling: intelligence; naturally ruled: do what the naturally ruling

asked to
one cannot live without the other
exists by nature

Organic View of the State

perception of how the state arise

naturally occurring

1.
2.
3.
4.

individual beings pair up, reproduce, offspring

master-slave come together -> household
several households come together -> village
village come together -> state

Good Citizen vs. Good Man

Good citizen

does what is good for his community

does not have to care for others
not a part of his society
does not have a well-ordered soul
relative to the regime

Good man

always a good man everywhere

no relativity

Good citizen = good man only in best regime where they meet halfway
Views on the State
Tasks of a politician:
1. frame constitution appropriate for the city state

Constitution

highest rule of land

basis of entire state
spirit of the country
basis of sovereignty
any law that goes against it will be stripped down

Politician is like a craftsman that produces an artifact based in 4 causes:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Material individuals: clay

Formal constitution: form, shape
Efficient statesmen, politicians: potter men
Final good life, choice of happiness: function

Types of Government
A. 3 Just common good, good life
a. Kingship
rule of one
looks out for common interest
b. Aristocracy
rule of the few
not the best form, unlike Platos belief
conflicts may arise for those in power
c. Polity
rule of the middle class
mixed constitution
mix of oligarchy and democracy
best type for Aristotle moderation
good fortune in moderation
less susceptible to corruption
no faction
ready to listen
strong middle class keeps balance
B. 3 Unjust
a. Tyranny
rule of one
rules only for tyrants interest
b. Oligarchy
rule of rich

 land owners
c. Democracy
rule of the people or poor
towards the interest of the lower class
Idea of Justice
I.

II.

Universal
more concerned with common knowledge to all citizens
protect the individuals
lawfulness
provided in the constitution
Particular
distributive justice
equality and fairness
quality over connections, quality of actions
honor & wealth distributed according to merit not
connections

AUGUSTINE

St. Augustine of Hippo

Aurelius Augustinus
born on November 13, 354
from Tagaste Algerian coast
study in Carthage
mother: Christian; father: pagan
embraced Manicheism
in 320, embraced Christianity
works include 95 books, 8,400 sermons, 300 letters
famous works: Confessions (autobiography), City of God, On Christian
Doctrine, On The Trinity

Faith guides reason.

way of life not organization
not concerned who is in power
ways men lived their lives
Humans are inherently good.
War

lust to dominate; libido dominandi

always a tragedy even if just

thru war we find peace

breed discontentment and resentment
no war should be celebrated

Just war
1. ruler must have the authority
2. just cause
3. right intention: remedy an evil, not of personal gain
Liberty and Slavery

order of nature: man has dominion over all creatures, man > beasts
gifts of God: rationality, intelligence, free will
man over man: no free will

City of God

foundation of state
definition of justice
if no justice, robbery only
evil cannot be abolished
evil in the kingdom increases when it holds public office -> robbery

What thou meanest by seizing the whole Earth; but because I do it with a petty
ship, I am called a robber, whilst thou who dost it with a great fleet art styled
emperor.
The Earthly City
civitas terrena
love of self
seeks glory from men
ruled by the love of ruling
destined to suffer

The Heavenly City

civitas dei
love of God
greatest glory is God
serve one another in love and
obeying (?)
God may be all in all (?)

Two Types of Men

Cain
lives in the City of Men
first murderer
built a city
city of the wicked is here
Where is the Heavenly City?

Abel
lives in the City of God
murdered
sojourner built none
city of saints is above

within the Earthly kingdom

not heaven where believers go to when they die
in the hearts of the people
can enjoy temporal good things and can be afflicted with temporal evils

Contributions

formation of the Western Christianity (Lutherianism)

Salvation: humans were given the free will and can only go back to God
by the act of free will
developed the idea that priests can do things of God for people
condoned use of violence to those who act against the Catholic Church

Important Remarks

Justice is the foundation of the state. It is achieved when rules do not

take from the people.
Slavery is not the result of mans nature but the result of sin.

AQUINAS

St. Thomas Aquinas

from Rocca Secca, Kingdom of Naples
born January 28, 1225
related to kings and emperors

Summa Theologica

theological seminary
theologies of Catholic Church
proves the existence of God
nature of Christ
role of sacraments as bridge of men to God

Law
1. ordinance of reason
not of will
law is a certain measure and rule of our acts
reason directs our acts to our end
law not reasonable; unjust law = no law at all
2. for the common good

not of private good

happiness of entire community
common good

3. made by men who have charge of the community

not just by anyone
makers of law belongs to the people who will be under it and
cannot be made by someone outside of it
4. promulgated
made known to all
binding force on individuals
4 Laws
A. Eternal Law
divine reason
governs the universe
eternal
Gods rule is not subject to time
identical to the mind of God
unchanging
all laws come from it
B. Divine Law
Old Law external conduct, Ten Commandments
New Law internal conduct, teachings of God
derived from Eternal Law
what to do or what not to do
judge according to the interior motions
human laws cannot punish all evils
C. Natural Law
rational creatures participation in Eternal Law
product of human reason
objective existence:
- creature governed by final cause which they
naturally seek
- implanted by creature
humans do not always act the way they should
universally accessible regardless of time, place or culture
Synderesis final causes implanted in human beings

- natural intellectual habit

- innate
- not acquired
Natural Inclinations
1. for the good
2. for the conservation of life
3. for the conservation of the species
4. to know the truth
5. for life in society

D. Human Law
lowest form
cannot deviate from spirit of Natural Law
if deviates, perversion of Law
devised human reason
partly a matter of custom
differ from culture to culture
for most people only

political authorities, but there are exceptions even to this rule, when the
common good is under unusual peril.

Natural Law

Divine Law

Human
Law

Eternal
Law
Government

exists for the ruler to assists in attaining the common good

6 forms same with Aristotle
ruled by a king -> Kingship

Why are laws important?

1. Easier to find a few wise persons who can make good laws than to find
many who, in the absence of laws, can judge correctly in each
instance.
2. Lawmakers can deliberate at length before making laws while many
particular cases must be judged quickly, when they arise.
3. Lawmakers judge in the abstract and are less likely to be swayed by
emotions evoked by concrete circumstances or by the kinds of things
that tend to corruption.
Thomas considers when it may be permissible to violate the letter of the law.
He realizes that, because it is by nature general, the law may require
exceptions. In most cases, these should be made only with the consent of the

Tyranny

directed to private good

tolerate mild tyranny
if resistance fail, tyrannical rage will increase making the condition
worse
proceed against the tyrant through public authority

Influences

Philosophy is base instruction in Roman Catholic schools

Interpretation of ?? between natural world and divine world