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Bates College Journal of Political Studies

Bates College Journal of Political Studies

Abstract

This paper seeks to determine the extent to which justice is required in premodern political constitutional thought. For coherence, I have calibrated this paper’s focus to the works of Plato, Augustine, and Machiavelli. Plato embodies the foundation of justice in Western political theory; Augustine, its early Christianization; and Machiavelli, removed by the better part of a millennium as he is from the two former, represents the later progression of justice as a concept. All develop political constitutions reliant upon some form of justice. I begin with a summary of the coherence of justice despite significant evolution over time, establishing three components of justice: justice as social, as educational, and as being in the service of a society’s “good.” I apply this threefold definition to the three thinkers selected. I investigate Platonic justice, noting the emphasis Plato places upon the value of guardianship, education, and proper structure. From this point, I investigate the Augustinian construction of justice, taking particular note of the Christianizing shifts Augustine represents in priority and the good. I finally engage with Machiavelli as a counterpoint, critically assessing the claim that his idea of political constitution is somehow divorced from just organization or action. I conclude that Machiavellian thought does not allow for unjust government: Machiavelli draws heavily upon the Ciceronian application of justice and laws as virtue-giving in the context of civic duty. Justice is always, that is, persistently, the bedrock of political constitution. In the premodern conception, social organization requires justice in all its forms.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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