Ferraz's blog

The Medieval political thought

Medieval political thought, particularly from figures like Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas, serves as a foundational influence, primarily shaping conservative mentalities while indirectly contributing to classical liberal principles through concepts of moral limits, natural law, and human agency.

Importance to Classical Liberalism

Medieval thought laid early groundwork for classical liberalism’s emphasis on individual autonomy, limited government, and natural rights. Augustine’s concept of free will highlights human capacity for choice between good and evil, which resonates with liberal ideas of personal responsibility and liberty, though his overall framework prioritizes moral order over unchecked individualism.

Aquinas advanced this by integrating divine and natural law, arguing that human laws must align with universal moral principles derived from reason, thereby justifying limits on state power to prevent tyranny and protect individual flourishing within the common good.

This influenced later liberal thinkers (e.g., via natural law traditions) by providing a philosophical basis for rights that transcend state authority, positioning classical liberals adjacent to moderate conservatives in the diagram and opposing radical statism’s total control.

Empirically, this echoes in events like the American Revolution, where medieval-inspired notions of just governance supported liberal demands for representation and limited rule.

Importance to Moderate Conservatism

For moderate conservatives, who value tradition, gradual change, and social stability, medieval thought provides a core emphasis on preserving established moral and institutional hierarchies.

Aquinas, classified as a traditionalist conservative close to moderates, stressed that state action should pursue the common good under divine guidance, balancing order with ethical constraints to avoid excess.

This supports moderate conservatism’s preference for incremental reforms, as seen in historical examples like Britain’s Reform Acts, which drew on medieval ideas of hierarchical stability while incorporating liberal economic policies.

In the circular arrangement, this places moderate conservatives between classical liberals (sharing market freedoms) and authoritarian conservatives (sharing traditionalism), reflecting medieval influences on pragmatic governance.

Importance to Authoritarian Conservatism

Medieval political thought is most directly foundational to authoritarian conservatism, which prioritizes strong hierarchy, nationalism, and rigid order.

Augustine’s view of the “city of man” as inherently flawed and sinful necessitates authoritative structures to curb chaos, aligning with authoritarian demands for control and moral foundations rooted in religion.

Aquinas reinforces this by advocating divine law to direct state actions toward the common good, legitimizing centralized power while warning against laws defying moral norms.

Historically, this manifests in regimes like Franco’s Spain, blending medieval-style traditionalism with authoritarian mechanisms.

In the diagram, authoritarian conservatives adjoin moderate conservatives (via tradition) and radical statists (via control), underscoring medieval thought’s role in justifying hierarchical authority against perceived disorder.

Why Is Ancient and Medieval Political Thought Not Covered in Most Political Science Courses? Political science courses often begin with Machiavelli (considered the father of modern political thought). One reason for this is that ancient and medieval political thought essentially opposes leftism and radical statism and supports classical liberal and conservative thought. Since political science courses at universities are taught primarily by left-wing professors, they ‘naturally overlook’ all historical learning… PS: Machiavelli can rightly be considered the father of modern left-wing and radical statism political thought.