CLASS REPORTS: PLATO TO ST. TOMAS AQUINAS
- 1. Plato The Republic Date of Submission of Powerpoint and Written Report: June 22, 2013 Powerpoint: Not less than 8 and not more than 10 slides Written Report: Not less than 10 and not more than 15 pages, Short bond paper, Arial Narrow, 12 font size, 1.5 spacing Submit it online to junpolsci@gmail.com Date of Group Report: June 25, 2013 A. Introduce the report by briefly discussing Plato's notions about democracy On his "doctrine of the expert," 2. His premise that “Either the trained must rule, or the untrained must rule.” Expound to the Class Plato's Forms of Government from The Republic B. Discuss the following forms of Government: Aristocracy, Timocracy, Oligarchy (or Plutocracy), Democracy and Tyranny (or Despotism) End the Topic on Plato’s Forms of Government by sharing to the class your group’s understanding on the following quote: “...the truth being that the excessive increase of anything often causes a reaction in the opposite direction; and this is the case not only in the seasons and in vegetable and animal life, but above all in forms of government. True. The excess of liberty, whether in States or individuals, seems only to pass into excess of slavery. Yes, the natural order. And so tyranny naturally arises out of democracy, and the most aggravated form of tyranny and slavery out of the most extreme form of liberty? As we might expect.” C. Close the Report by discuss Plato’s Theme of Justice guided by the following questions and on how you are going to apply this theme to the current realities in the Philippines. Citing an example is enjoined. 1. Is justice unconditionally speaking the truth and paying one’s debt? 2. Is justice to give to each what is owed to him (Simonides)? 3. Is justice the advantage of the stronger? 4. Does an unjust person live better than a just one? 5. Socrates’ position: “Injustice is never more profitable than justice.” 6. Which of the two is virtue and wisdom: justice or injustice? 7. Does injustice make a person powerful? 8. Do just people live better and are they happier than unjust people? Sources of the Outline and Guide Questions: Various syllabus available on-line
- 2. Aristotle’s Politics Date of Submission of Powerpoint and Written Report: June 24, 2013 Powerpoint: Not less than 8 and not more than 10 slides Written Report: Not less than 10 and not more than 15 pages, Short bond paper, Arial Narrow, 12 font size, 1.5 spacing Submit it online to junpolsci@gmail.com Date of Group Report: June 28, 2013 I. Introduce the report by describing Aristotle’s state A. The form of the state (constitution) B. The matter of the state (citizens) C. Good citizen v. good man: goodness of citizen relative to regime D. Who is a citizen? II. Expound Aristotle’s Forms of government in the class A. True forms of government and their perversions Rule by the True Forms Perversion One Monarchy/Kingship Tyranny Few Aristocracy Oligarchy Many Polity/Constitutional Govt Democracy B. Principles upon which each regime is based—how political powers are distributed? C. What is the best regime? (depends on composition of citizenry) D. Polity/constitutional government III. Close the Report by presenting the Purpose of politics and its application in the Philippines. A. Managing conflict 1. Class-based political conflict 2. Distributive justice: competing claims about the distribution of goods and honor 3. Aristotle’s proposal for managing conflict a. All regimes should draw on all relevant conceptions of justice, especially those of rich and poor, to bring about stability and justice b. Give all groups an interest in preserving the constitution c. Laws aim at happiness and excellence of citizens d. Just regime is not necessarily a perfect or virtuous regime Sources of the Outline and Guide Questions: Syllabus available on-line
- 3. St. Agustine of Hippo City of God Date of Submission of Powerpoint and Written Report: June 28, 2013 Powerpoint: Not less than 8 and not more than 10 slides Written Report: Not less than 10 and not more than 15 pages, Short bond paper, Arial Narrow, 12 font size, 1.5 spacing Submit it online to junpolsci@gmail.com Date of Group Report: July 2, 2013 A. Introduced the report by briefly discussing the “Two Cities” as one of the foundational political concepts of Augustinian Political “Theory”. Briefly discuss the philosophy of St. Augustine on Divine vs. Human Justice and the origins of evil. B. Expound the thoughts of St. Augustine on “War and Peace” guided by the following topics. 1. War Among Nations 2. War and Human Nature 3. The Just War 4. Jus Ad Bellum and Jus In Bello 5. Augustine’s conception of Peace. Explain his argument that the purpose of war is peace. 6. Justice and State C. Close the report by relating the idea of St. Agustine on just war to 2 contemporary issues in the Philippines. Whether or not war is necessary to resolve the issues? If war will erupt, will it be considered as a just war on the part of the Philippines? It is suggested you may cite the encroachment of the Chinese in the West Philippine Sea and the incident in Sabah involving the followers of the Sultan of Sulu Sources of the Outline and Guide Questions: Syllabus available online.
- 4. St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica: JUST WAR THEORY Date of Submission of Powerpoint and Written Report: July 1, 2013 Powerpoint: Not less than 8 and not more than 10 slides Written Report: Not less than 10 and not more than 15 pages, Short bond paper, Arial Narrow, 12 font size, 1.5 spacing Submit it online to junpolsci@gmail.com Date of Group Report: July 5, 2013 D. Introduce your report by presenting to the class the result of the survey. Ask your classmates of their justification about war. Tally the result and discuss it first in your group and then the result in the class. Give the names in a piece of paper of those who participated in the survey. This is the question. Is there a justification for Acts of War? What do you think? Yes No in self defense to protect innocent life to protect human rights to overcome other forms of evil only if you will probably win only as a last resort, after all peaceful alternatives have been exhausted acts of war can never be satisfied In your group discussion and in presenting the result, you must encourage the class to explain their answers. Value the importance of listening to other perspective even when you or your group feels that his answer is wrong. E. Expound Aquinas’ objections to war with the following important guiding questions 7. Aquinas stressed that the primary reasons why the Christians do not agree to war are based on the belief that war is against God’s wishes and is always sinful. 8. Discuss each of Aquinas’ requirements for just war. 9. As an important area of interest to be discussed, share to the class Aquinas’ question ‘Whether it is always sinful to wage war’ following the four points: a. Whether some kind of war is lawful b. Whether it is lawful for clerics to fight? c. Whether it is lawful or belligerents to lay ambushes? d. Whether it is lawful to fight on holy days?
- 5. F. Close the report by applying the idea of St. Thomas Aquinas on just war to 4 contemporary issues in the Philippines. Whether or not war is necessary to resolve the issues? If war will erupt, will it be considered as a just war on the part of the Philippines? It is suggested you may cite the incident the recent attacks of the New People’s Army and the country’s conflict with Taiwan. Sources of the Outline and Guide Questions: Syllabus available online.