Free-Will & True Republic, Augustine and Machiavelli

This paper examines the development of a true republic (as a form of government) within a framework that contrasts the positions of Machiavelli and Augustine in relation to the concept of free-will. Before addressing this issue in this paper, it is desirable to define for purposes of this paper the terms (a) free-will and (b) true republic. The, the philosophical positions of Machiavelli and Augustine are examined.

Free-will has been a contentious concept for centuries. Without going into great detail concerning the various points of contention, for the purposes of this paper, the concept of free-will refers to the perceived extent to which an individual human being has control of and is responsible for her or his own behavior. At one end of the continuum of thought on this issue is the existentialist position holding that individuals are in total control of and are fully responsible for their own behavior. At the other end of this continuum of thought is a theological position holding the salvation or the damnation of individuals are predetermined by God at birth which in turn leads to a position that the character of one's behavior also is predetermined. Between the polar extremes of the definitional continuum of the concept of free-will, there is a multiplicity of positions concerning the effects of impinging factors on the exercise of free-will by individuals. Prominent among these positions is that of the determinists that, in effect,

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Category: Philosophy - F