Morality and Politics Essay -- History, Philosophy, Plato, St. Augusti

Morality and governance have always been closely linked even in have day regime, pietism often has a part to play. Morality at bottom politics has always been a controversial and highly debated topic by many leading policy-making thinkers. There have been many secernate thinkers on the subject however, Plato and Augustine have both an interesting and highly debated visual modality on the argument of whether politics should be focused on morality. both Plato and Augustine had differing views on the ideas of politics and the role that morality plays within this. These two political thinkers were around in very different times and this is reflected in their views of morality and politics. Plato was born in 429BC and came from a distinguished Athenian family, heavily problematic in Athenian Politics. As a pupil of Socrates it was inevitable that Plato would be influenced by Socrates and inspired to go into politics. At the time that Plato wrote, Greece was beset by instability and Platos focus was to stabilise the Polis, meaning city-state and mainly involving capital of Greece and Sparta, which results in an interesting view on morality and politics. Augustine was born in 354AD, in a Rome dominated culture, and had strong Christian beliefs, which heavily influenced his views on morality and politics. This essay will examine both Platos and St. Augustines view of morality and politics, and whether or not politics should be focused on morality, before coming to a reasoned judgement. both(prenominal) Plato and Augustine examine whether or not politics should be focused on morality, however, their approach to study and the outcome of their thought leads to very different results. The system behind these two political thinkers is complex and will because penury to be examin... ...this Augustine attempts to keep morality and politics separate, however, a closer come across reveals that Augustine attempts to remain apolitical due to the immorality surro unding politics, this immediately makes politics focused on politics, even if it is the immorality in politics. Politics should, therefore, be focused on morality. Morality has had an important role to play in the explanation and justification of many political events over the years. It is almost unworkable to separate politics from morality therefore a focus of politics on morality can only serve to enhance the spirit of various political systems. Politics has been focused on morality from the while that Plato was writing through to Augustine and even in the present day, it was and remains to be important for politics to be focused on morality therefore politics should be focused on morality.