UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF LEGAL

STUDIES
DEPARTMENT OF LAW
BALLB
Subject Name: Political Science
Code- HPT-254
From: Dr. Priya Saroj( Asst. Prof.)

Thomas Aquinas and Laws

DISCOVER . LEARN . EMPOWER
 Political Ideas and
Theories OF
THOMAS
AQUINAS
Course Outcome
CO Title Level
Number

CO1 PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH THE INFORMATION OF THE Remember

LIFE SKETCH OF THOMAS AQUINAS  
CO2 BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE POLITICAL IDEAS OF Understand
AQUINAS  
CO3 BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE PLATO’S THEORY OF STATE Understand

CO4 WILL ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE THEORY OF JUSTICE Understand

 
CO5 BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE THEORY OF LAW BY THOMAS Remember
AQUINAS  
https://upload.wikimedia.org
 THOMAS AQUINAS

MAJOR WORKS of St. Thomas Aquinas

• ETHICS
• POLITICS
• SUMMA THEOLOGICAL
• RULE OF PRINCESS
• SUMMA CONTRA GENTILES
• ON KINGSHIP

.
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ST. THOMAS AQUINAS’S ( POLITICAL IDEAS)

MAIN POLITICAL IDEAS OF ST. THOMAS

AQUINAS

•VIEWS ABOUT STATE

•SUPPORT TO NATION STATE
•CLASSIFICATION OFNGOVERNMENTS
•MONARCHY IS THE BEST FORM OF
GOVERNMENT
•FUNCTION OF RULER
•FUNCTION OF THE STATE
•VIEWS ABOUT LAWS
•SUPPORT TO RULE OF LAW

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ST. THOMAS AQUINAS’S ( POLITICAL IDEAS)

MAIN POLITICAL IDEAS OF ST. THOMAS

AQUINAS

•VIEWS ABOUT JUSTICE

•VIEWS ABOUT PROPERTY

•SUPPORT TO SLAVERY

•SUPERMACY OF CHURCH

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ST. THOMAS AQUINAS’S (VIEWS ABOUT STATE)
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS VIEWS ON STATE

1.SUPPORT TO SUPERMACY OF LAW

2. SUPPORT TO LIMITED Functions of
GOVERNMENT
(Main Functions of Government)
(a) To take care of all round development of
the citizens
(b) To maintain peace and security in the state
(c) To protect the citizens from external
enemies
(d) To ensure Rule of Law in the State
(e) To award the rule followers and punish the
rule breakers
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(f) To establish best system for currency
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS’S (VIEWS ABOUT STATE)

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS VIEWS ON STATE

(g)To have check on population of the State

(h) To have check on poverty
(i) Maintenance of Roads

3. Masses are the check on Ruler’s power

4. Support to Constitutionalism
5. Classification of Government
6. Support to Nation State
7. Support to welfare State
8. To make political Thought again Scientific

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ST. THOMAS AQUINAS’S (VIEWS ABOUT LAW)

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS’S VIEWS ON LAW

St. Aquinas’s theory of Law and Justice

is a channel through which the doctrine
of Aristotle, the Stoics, Cicero, the
Roman Imperial Jurists and St.
Augastine blended into a rounded
whole, were transmitted to modern
times ……..Dunning

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ST. THOMAS AQUINAS’S (VIEWS ABOUT LAWS)

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS’S VIEWS ON LAWS

Law is an obedience of reason of common

good, promulgated by him, who has the
pressure of community. Law is a certain rule
and measure of action according to which
someone is induced to action or restrained
from action.

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ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (VIEWS ABOUT LAWS)

Characteristics of Laws Acc. To ST. THOMAS

•Laws are the commands of the Sovereign

•Laws are framed for the welfare of the society

•Laws receive there power as soon as they are

announced

•The ultimate aim of Law is to maintain peace

and security

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 Assessment Pattern

• What are the main Political ideas of Thomas Aquinas?

• Discuss the views of Aquinas regarding State.
• Discuss the main Political ideas of Aquinas.
• What is the idea of Law by Aquinas?

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 APPLICATIONS

• Students will have better understanding of Political Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas.

• Students will be acquainted with the knowledge of Political Thought of Greek.

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 REFERENCES
• Comparative Political Systems and International Politics- J.S. Badyal
• World Constitutions-Vishnu Bhagwan&VidyaBhushan/ Sterling Publication
• Constitutions of the World-M.V. Pylee/ Universal Publication
• Major Contemporary Constitutional Systems-K.R. Bombwall/ Modern Publications Walter Bagehot

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THANK YOU

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