Ancient to Medieval Political Theory Final Exam 2023 All
Possible Questions and Answers
Section 1
The Foundations of the American Polity Section
There are Seven Cities explained in Chapter 10, "The Theological, Philosophical, and
Historical Foundations of the American Polity" in the Problem of Political Theory book.
There will be an explanation of a city, and you must provide the name of the city.
1. - Theological foundation: The Mayflower Compact "in the name of God, Amen" = A
covenant between the pilgrims on the Mayflower to est a civil society and its
government
- Bible -- contains numerous covenants, agreements between God and his people
- American constitution = practical secular Covenant
- Pilgrims thought they were God's chosen people
- Approx. 80% of political pamphlets during 1770's = re-printed sermons
- "God governs in the affairs of men" -- Ben Franklin
- Judeo-Christian tradition = pillar of Western civ, esp. America
- Monotheism ("Creator" in Decl. of Indep. By T Jefferson)
- Equality before the law
- Judgment before the law based on character and deeds (ie, David, king of israel
committing adultery w Bathesheba)
- Virtuous to tell the truth
- Each person = responsible for his / her ultimate destiny
Divine law: the belief in a higher law, objective, fixed, immutable principles of right and
wrong (unalienable rights, due process, laws as manifesting the commandments)
** social contract = covenant bt GOd & his people, our COnsitution, the Mayflower
covenant w Puritan pilgrims
** equality before the law without regard to social status or political position (all are =
before God)
** idea of higher law, higher moral std we adhere to
Jerusalem
2. (cities)
- Philosophical foundation
- Hesiod's works and days
- Difference: believed in polytheism, was mythic poetry (not in stone like Moses' tablets),
comes from reason
- Similarities: principles: belief in a higher law, in good and evil, right to own property,
theft & adultery & dishonoring one's parents as bad, judgment before the law based on
character & deeds, the just life is better, each is responsible for their own destiny
- Plato's Republic: idea of a constitution based on concept of human nature (like
Constitution of US, Madison's Federalist 51)
- Absolute truth exists, can be known, task of Philosopher to discover
, - Good & evil
- The educated = philosophers
- Thought Democracy = bad form of govt
- The office should seek the man, the man shouldn't seek office
- Only the best should rule
- Aristotle's politics chart of forms of govt by the one, the few, the many b/t good & bad
based on the interests of the rulers, suggests polity should be a mix of democracy and
oligarchy to institute checks & balances
- Citizenship as political identity
- Man-mad law in the Assembly
- Eloquent & persuasive public speaking
** birthplace of Democracy, philosophy
** democracy in its pure form should be feared
** office should seek the man
** absolute truth exists, good v evil
** aristotles chart of good v bad forms of govt
**eloquent, persuasive public speaking
- based on rational standards
Athens
3. (cities) - How ???? adopted & adapted Greek ideas
○ Polybius has a 6-fold classification of constitutions like Aristotle, added cyclical &
rebirth nature, can be avoided w checks & balances of mixed govt
○ Cicero's definition of ***Natural Law***, a stoic
○ Jurisdiction of law = geographical
○ Acquisition of citizenship increases as empire expands, citizenship = BASED ON
GEOGRAPHY ***
- mixed govt = best govt, checking & balancing
- How added some things distinctly *******
○ Commercial contract
○ Corporation
○ Codification of **** Law
○ Republicanism
- How raised important ?'s
○ How might tyranny be avoided?
○ How may an unfit/corrupt officer be removed from office?
○ How might a republic be prevented from evolving into an imperial dictatorship?
- How the traditions of Jerusalem were brought to ??? to merge with the traditions of
Athens & ??? itself
○ ?? catholic church eventually replaced the empire as the dominant political & social
force in Euro
St. Augustine & stoics others (christian tradition) absorbing Greek philosophy & ???
tradition into theology...
