Ancient Political Philosophers

Since the earliest days of humanity people have been organizing and making collective decisions about how to govern the day to day activities of the tribe, city, or nation. Government is the study of how humans use their collective efforts to promote general welfare for their communities. One of the earliest examples of government comes from Hammurabi, a ruler from Ancient Mesopotamia. Hammurabi's Code was a series of laws that were required to be followed in Ancient Mesopotamia almost 4,000 years ago. The saying, "An eye for an eye," is a direct translation from Hammurabi's Code. This law was the basis for how criminal conduct would be handled in the lands of Ancient Mesopotamia.

Hammurabi's Code on Stone Tablet 

Later, Ancient Greek philosophers took the idea of government and political science to new levels. The Ancient Greeks spent countless hours studying and discussing details related to government. As a result, much of the world of government today finds its inspiration from philosophers from Ancient Greece and other later civilizations.

Eventually, European political philosophers emerged after the Renaissance. With the advent of the printing press, ideas about politics were able to be quickly distributed. New ideas were formed and caused old systems of government to be modified or violently overthrown. The basis for the United States Constitution comes from the teachings of ancient philosophers, as well as modern thinkers too.






"Man is by nature a political animal." - Aristotle Politics

The Thinker or Philosopher

Humans naturally communicate with one another. When we consider that we have the ability to discuss, agree, and disagree, humans have an advantage over much of the natural world. Early caves people could not individually fend off hungry Saber-Toothed Tigers. Yet, as a collective political unit the early caves people were much better equipped to proceed on a unified course of action to fight their main predator - the Saber-Toothed Tiger. For example, one person would gather sticks to make spears; whereas another person would prepare the fire. Other persons were tasked with making rock tools to sharpen spears. And finally, the group became prepared to defend itself as a unit. Humans by nature cooperate as a means to a common goal. Consider the opposite of cooperative political action: Cats. Cats naturally are individualistic. Never has a group of Cats gathered around a fire and discussed the best course of action with which to proceed. Cats behave as individuals and thus are not political. "Man is by nature a political animal." -Aristotle Politics.



"Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men... philosophize... cities will have no rest from evils... nor, I think, will the human race." Plato - Republic 

Plato

Humans routinely have rulers to lead communities. Throughout history there are thousands of examples of incompetent and successful rulers. Adept and inadequate rulers range from Kings of vast empires to local mayors in small towns. For whatever the reason, people give others the authority to rule. Since it is apparent that there will be those trusted with authority, people have studied that which makes a ruler most likely to be successful. Approximately 2,400 years ago Plato made the extraordinary claim that rulers should be philosophers or thinking men. To put it in other words, the most successful governments will have the wise and educated as their rulers. If you had to select a leader would you prefer the village idiot or local scholar?