Seminar 3: Political Reflections from Augustine and Aquinas

DATE: Monday, May 9, 2011

READING:
1. Elshtain (2004) Augustine (BC-PT)
2. Bauerschmidt (2004) Aquinas (BC-PT)
3. David Cameron: The Big Society
4. Burnell (92) The status of politics in St. Augustine's City of God




Please come prepared with written answers to EITHER all the even numbered questions, or all the odd numbered questions: Each answer should be written in essay style and between 400-800 words in length.

1. Does the contradiction between Augustine's idea of society 'as type of friendship' ("a moral union in and through which human beings strive for a shared good), and his observation on the alienation of language difference, mean that a society should be based on a common language? Explain your position within the framework of Augustinian thought.

2. How does the Big Society speech by David Cameron (British Prime Minister) reflect (or fail to) Augustine's principles with regard to the formation of society.

3. Should May 18th be a day of celebration or mourning in Sri Lanka -- answer based on Augustines justification and attitude towards war.

4. Explain how, according to Aquinas, Pilot condemns himself by the "washing of his hands". What kind of engagement in, or disengagement from, politics might evoke a similar analysis of condemnation?

5. Jesus speaks the truth and meets with death on the cross. How then can Aquinas claim that "the truth is stronger"? and how would you hold on to such a claim in view of Nietzsche toppling of "the truth" through an alternative reading of Pilot's response to Jesus in John 18?

6. "Political protests are useless unless they succeed in bringing change with regard to what they are protesting". Evaluate that claim through your reading of Aquinas

7. "The purpose of politics is to promote the common good". Provide separate justifications for this statement from the ideas of Augustine and Aquinas. What can be meant by the "common good"?

8. "The purpose of politics is to promote justice in human society". Provide separate justifications for this statement from the ideas of Augustine and Aquinas.