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Maciavelli and Aquinas
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Saint Thomas Aquinas in his book On Law, Morality, and Politics writes about how men should act, but most likely will not, in this life at least. Aquinas believes they will act this way when they seek and respect the will of God above all as everyone should. Therefore placing the law of God on the highest level and even disregarding the law of men if it conflicts “It would seem that is was not useful for laws to be framed by men because the purpose of every law is that man be made good…” (Aquinas, pg. ... The Godly leader is only to go to war if certain specifics are met “…belligerents should have a rightful intention, so that they intend the advancement of good or avoidance of evil” (Aquinas, pg. ... There is no doubt that these values might have the ability to give one a fulfilling life in the sense of “conscience,” “…conscience is a power…a correcting and guiding spirit accompanying the soul… leading away from evil and made to cling to good…” (Aquinas, pg. ...
Saint Thomas Aquinas embodies these ideas, and more, in words in his writings on various aspects of human nature and society. Opposing completely the claim of Machiavelli that such a way of life can construct “no satisfactory human community…” Instead Aquinas says that “law should be framed not for any private benefit, but for the common good of all citizens” (Aquinas, pg. ... Aquinas believes instead that the only satisfaction can come from God and the understanding of his ways, followed by the denial of our human desires and vices “we ought to obey God rather then men…” (Aquinas, pg. ... Aquinas illustrates this concept by outlining four different laws (nature: our instincts and natural inclinations, eternal: ultimate law governing all, human: manmade law of land, and divine: God-given scriptures) and describing through them the way that we should live and are ultimately designed to live. ... The different views of Aquinas and Machiavelli can best be illuminated by their descriptions of the qualities of a leader. Aquinas believes that the leader should be charitable, virtuous, moral, godly, prudent, wise, reasonable, look toward the peace, and therefore be tuned to their natural gravitation toward “good behavior.
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Paper Information
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Title: Maciavelli and Aquinas
Words: 1805
Rating: None
Pages: 7.2
submitted by: melissarose
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