Autoritetas politikoje: Tomo Akviniečio politinės antropologijos metafizinis principas
The Authority in Politics: The Metaphysical Principle of Political Anthropology by Thomas Aquinas

Summary/Abstract: The article describes the metaphysical principle of Thomas Aquinas’ political philosophy, which most adequately translates into the concept of authority. This principle involves the intentional rapport between the human consciousness and the world as created by God, i.e. with the reality per se. Following the concise familiarization with the Thomas Aquinas’ concept of politics, the article sets out the details on how this metaphysical principle helps creating a certain political hierarchy of authorities and how these authorities organize the state. The notion itself of authority and its transformation in the Jewish-Christian context are analysed in particular, as well as the notions of common good and human nature, the criterion of the political power legitimacy, the problem of the relation between the individual freedom and the political authority. The article contrasts the principles of Thomas Aquinas’ political philosophy with the assumptions of political philosophy of the modern times.

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