Judeo-Christian & Greco-Roman
Contributions to Western Politics
MS GARRATT
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Ancient Greece & Athens
 Role of Geography in
development of the polis
 Population
 Impact of technology &
growth of middle class
 5 Types:
 Monarchy>Aristocracy>
Oligarchy>Tyranny>
Democracy
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Solon
 Outlawed citizen slavery
 Canceled farmer’s debts
 Established 4 classes
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based on wealth rather
than heredity
Council of 400
Increased participation.
Reformed laws
Democratic participation
was still limited to 1/10 of
the Athenian population
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Cleisthenes
Reforms included:
strengthening the
Assembly which could
then advise the
Council.
All male citizens could
take part in the
assembly
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Age of Pericles
 Direct democracy &
citizenship
 Assembly quorum was
6000
 Pericles expanded
democracy by paying
poorer citizens for
attendance
 Juries – open to any
citizen over 30
 Funeral Oration
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Excerpts from Funeral Oration
 Power rested in the hands “not of a minority
but of the whole people.”
 “As citizens of a democracy Athenians bear a
special responsibility. We differ from other
states in regarding the man who holds aloof
from public life not as quiet but as useless.”
 Funeral Oration – democracy & citizenship
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Our form of government,
democracy is the best. We
are the first to be citizens
rather than just subjects.
As citizens we have duties
as well as privileges such
as jury duty & voting. We
are proud to enjoy
equality under the law.
different
Pericles
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“As citizens of a democracy
Athenians bear a special
responsibility. We differ from
other states in regarding the man
who holds aloof from public life
not as quiet but as useless.”
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Greek Philosophy
 Philosophers challenged the idea that events
were caused by the gods
 Instead they used observation & logic to
determine why things happen.
 Studied natural laws that would prescribe
best form of gov
 Citizenship rather than subjects
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Socrates
 The Socratic Method
 Free thought & natural
laws
 “the unexamined life is
not worth living”
 Most famous student
was Plato
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Plato
 Disciple of Socrates
 Plato distrusted democracy
 The Republic is “ideal” utopia
 Society would be divided into classes based
on abilities of citizens.
 Plato believed in censorship & wanted the
state to regulate citizens’ lives to provide for
their best interests.
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Plato
I wrote the Republic. You’ll
probably read it in college. My
main thesis is that society
should be divided into 3
classes. The class that should
govern is the wisest of the 3.
They are known as the
philosopher-kings.
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Aristotle
 Student of Plato, teacher of Alexander the Great
 Favored constitutional government ruled by the
middle class. He called this a polity
 The goal of the polity was to establish just an
stable rule.
 Believed in the rule of the law and that rulers
should also be subjected to laws
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Aristotle
 People could reach their highest potential within
a city-state (polis) only under the rule of law
 Wrote that the “rule of law is preferable to that of
any individual. Even if it be better for certain
individuals to govern, they should be made only
guardians and ministers of the law.”
 Here he states his belief in:
 (1) the rule of law
 (2) that even rulers are subject to the law and
 (3) his hatred of tyranny in which a ruler stood
above the law (Magna Carta)
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Aristotle on tyranny #1
 “…it is part [of the nature of tyranny] to strive to see to
it that nothing is kept hidden… which any subject says
or does, but that everywhere he will be spied upon…
and further, to set man against man and friend against
friend, and the common people against the privileged
and the wealthy. Also it is part of the these tyrannical
measures to keep the subjects poor, in order to pay the
guards and the soldiers, and so that they will be
occupied with earning their livelihood and will have
neither leisure nor opportunity to engage in
conspiratorial acts…Also the tyrant is inclined to
constantly foment wars.”
 Politics
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Aristotle on tyranny #2
 There is also a third kind of tyranny, which is
the most typical form, and is the counterpart
of the perfect monarchy. This tyranny is just
that arbitrary power of an individual which is
responsible to no one, and governs all alike
whether equals or better, with a view to its
own advantage, not to that of its subjects,
and therefore against their will. No freeman,
if he can escape from it, will endure such a
government.
 Politics, Book 10
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Reason, logic, the
polis, polity, rule of
law, rule by the
middle class are my
prescription for a
stable society.
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Contributions of ancient Greeks
•Governments should be
based on reason & natural
laws.
•Direct democracy
•Citizenship
•Civic Virtue demanded of all
citizens such as voting & jury
duty.
•First to suggest that events
were caused by people not
the gods.