Rome
4. (cities) - Middle ages
- Manuscripts of Greek authors were found & brought back to Europe after the
Crusades against Muslims
Possible Questions and Answers
Section 1
The Foundations of the American Polity Section
There are Seven Cities explained in Chapter 10, "The Theological, Philosophical, and
Historical Foundations of the American Polity" in the Problem of Political Theory book.
There will be an explanation of a city, and you must provide the name of the city.
1. - Theological foundation: The Mayflower Compact "in the name of God, Amen" = A
covenant between the pilgrims on the Mayflower to est a civil society and its
government
- Bible -- contains numerous covenants, agreements between God and his people
- American constitution = practical secular Covenant
- Pilgrims thought they were God's chosen people
- Approx. 80% of political pamphlets during 1770's = re-printed sermons
- "God governs in the affairs of men" -- Ben Franklin
- Judeo-Christian tradition = pillar of Western civ, esp. America
- Monotheism ("Creator" in Decl. of Indep. By T Jefferson)
- Equality before the law
- Judgment before the law based on character and deeds (ie, David, king of israel
committing adultery w Bathesheba)
- Virtuous to tell the truth
- Each person = responsible for his / her ultimate destiny
Divine law: the belief in a higher law, objective, fixed, immutable principles of right and
wrong (unalienable rights, due process, laws as manifesting the commandments)
** social contract = covenant bt GOd & his people, our COnsitution, the Mayflower
covenant w Puritan pilgrims
** equality before the law without regard to social status or political position (all are =
before God)
** idea of higher law, higher moral std we adhere to
Jerusalem
2. (cities)
- Philosophical foundation
- Hesiod's works and days
- Difference: believed in polytheism, was mythic poetry (not in stone like Moses' tablets),
comes from reason
- Similarities: principles: belief in a higher law, in good and evil, right to own property,
theft & adultery & dishonoring one's parents as bad, judgment before the law based on
character & deeds, the just life is better, each is responsible for their own destiny
- Plato's Republic: idea of a constitution based on concept of human nature (like
Constitution of US, Madison's Federalist 51)
- Absolute truth exists, can be known, task of Philosopher to discover
, - Good & evil
- The educated = philosophers
- Thought Democracy = bad form of govt
- The office should seek the man, the man shouldn't seek office
- Only the best should rule
- Aristotle's politics chart of forms of govt by the one, the few, the many b/t good & bad
based on the interests of the rulers, suggests polity should be a mix of democracy and
oligarchy to institute checks & balances
- Citizenship as political identity
- Man-mad law in the Assembly
- Eloquent & persuasive public speaking
** birthplace of Democracy, philosophy
** democracy in its pure form should be feared
** office should seek the man
** absolute truth exists, good v evil
** aristotles chart of good v bad forms of govt
**eloquent, persuasive public speaking
- based on rational standards
Athens
3. (cities) - How ???? adopted & adapted Greek ideas
○ Polybius has a 6-fold classification of constitutions like Aristotle, added cyclical &
rebirth nature, can be avoided w checks & balances of mixed govt
○ Cicero's definition of ***Natural Law***, a stoic
○ Jurisdiction of law = geographical
○ Acquisition of citizenship increases as empire expands, citizenship = BASED ON
GEOGRAPHY ***
- mixed govt = best govt, checking & balancing
- How added some things distinctly *******
○ Commercial contract
○ Corporation
○ Codification of **** Law
○ Republicanism
- How raised important ?'s
○ How might tyranny be avoided?
○ How may an unfit/corrupt officer be removed from office?
○ How might a republic be prevented from evolving into an imperial dictatorship?
- How the traditions of Jerusalem were brought to ??? to merge with the traditions of
Athens & ??? itself
○ ?? catholic church eventually replaced the empire as the dominant political & social
force in Euro
St. Augustine & stoics others (christian tradition) absorbing Greek philosophy & ???
tradition into theology...
Rome
4. (cities) - Middle ages
- Manuscripts of Greek authors were found & brought back to Europe after the
Crusades against Muslims
