St. Augestine View on Political Theory
Political Theory Term Paper
Sarah Gabr
900089073
POLS 301
Fall 2011
St. Augustine viewed politics as evil, this claim influenced his political theory. It’s important to understand the basic beliefs of St. Augustine so we can better discover why St. Augustine viewed politics as evil. One very important thing to know is that St. Augustine was a philosopher and bishop so his beliefs were set in the view of Christianity. St. Augustine believed that the world and everything in it was created by God, being a firm believer of the Bible. Men were originally living in relationship with God, but after Adam and Eve had made sin they fell and had gotten what is called “original sin”, which causes Man to be cursed for living in an imperfect society. In order to understand St. Augustine’s view to the secular world we must analyze his views on the nature of man, society and state.
In the nature of men, man is originally created good but man is given the gift of free will so he is able to disobey God and make his own will, free to sin and make whatever choices, just as Adam and Eve did. Since humans were created by God and were made to be in relationship with God, we are by birth social people. Also, since we all come from Adam and Eve we share the ordinary bond of family and social relationship. Man cannot stand alone without outside influence or social ties. Although, regardless of his natural sociability that brings us together, such peaceful bonds between men do not prevent conflicts in the world such as wars or misery,
which are brought about by Man’s libido dominandi, or the passion men have for domination which escalates from “original sin”1. Our human nature after the “fall” of Adam and Eve is basically jealous, resentful, revengeful, and egoistical, man longs for importance and praise, also m a t e ri a l w ea l t h
St. Augustine believes that though Man has a law of nature written into our hearts, a conscience of mutuality, do unto others what you wish others would
Sarah Gabr
900089073
POLS 301
Fall 2011
St. Augustine viewed politics as evil, this claim influenced his political theory. It’s important to understand the basic beliefs of St. Augustine so we can better discover why St. Augustine viewed politics as evil. One very important thing to know is that St. Augustine was a philosopher and bishop so his beliefs were set in the view of Christianity. St. Augustine believed that the world and everything in it was created by God, being a firm believer of the Bible. Men were originally living in relationship with God, but after Adam and Eve had made sin they fell and had gotten what is called “original sin”, which causes Man to be cursed for living in an imperfect society. In order to understand St. Augustine’s view to the secular world we must analyze his views on the nature of man, society and state.
In the nature of men, man is originally created good but man is given the gift of free will so he is able to disobey God and make his own will, free to sin and make whatever choices, just as Adam and Eve did. Since humans were created by God and were made to be in relationship with God, we are by birth social people. Also, since we all come from Adam and Eve we share the ordinary bond of family and social relationship. Man cannot stand alone without outside influence or social ties. Although, regardless of his natural sociability that brings us together, such peaceful bonds between men do not prevent conflicts in the world such as wars or misery,
which are brought about by Man’s libido dominandi, or the passion men have for domination which escalates from “original sin”1. Our human nature after the “fall” of Adam and Eve is basically jealous, resentful, revengeful, and egoistical, man longs for importance and praise, also m a t e ri a l w ea l t h
St. Augustine believes that though Man has a law of nature written into our hearts, a conscience of mutuality, do unto others what you wish others would
Cited: Augustine of Hippo. Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK ; Rochester, NY: Boydell Press, 2001 Augustine of Hippo. Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK ; Rochester, NY: Boydell Press, 2001 to Early Christianity. Malden, MA, USA: Blackwell Publishing, 2000. Google Books. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://books.google.com.eg/books? id=S8lamu73s08C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f Augustine of Hippo. Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK ; Rochester, NY: Boydell Press, 2001 Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1887.)Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight 2nd ed. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 1998. Google Books. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://books.google.com.eg/books?id=Grf9seFcQMC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false> 9.)Dyson, R.W Philosophy. New York, NY, USA: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005 10.) White, Nicholas P. A Companion to Plato 's Republic. Indianapolis, IN, USA: Hackett Publishing, 1979 St. Augustine of Hippo. Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK ; Rochester, NY: Boydell Press, 2001 Ideas 33.2 (1972): n.pag. Campbell. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://web.campbell.edu/faculty/ schroeder/martin%20aug2cities.pdf> Dec. 2011. <http://www.polis.cam.ac.uk/contacts/staff/eperreausaussine/ Heaven_as_a_political_theme_in_Augustine.pdf> 15.) Augustine, St. "Selection from City of God." St. Thomas. N.p., 1886. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. St. Augustine of Hippo. Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK ; Rochester, NY: Boydell Press, 2001