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4. Social and Political Philosophy

Introduction 1 2 3 4

  • Plato is the first philosopher to write about political philosophy. He wrote about the ideal state in his book “The Republic.”
  • Aristotle wrote about the origin of the state and the ideal state in his book “Politics.”
  • Thomas Aquinas wrote about natural law and the common good.
  • Machiavelli wrote about the ideal prince in his book “The Prince.”
  • Hobbes wrote about the state of nature and the social contract in his book “Leviathan.”
  • Socrates > Plato > Aristotle > Alexander the Great.

References

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  1. Zarri, J. (1948). Aristotle’s Theory of the Origin of the State. https://www.scholardarity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Aristotles-Theory-of-the-Origin-of-the-State-DRAFT-2-PDF.pdf ↩

  2. BRIA 22 4 c St. Thomas Aquinas Natural Law and the Common Good - Online Lessons - Bill of Rights in Action. (2023). Teachdemocracy.org. https://teachdemocracy.org/online-lessons/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-22-4-c-st-thomas-aquinas-natural-law-and-the-common-good ↩

  3. Burnyeat, M. (1997). Culture and Society in Plato’s Republic THE TANNER LECTURES ON HUMAN VALUES. https://tannerlectures.utah.edu/_resources/documents/a-to-z/b/Burnyeat99.pdf ↩

  4. Levin M.. (2012). A Meritopia. The unmaking of America. My.uopeople.edu. https://my.uopeople.edu/pluginfile.php/1832288/mod_book/chapter/490005/Ameritopia_-_Mark_R_Levin.pdf ↩