•Checks & balances
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 For Socrates – never ending need to
constantly seek truth through Socratic
Method
 For Plato these natural laws meant that only
the wisest should lead society. Philosopherkings
 Aristotle concluded that man was by nature a
political animal meaning it is his nature to live
in a society
 Believed middle class should rule
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Roman Contributions
 Republican form of
government
 Twelve Tables –
guaranteed fair
administration of
justice
 Equality under the law
 Innocent until…
 Accusers must prove…
 Checks and Balances
 Separation of Powers
 Civil law &Justinian
Code
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Roman Rule of Law & Justice
Applies to all
people under
Roman law
People equal
under the law
Presumed
innocent until
proven guilty
Five Basic Principles
Accused can face
accusers & defend
against charges
Burden of proof
rests with the
accuser
Created stability
and Unity
Legal decisions
must be based on
fairness
Guilt must be
clearly
established
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Review: Greeks
 Respect for dignity and worth of the individual
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strengthened the view that citizenship participation was
beneficial.
Direct democracy
3 branches of gov
Expanded participation=greater numbers
Philosophy which strengthened belief in reason, logic &
natural laws & rights.
Citizenship
Rule of law
Equality under the law
Aristotle’s polity
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Review: Romans
 Greek contributions plus
 Republic
 Separation of powers
 Written legal code (government of laws)
 Law & Rights of individual
 Rights of the accused
 Equality under the law
 Fair laws
 Innocent until proven guilty
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Judeo-Christian
Biblical humor?
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Judeo-Christian Influences on Western
Political Thought
 Law was based on Torah &
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the 10 Commandments.
Everyone was subject to &
equal under the law.
Emphasis was on ethics &
morality rather than
performance of rituals.
It was the duty of every
individual to oppose
injustice & oppression.
Law & religion were one in
the same
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Ethical Monotheism
 Humans were given a
“social conscience” & the
“moral freedom” to
choose between good
and bad.
 All people had access to
God not just the rulers
 Contrast with polytheism
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Judaism
 Responsibility to follow God’s law
 Freedom to make individual moral choices
 Disregard of laws brings punishments which
prophets warned.
 Prophets preached strong code of ethics
 Historical tragedies were linked to failure to
obey God’s laws
 God created man in his own image as been
linked to political equality or equality under
the law
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Christianity
 Roman rule
 Messiah
 Different opinions about Jesus
 Ministry of Jesus – acceptance of Torah &
beliefs of the prophets.
 His mission was to provide spiritual salvation
based on justice, morality and service.
 Preached forgiveness
 Jesus seen as threat by both Romans &
Jewish priests
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Judeo-Christian Split
 Crucifixion
 Resurrection
 Jewish sect
 Apostles – Peter and Paul
 Why Roman persecution?
 Appeal of Christianity – 4
 New Testament – new fulfillment of covenant
 Contributions are moral & ethical principles
which are basic assumptions in Western
thought. Equality of all is an essential value of
democracy
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The Renaissance
Thinkers were interested in
earthly life rather than
preparation for the afterlife.
Emphasized public service
rather than just service to the
church.
Individualism was deeply
rooted in the Renaissance.
This led to secular humanism
which emphasized human
potential which led to
exploration, capitalism, - &
the scientific revolution.
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Reformation
 Reformers challenged corruption
within the Church such as
indulgences.
 Stressed direct relationship with God
rather than one through the clergy
 Believed that salvation came from
faith alone.
 Translated the Bible so believers could
interpret the word of God by
themselves without the clergy.
 Emphasis on individualism led to
questioning of authority which
contributed to political liberty and
democracy
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Enlightenment
Medieval
Reforms
Reformation
Greeks
Western
Political
Thought
Romans
JudeoChristian
Renaissance
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Hobbes
 Human nature/ state
of nature = state of
war
 Social contract based
on need for security &
order.
 Without strong central
gov (Leviathan) people
would not be able to
acquire property and
live longer
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John Locke
Opposite view of Hobbes
Human nature-essentially
good
Purpose of gov is protect
natural rights such as life,
liberty & property.
If gov abuses its duties then
people have right to
overthrow gov
Lockean views are evident in
US Constitution
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Baron de Montesquieu
 Separation of
powers
 Checks & balances
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Jean-Jacques Rousseau
“Man is born free yet
everywhere he is in chains”
Believed that man in a state
of nature was noble.
It was civilization that
corrupts man
Advocated “direct
democracy”
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Voltaire
 Freedom of speech
 Freedom of religion
 “I may disagree with
you but I will die to
defend your right to
say it.”
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Enlightenment on Government
 The purpose of gov is to protect people’s
natural rights such as life, liberty, property &
pursuit of happiness.
 People have a right to overthrow the gove if it
fails to protect those
 Favored “republicanism” as best type of gov
 This logic legitimized the American & French
Revolutions
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US Declaration of
Independence
French Declaration of the
Rights of Man & Citizen
North Vietnam
Seneca Falls Declaration
UN Declaration on Human
Rights
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