Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Introduction
- 1 Aquinas's philosophy in its historical setting
- 2 Aristotle and Aquinas
- 3 Aquinas and Islamic and Jewish thinkers
- 4 Metaphysics
- 5 Philosophy of mind
- 6 Theory of knowledge
- 7 Ethics
- 8 Law and politics
- 9 Theology and philosophy
- 10 Biblical commentary and philosophy
- Bibliography
- References to Aquinas's Works
- Index
8 - Law and politics
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 May 2006
- Frontmatter
- Introduction
- 1 Aquinas's philosophy in its historical setting
- 2 Aristotle and Aquinas
- 3 Aquinas and Islamic and Jewish thinkers
- 4 Metaphysics
- 5 Philosophy of mind
- 6 Theory of knowledge
- 7 Ethics
- 8 Law and politics
- 9 Theology and philosophy
- 10 Biblical commentary and philosophy
- Bibliography
- References to Aquinas's Works
- Index
Summary
Aquinas's political and legal theory is important for three reasons. First, it reasserts the value of politics by drawing on Aristotle to argue that politics and political life are morally positive activities that are in accordance with the intention of God for man. Second, it combines traditional hierarchical and feudal views of the structure of society and politics with emerging community-oriented and incipiently egalitarian views of the proper ordering of society. Third, it develops an integrated and logically coherent theory of natural law that continues to be an important source of legal, political, and moral norms. These accomplishments have become part of the intellectual patrimony of the West, and have inspired political and legal philosophers and religious and social movements down to the present day.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Cambridge Companion to Aquinas , pp. 217 - 231Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1993
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