Understanding Aristotle: 22 Definitions from The Politics
It would be difficult to overestimate the influence Aristotle's Politics has had in shaping the Christian West. Whether it be the Saints who drew from his natural wisdom, or the early modern philosophers who held him as their foil, the West has always been in dialogue with Aristotle's political thought.
A Thomistic Catechesis On War: 4 Lists from Aquinas
"True religion looks upon as peaceful those wars that are waged not for motives of aggrandizement, or cruelty, but with the object of securing peace, of punishing evil-doers, and of uplifting the good."
Does the Law Exist to Make Men Virtuous? 6 Thoughts from Aquinas
The "intention of every lawgiver is to make good citizens." - The Philosopher says (Ethic. ii, 1)
7 Introductory Catholic Thoughts on Machiavelli’s The Prince
The term Machiavellian is synonymous with cunning and unscrupulous political action. In general, Machiavelli is seen as the philosopher who separated morality from politics and advocated the "end justifies the means" principle to govern political thought. At worst, he sometimes seen as the thinker who freed political thought from religion and other superfluous external moral...
Think Like a Catholic: 7 Questions on the Four Laws
"Catholics should not judge nor live their Catholic lives according to modernity, but should judge and live within modernity according to Catholicism."
Law and the Common Good: 9 Introductory Catholic Questions
A law is “an ordinance of reason for the common good, made by him who has care of the community, and promulgated.” - the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas
Clerics and War: 6 Thoughts On Whether It Is Lawful for a Priest to Fight
Wherefore it is unbecoming for them to slay or shed blood, and it is more fitting that they should be ready to shed their own blood for Christ, so as to imitate in deed what they portray in their ministry.
Aquinas On Suicide: 3 Reasons It Is Unlawful to Kill Oneself
"Now every man is part of the community, and so, as such, he belongs to the community. Hence by killing himself he injures the community, as the Philosopher declares (Ethic. v, 11)."
Harmony: 8 Quotes on Culture, Education, and Leisure
The role of education within a regime should be the formation of character or virtue, and this is especially true of democratic regimes that offer political power to all citizens and citizenship to all peoples.
Catholic Libertarianism: 9 Topics
"Everything I do or say is filtered through my internal screen of Catholicism. I am thrilled beyond compare at the number libertarians that carry rosary beads in their pockets."
7 Concerns About Democracy and Its Modern Existence
"[The ancient's] implicit prophecy that the emancipation of technology, of the arts, from moral and political control would lead to a disaster or to the dehumanization of man has not yet been refuted."
5 New Year’s Resolutions for the Catholic Church in America (2012)
The following suggestions are not unrealistic reforms or heretical screeds, they are simply areas where the Church must be faithful to her own teachings.
Aquinas’ Introduction to Politics: 8 Teachings