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Ideas on States and Justice in the Thought of Augustine and Rousseau

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Submitted By MayRamez
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University of Sharjah
International Relations
Political Theory
Ideas on States and Justice in the thought of Augustine and Rousseau
Essay Assignment
By: May Ramez Mahrat
Supervised by: Dr. Jeremy Kleidosty

Arguments and philosophical explanations for what justifies power and states, inspired by the European Enlightenment thought, has headed closer toward reasoning and further from faith. The thought of Rousseau and Saint Augustine is a clear representation of the two poles of reason and faith in political thought. Rousseau, outlining the basis of his social contract on the natural goodness of human beings and putting sovereignty in the hand s of people, differs widely from Augustine who addresses the state as an “essential evil” put to discipline men who are sinners by nature. The political arguments of these two philosophers, who lived in two different ages, represent a different kind of Enlightenment for the both ages that they lived in. This essay will discuss Rousseau’s and Augustine’s regards to state, justice and property and will examine the effects of their thoughts on modern politics.
Augustine and Rousseau in Comparison Wrapping his political and social beliefs with virtuous, deist and theological Christian discourse, Augustine, the Christian bishop, presents a leap in the Western thought at a time close to the beginning of the middle ages. His political views in his writings are interpreted differently by various scholars as he rarely expresses direct positions in regards to the political organization of states and the legalization of authorities. A famous quote from his book “City of God”, which highlights key political ideas in terms of justice, state and property, says: “Justice removed, then what are kingdoms but great bands of robbers? What are bands of robbers themselves but little kingdoms?” The quote shows the great importance

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