Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) is best known for his influential work, Leviathan (1651), where he provides a detailed theory of human nature, the state, and political authority. Hobbes’ views on the role and powers of the sovereign are foundational to the development of modern political philosophy, especially with respect to theories of absolute monarchy and social…
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John Locke’s views on Social Contract and Civil Society
John Locke (1632-1704), one of the most influential philosophers of the Enlightenment, is often regarded as the father of modern liberalism. His ideas on political theory, social contract, and civil society form the bedrock of modern democratic thought. Locke’s philosophy on the social contract stands in contrast to that of Thomas Hobbes, offering a more…
St. Aquinas’ views on the relation between faith and reason
St. Thomas Aquinas, a 13th-century philosopher and theologian, is one of the most important figures in medieval scholasticism. His works, particularly his Summa Theologica, continue to shape Christian philosophy and theology. Aquinas is best known for his attempt to reconcile faith and reason, two seemingly contradictory domains that, according to him, can and should coexist…
What qualities does Plato suggest for the ruling class?
Plato, one of the most influential philosophers in Western thought, presents his vision of the Ideal State in his famous work, The Republic. His ideas on political philosophy are rooted in his broader metaphysical and epistemological views, which emphasize the role of reason and the pursuit of justice. According to Plato, the Ideal State is…
The economic structure of society constituted by its relations of production is the real foundation of society
Karl Marx, one of the most influential figures in political theory, economics, and sociology, offered a radical interpretation of social and economic systems. One of his most important contributions is his theory of historical materialism, which argues that the economic base of society (its mode of production) fundamentally shapes its political, legal, and ideological superstructures….
Hegel’s theory of state
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, a German idealist philosopher of the early 19th century, developed a highly influential theory of the state within the framework of his broader philosophical system, especially in his work Philosophy of Right (1820). Hegel’s view of the state is deeply embedded in his dialectical method and idealist metaphysics. He saw the…
Immanuel Kant’s transcendental-idealist view of human reason
Immanuel Kant, one of the most influential philosophers of the 18th century, revolutionized modern philosophy with his transcendental idealism, a central concept developed in his seminal work Critique of Pure Reason (1781). Kant’s philosophical system sought to resolve the long-standing debate between empiricism (which claimed that all knowledge comes from experience) and rationalism (which argued…
Rousseau’s concept of General Will
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an 18th-century French philosopher, developed the concept of the General Will (volonté générale) as a central pillar of his political philosophy, particularly in his seminal work, The Social Contract (1762). The General Will represents Rousseau’s vision of a collective will aimed at the common good, serving as the basis for legitimate political authority…
Burke’s views on citizenship and democracy
Edmund Burke, an 18th-century British statesman, political theorist, and philosopher, is often remembered as the father of modern conservatism. His reflections on citizenship and democracy, particularly as articulated in his speeches and writings such as Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790), present a vision of political life grounded in tradition, prudence, and a deep…
Assess the basis on which Machiavelli classified forms of government
Niccolò Machiavelli, often regarded as the father of modern political science, made significant contributions to the understanding and classification of forms of government. In his most influential works, The Prince and Discourses on Livy, he examined different types of political regimes not merely as ideal models but as pragmatic structures shaped by power dynamics, historical…
The concept of obligation in Thomas Hobbes’ Social Contract
Thomas Hobbes, a 17th-century English philosopher, is best known for his work Leviathan (1651), where he lays the foundation for modern political philosophy through the theory of the social contract. At the core of Hobbes’ social contract is the concept of political obligation — the moral and practical duty of individuals to obey the authority…
Plato’s vision of the ideal state
Plato’s vision of the ideal state, as presented in his seminal work The Republic, is one of the most influential and controversial models in Western political thought. Conceived as a philosophical response to the political instability and moral decay he perceived in Athens, Plato’s ideal state seeks to achieve justice through a meticulously organized structure…