Based on The Political Ideas of St. Thomas Aquinas translated by Dino Bigongiari in 1957. Representative Selections on the subject of King and Kingship. Done for my political science class at Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya (Untag Surabaya). Thanks for Mr. Tomy Michael and all guys and girls in Class A, Faculty of Law, Untag Surabaya. Because you're all such an amazing bunch of people for letting me getting away with this presentation.

1. Representative Selections on the subject of King and Kingship
New York: Hafner Press, 1953
The political ideas of St. Thomas Aquinas
CHRISTINA WIBISONOCHRISTINA WIBISONO
presents

2. St. Thomas Aquinas.
Born in Roccasecca, Italy (1225-1274)
He is honored in Roman Catholic Church,
Anglican Communion, and Lutheranism as
a Doctor of the Church, and is considered
the Church’s greatest theologian and phi-
losopher.

3. Directive principle.
man a social and political animal (p175)
man seeks by their reason, using speech to express his conceptions to others (p176)
men are united by what they have in common (p177)

4. The right and the wrong way.
Now it happens in certain things which are ordained toward
an end that one may proceed in a right way and also in a
wrong way. So, too in the government of multitude there is a
distinction between right and wrong.
A thing is rightly directed when it is led toward a befit-
ting end, wrongly when it is led toward an unbefitting end
(p177).

5. THE UNJUST
GOVERNMENT

6. TYRANNY
OLIGARCHY
DEMOCRACY
If an unjust government is carried on by the multitude,
which comes about when the plebeian people by force of
numbers oppress the rich.
If an unjust government is carried on, not by one but by
several, and if they be few . . . they oppress the people by
means of their wealth.
If an unjust government is carried by one man alone . . .
because he oppresses by might instead of ruling by justice.

7. THE JUST
GOVERNMENT

8. KINGSHIP
ARISTOCRACY
POLITY If the government is administered by many.
If the government is administered by a few men of virtue.
If the government is in the hands of one man alone.

9. TYRANNY
OLIGARCHY
DEMOCRACY
KINGSHIP
ARISTOCRACY
POLITY

10. TYRANNY
OLIGARCHY
DEMOCRACY
KINGSHIP
ARISTOCRACY
POLITY

11. TYRANNY
OLIGARCHY
DEMOCRACY
KINGSHIP
ARISTOCRACY
POLITY

12. Which government is better?
Monaco royal wedding on July 2, 2011

13. Monaco royal wedding on July 2, 2011
Which government is better?
Or less evil?

14. Monaco royal wedding on July 2, 2011
Which government is better?
A united force is more efficacious in producing its effect than a force which is scattered or
divided . . . Therefore, just as it is more useful for a force operating for a good to be more
united, in order that it may work good more effectively, so a force operating for evil is more
harmful when it is one than when it is divided (p181).
Or less evil?

15. monarchy > aristocracy > polity
tyranny > oligarchy > democracy

16. monarchy > aristocracy > polity
tyranny > oligarchy > democracy

17. Because both the best and the worst
government are latent in monarchy,
i.e. in the rule of one man.
Why the royal dignity is rendered hateful to the subjects?

18. Why the rule of one is the best?

19. the rule of the King is ordained by God “one Prince will be in the midst of them (p181)”
Why the rule of one is the best?
1
2
3

20. the rule of the King is ordained by God “one Prince will be in the midst of them (p181)”
in all things, good ensues from one perfect cause, while evil results from one partial defect (p182)
Why the rule of one is the best?
1
2
3

21. the rule of the King is ordained by God “one Prince will be in the midst of them (p181)”
in all things, good ensues from one perfect cause, while evil results from one partial defect (p182)
a group government (polyarchy) deviates into tyranny not less but perhaps more frequently than
monarchy (p187)
Why the rule of one is the best?
1
2
3

22. a certain old woman kept constantly
praying that he might be unharmed
and that he might survive her.
Syracuse, at a time when everyone desired the death of Dionysius

23. Why?

24. When I was a girl we had a harsh tyrant and I
wished for his death; when he was killed, there
succeeded him one who was a little harsher.
I was very eager to see the end of his dominion
also, and we began to have a third ruler still
more harsh – that was you.

25. When I was a girl we had a harsh tyrant and I
wished for his death; when he was killed, there
succeeded him one who was a little harsher.
I was very eager to see the end of his dominion
also, and we began to have a third ruler still
more harsh – that was you.
So if you should be taken away, a worse
would succeed in your place.

26. Thank you!
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