Individualism in Roman society 200 BC-AD 212 : a study of the person, personal rights and law in the light of modern political theory
The primary aim of this thesis is to address the question of whether the individual or the state was considered more important in Ancient Roman society, In the introduction I present two arguments that claim that the State came first. The first line of argument suggests that Roman custom and mores created a climate in which the individual counted for ahnost nothing and was shackled to the state by ideal of duty. This proposition, which was developed between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, has never been properly addressed by modem writers, yet its premises still have an effect on modem analyses of Roman society. The second argument is more current and looks purely at Graeco-Roman philosophy to suggest that notions of duty were of paramount importance and that society was considered more important than the individual.
Mason, Nils A. B.
Individualism in Roman society 200 BC-AD 212 : a study of the person, personal rights and law in the light of modern political theory. The primary aim of this thesis is to address the question of whether the individual or the state was considered more important in Ancient Roman society, In the introduction I present two arguments that claim that the State came first. The first line of argument suggests that Roman custom and mores created a climate in which the individual counted for ahnost nothing and was shackled to the state by ideal of duty. This proposition, which was developed between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, has never been properly addressed by modem writers, yet its premises still have an effect on modem analyses of Roman society. The second argument is more current and looks purely at Graeco-Roman philosophy to suggest that notions of duty were of paramount importance and that society was considered more important than the individual.
individualism roman_society bc_ad study person personal right law light_modern political_theory primary_aim address_question whether individual state consider_important ancient roman society introduction present argument claim state come first first line_argument suggest roman custom more create climate individual count nothing state ideal duty proposition develop never properly address modem writer yet premise still effect modem analyse roman_society second argument current look purely graeco_roman philosophy suggest notion duty paramount importance society consider_important individual