Format:
Your term paper must be no less than 6 full pages (double spaced), Times New Roman 12-point font, with one-inch margins. You will need at least 4 sources other than the textbook used in class. This can include other books, journal articles, web articles, and so on. Be sure to include full citations in your work in the form of footnotes or a works cited page (works cited page does not count toward page minimum). Any format is permitted so long as it is consistent throughout your paper.
Assignment Prompt:
Part I: This section needs to be at minimum 3 pages (double spaced) of your response.
Assignment #8: “In Book I of The Politics, Aristotle asserts that “man is by nature a political animal” (The Politics, § 1253a3). What does he mean by this and why is it important for his formulation of society?”
Assignment #9: “This week’s reading included Augustine’s “City of God” where we get a taste for Augustine’s ideas and his assertions about his source for the divine intelligence we read about in the other readings for this week: Christianity. For this assignment, I want you to take what Augustine says about peace —a running theme throughout “City of God” — and put this alongside his thoughts about the ends (or purpose) of natural law. How does peace fit into his conceptions of natural law? What understanding about natural law and the purpose of communal living did you get from “City of God”?”
For Part I of your term paper, elaborate a fuller, more robust response to these questions. Specifically: Elaborate and contrast understandings of human nature as articulated by Aristotle and Augustine. What is their understanding of human nature, how it works, and why it matters? What role does human nature/God’s law take in the development of the State (government)?
Part II:
- A) According to Aristotle and Augustine, what forces guide the direction and purpose of government? What role does human nature/nature’s morality/God’s law have in guiding the State (government)? Importantly, what would Aristotle and Augustine have to say about an individual’s responsibility towards their government?
- B) What would they both have to say about an individual’s role in achieving the government’s intended purpose (as they each understood it)? What would both thinkers have to say about the ongoing presidential impeachment inquiry? In particular, with regards to the role of the government and the role of the citizen under that government?
- C) Do you agree with either thinker’s position about the role of the citizen in this regard? Why or why not. What do you think the role of the citizen should be in ensuring that a government meets its purpose?
