Aquinas’ view of kingship and the Aristotelian response Essay

St. Thomas Aquinas takes most(prenominal) of Aristotles ideas from The Politics in order to micturate his idea of the better governance. He revisits the grievous and naughtily forms of each grammatical case of political relation Aristotle introduced, and then makes his closing that the exceed regime is a type of monarchy that he calls forceship. This decision stems from his definition of a pansy as cardinal who directs over the people of a city or province for the putting green trusty (17).Kingship is beneficial because it is the rule of one person. Aquinas states that the correct and more or less profitable way to carry out an prey is when it is preface to its appropriate end (15). The senseless way would be the oppositeto escape something to an inappropriate end, or not to escape it to an end at all. In enlighten of this definition, the most effective regime would lead the people to their appropriate end, which Aquinas believes is unity. In this sense, Aqu inas believes that obviously something that is itself one so-and-so promote unity better than that which is a plurality (17).This whitethorn not take c be quite so obvious to anyone else, and his resemblance between unity and heat may seem a little vague, merely Aquinas cool off makes a binding point in that creating a governing body promoting unity is more than difficult when more people are involved. This is simply because of the mo of ideas and interpretations present within a convention that are not present chthonian the rule of one.Aquinas extravagantly argues that kingship, or the good, just monarchy, is preferable because it is present in nature. He likens the king to matinee idol, because naturally God is the Ruler over all (17). It is then natural for one man to rule many, as long as he is leading the people to their appropriate end, which is unity. The king should be a shepherd who seeksnot his own benefit (16), which is an instance of judicature represe nted by nature. Aquinas believes that as art imitates nature (18), so should politics, and the best art is that which best imitates nature. In this sense, the best government would be that which imitates natural order. The king has a duty to act in his kingdom like the soul in the body and God in the universe (26). This is the best way in which a government can reflect nature in its practice.Aquinas understands that monarchy is considered by many as odious because itis associated with the evils of tyranny (20). He, however, believes that kingship is so important, that a slight change of the type of monarchy would not be that bad. This is interesting, because Aquinas also says that tyranny is the worst form of government (18) because it seeks only the good of the tyrant, and is thitherfore but from the appropriate end of government, which is the viridity good and unity. The reasons Aquinas seems to change his mind or so the idea of tyranny seem to be a little cloudy.He unawares decides that tyranny in its less excessive forms is nowhere near as bad as the better forms of government, even though he says it is the worst. Aquinas would advise the citizens to remain a mild tyranny for a time (23) instead of doing anything rash that may bring on many dangers that are worse (23). These dangers include democracy and oligarchy, which are supposed to be better forms of government than tyranny. In any case, the tyranny would still be the rule of one, although not for the common good. This may be what Aquinas promoter when he says tyranny is tolerable.Aristotle would agree with most of Aquinas statements, mainly because they were Aristotles statements first. Aristotle poses questions on the issue of kingship, and sets up arguments others have against it, season Aquinas attempts to come up with some answers as to why kingship is the best alternative. Aristotle agrees that there are some states that kingship would benefit greatly. His suck up is not that all state s would benefit from a kingship, which is what Aquinas is trying to prove. This is the major difference, as both believe that kingship is a seemly form of government.