Abstract
Aquinas on Tyranny in the Regime of Princes and in the Summa Theologica. Tyranny is a matter of degree; if it is not excessive, it should be tolerated. The tyrant who usurps power and fails to govern for the benefit of all, may be killed, and his killer will be honored.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
R.W. Dyson, ed., Saint Thomas Aquinas, Political Writings (Cambridge, UK, 2002), xvii.
- 2.
Dyson, ed., Summa Theologica, xxix.
- 3.
Dyson, ed., De Regimine principum, 35. Thomas also apparently condemned Caesar’s assassination. He cites Cicero on this point, Dyson, 72–73.
- 4.
Dyson, ed., De Regimine principum, 18.
- 5.
Dyson, ed., Art 2, Scripta libros sentiarum, II, Dist. 44.
- 6.
Dyson, ed., Summa Theologica, 72, part of a lengthy treatment of obedience.
- 7.
Dyson, ed., Summa Theologica, 75.
- 8.
Dyson, ed., Summa Theologica, 8–15; xxvii.
- 9.
Dyson, ed., Summa Theologica, 35.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ranum, O. (2020). Aquinas on Tyranny in the Regime of Princes and in the Summa Theologica. In: Tyranny from Ancient Greece to Renaissance France. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43185-3_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43185-3_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-43184-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-43185-3
eBook Packages: HistoryHistory (R0)