On Kingship
by Thomas Aquinas · De regno ad regem Cypri
Assigned by 1 of the 9 reading lists, catalogue entry only
- Written
- c. 1267
- Era
- Medieval
- Form
- Political theory
- Language
- Latin
- Length
- Short · 100 ppunder 120 pages
- Difficulty
- Demanding3 of 5 for a first-year reader
We recommendOn Kingship, to the King of Cyprus, translated by Gerald B. Phelan and I. Th. EschmannPontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 1949The standard English translation of the portion generally accepted as Aquinas' own.
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An unfinished treatise of advice addressed to the king of Cyprus. Aquinas argues from Aristotle that human beings are by nature social and need a ruler, that rule by one is best when it is directed to the common good and worst when it turns to tyranny, and that the king's reward is not honour or wealth but blessedness. He then sketches how a king should found a city and lead his people toward a virtuous life ordered to their final end, which lies beyond politics in the care of the Church. Later hands continued the work.
No reading guide yet
The catalogue entry above is complete: the dates, the form, the themes and every program that assigns On Kingship are verified against each program's published list.
What is missing is the part that takes real work: the summary, the key passages, and a recommended translation. The edition named below is the one most programs assign, so the buy links are useful already.
