History of European Political Philosophy During 1300-1700

Thomas Aquinas: implementation of Classical thinking in Religion

Jun 19, 1274

Thomas Aquinas was the friar and theology professor who achieved the successful implentation of Greco-Roman classical thinking into the religion. Rather than blindly believing the religion, he suggested the reason and rational thinking to legitimize the religion. This was significant as it also influenced political philosophy by its approach; he reintroduced many of classics, especially Aristotle's works.

Declining Church authority in Poltics- Babylonian Captivity and Great Schism

Jun 19, 1309

As political power of monarchs enhanced in 1300s, they gradually competed with papal authority to regain their local control. For example in France, there were competition between monarch and pope on the assignment of priest and issue about church taxation. This caused Babylonian capivity that symbolizes the declining political power of pope on state politics. In addition, the division of papal authority due to this incident further caused Great Schism between Avignon papacy and Roman papacy.

Bruni's Republicanism

Jun 19, 1444

Many humanists in Renaissance Italy looked to the classical past to emulate effective political structure. Bruni argued that republicanism of ancient Rome was the best form of government. He extensively researched the books of Ciecero, the senate and republicanist. His basic thinking shows there were many attempts of philosophers who traced back to classical examples to find solution at that time.

Centralized states

Jun 19, 1470

Unlike divided Italian city states, three major Western nations: England, Spain and France achieved the unification of country. Emphasis on the strong monarchy and establishment of professional standing army greatly contributed to the stabilization of three nations. Admired by this trend, philosophers of European city states started to find solution for their constant conflicts.

Machiavelli's "The Prince"

Jun 19, 1513

Machiavelli, by publication of book "The Prince", suggested revolutionary, and even controversial view to politics at that time. He defined the ruler's function is to preserve order and security. To gurantee the function, Machiavelli argued that rulers should be brutal, lying and manipulative. Machiavelli believed that's the way to make country peaceful.

Absolutism in France: Louis XIV

Jun 19, 1643

In France, there were constant religious and political conflicts between Catholics and Hugenots. This undermined the power of country and as a solution, Henry IV emphasized the policy of social unification. However, it didn't work well with assassination of Henry IV. Gradually, people got sick of social chaos and started to support the absolute monarch as the solution for that. Based on absolutist policy devised by Reuschilieu, new king Louis XIV became the absolute monarch

Thomas Hobbes "Leviathan"- social contract

Jun 19, 1651

Thomas Hobbes was against the Puritan Revolution as he thought it was the breakthrough change that confuses public. He argued that absolute monarch is necessary to keep the order and security of society. His idea was quite radical in England as previous Kings had proclaimed their "divine authority." In contrast, his idea stated that the king's absolute authority is derived from the social contract and publics have duty to follow the contract.

Glorious Revolution and Constitutionalism

Jun 19, 1688

James the Second (1685-1688) was an irrational dictator that went complete the opposite way of the Parliament. For example, he assigned Catholics in the major bureaucaratic position and army, which made Parliament angry. As a response, Parliament abdicated James the second and crowned William& Mary as the monarch of England. It represents the destruction of monarch's divine right and supremacy of Parliament over monarchy.

Montesquieu

Jun 19, 1730

Montesquieu initiated two crucial questions: what are people's role in the state and what is the best form of state. His constant question on absolutism made him hard to publish freely in France. In "The Spirit of Laws", he compared republics, monarchies and despotism, which contributed to the emerging social science. He also argued that political power should be distributed to each class and legal estate to balance. It later affects American constitutional form.

Voltaire

Jun 19, 1735

As the son of comfortable middle class, Voltaire published lots of politcal philosophy books and mainly worked as the advisor of kings and queens. After, studying the English liberties and instituions, Voltaire started to criticize absolutism. Voltaire also helped absolutist monarch to use their authority in "publicly-beneficial" or "utilitarian" way. Best example is Catherine the Great.