The Constitution in American Life: Featuring the Friends of Publius
Four educators connect U.S. history, politics, Supreme Court decisions, political culture, and the Center for Civic Education’s We the People curriculum to the challenges of modern democracy. Listeners gain perspective on how the Constitution continues to shape American life.
The Constitution in American Life: Featuring the Friends of Publius
Human Nature and the Influence of Classical Republican Theory
In this episode, the Friends of Publius discuss the ways in which human nature and classical republican theory intersect. This question is from Unit 1, Question 3 of the Center for Civic Education’s We the People curriculum.
Question Unit 1 Question 3
To what extent was it natural for the early colonial experiments to adopt classical republican ideas of how society should function?
*What are the assumptions about human nature in classical republicanism?
*In your opinion, are the ideas of the natural rights philosophy compatible with the social principles of classical republicanism? Why or why not?