Western Political Thought I W. Wesley McDonald
PS 223 Fall 2002
II. Study Questions
1. What are the distinguishing characteristics of genuine philosophy?
2. What
are the three classes of residents in ancient Athens? What were their functions?
Who was Solon? What was the constitutional crisis threatening the stability of 5th century B.C. Athens? What economic and constitutional reforms did Solon institute to advent open class warfare? Were these reforms successful? Explain the origin and significance of the following ethical principle: “Everything in moderation.”
3. Compare and contrast the various definitions of justice in Plato’s Republic. Describe the three classes of Republic and their functions. Critique communism. How are the rulers selected? What practical steps, in the eyes of Socrates, must be taken for the establishment of the ideal regime? Describe Plato’s theory of justice. Describe his cycle of constitutions. Compare and contrast the Republic and Laws. What are the distinguishing characteristics of these books? What does it mean to say that “the law is a surrogate for reason” in the Laws?
4. What is a polis, according to Aristotle? Is man a social animal? Why? Define and give examples of Aristotle’s definition of distributive justice. What is the best possible state? Describe and give examples. What are the causes of revolutions? What reforms can be taken to avert a revolution? How did Aristotle classify types of constitutions? What is the importance of friendship in the polis? Why does Aristotle argue that young people are unfit to study politics? What are his views on slavery?
5. Why did the Greek city-state fail? Why did the Epicureans and Cynics believe that the wise man should withdraw from public life? What did they mean by the “self-sufficient life”?
6. Describe the concept of ‘mixed government” in Polybius’ thought. Why do constitutions change? Describe his cycle of constitutions and his remedy for constitutional change.
7. What was the ethical purpose of Stoicism? What was the “good life”? What was the Scipionic Circle? What did Seneca believe were man’s moral duties to society?
8. What is Cicero’s concept of natural law? Why do men form into social groups? What binds men together into community? What is Cicero’s classification of constitutions? Is there a natural cycle of constitutions? How does it differ from that of Polybius? Describe his concept of the mixed government.
9. Define and describe the various types of Roman law. What was the significance of the Justinian Code?
10. Explain the idea of Christian obedience? What is the Christian distinction between “the Things of Caesar” and “the Things of God”? What obligations did the Christian according to St. Paul have to the State? Explain the Christian problem of “divided loyalty.”
11. What is the relationship between the City of God and City of Man in St. Augustine? Define each. What causes civilizations to decay? What is the origin of the state? Explain the “two cities” thesis.
12. Explain the significance of the Investitute controversy. What was the relationship between the medieval secular and religious authorities? What claims did the Church make over Secular authority? Explain the Gelasian Theory of two swords.
13. What is the best possible state according to St. Thomas Aquinas? Does St. Thomas believe in tyrannicide? What are the four types of law? What is the best possible state?
14. Explain William Occam’s views on law. What was the Conciliar Theory of Church government? What was influence of conciliar theory on subsequent political thought?
15. Why is Marsilio of Padua considered to be the first secular political theorist in the Middle Ages? What was his argument on separation of church and state? Describe his views on democracy. Can a tyrant be removed? What is law?
16. Explain the basic realpolitik
principles of Machiavelli. Why are his
doctrines widely considered to be a radical rejection of the teachings of
classical and Christian political thought.
Is the realism of Machiavelli at odds with the natural law
tradition? Explain the respective roles
of virtu`, fortuna and necessita in determining the sucess of a prince. What recommendations did he make in regard
to civil religion? What was his
attitude toward the position of dominance played by the Catholic Church in
Italian politics? What type of government did Machiavelli prefer and why?