Discuss the major philosophic/religious ideas of Augustine and Aquinas.

Philosophy Questions

Question: Please thoroughly answer 2 out of the 4 essay questions provided below. Please read the questions and the guidelines provided by the instructor!

Source Material: Text: Cohen and Fermon Princeton Readings in Political Thought.

Any other material aside from the text and associated lecture notes will result in heavy penalties. ( Just choose the two questions you want to answer and I will provide you with the associated lecture notes for the respective philosophers.)

Read each question carefully before you choose which two that you are going to answer. Pay careful attention to what the question is actually asking you to do. Demonstrate your knowledge of the subject by going into depth and detail. Be sure to provide specific examples to support your conclusions.

1. Discuss the major philosophic/religious ideas of Augustine and Aquinas. In your discussion please focus on their similarities and differences. Also, be sure to point out the political implications of their ideas.
2. Compare how Plato and Aristotle would answer the following question: who should rule and why should they rule?
3. Compare how Hobbes and Locke describe and explain human nature and the state of nature.
4. Discuss the ways in which Machiavelli can be understood as a political strategist, a political scientist and a political philosopher.

Suggested Length:  three pages per question at minimum. Be sure to double space. Be sure to include a (1) A clear introduction that addresses directly the question posed by the instructor. A body of factual examples that support your thesis; these examples may be drawn from either the assigned readings and lecture notes. A coherent paragraph structure that highlights your main points. (This essay must be well-written. Teacher is a District Attorney and grades extremely hard).

General Topics covered in the questions. Be sure to address them in your responses (Notice how the overlap and interrelate)

Approach: Each of our thinkers has an approach to political thought. For instance, Plato combines a Socratic method with his theory of forms. Aristotle uses a somewhat more empirical and comparative approach. Augustine grounds his political philosophy in a Christian world view. Aquinas combines that world view with a an Aristotelian approach. Machiavelli seems to focus on strategy. Hobbes and Locke are social contract theorists.

Human Nature: Augustine, Hobbes and Locke make some rather explicit assumptions about human nature. Our other thinkers might not be as explicit but still have something to say on the topic. You should be familiar with what each of our thinkers says or implies on this topic.

Key Concepts: Each of our thinkers employs certain key concepts. Examples could include justice, telos, natural law,virtu, fortune, necessity, natural rights, liberty, equality, state of nature, social contract, consent, etc.

Form of Government. Does the thinker prescribe a certain form of government? Who do they think should rule? How do they support their arguments? How would you evaluate their arguments? Do they prescribe a government consistent with their view of human nature? Would you want to live under that government?

Historical Context: You should have some knowledge of the historical context within which each thinker lived and wrote. You might consider how that context is reflected in their political philosophy?

2 hours ago

REQUIREMENTS

Santa Monica College Pol Sci 51

PHD Political Science

Just choose whichever you’d like to do and I’ll send over the applicable lecture notes

Answer preview…………………….

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