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Man and The State

This document provides background information on Jacques Maritain, a 20th century French philosopher who wrote on political philosophy and the relationship between the individual and the state. It summarizes his book "Man and the State" as examining the place of the state, the development of human rights, and the need for international dialogue on what form cooperation should take and what institutions are needed. It also includes discussion questions about the book related to how people of different backgrounds can agree on basic human rights but not why they exist, and if recognition of intrinsic human dignity is necessary to sustain human rights protections.

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Mariana Porfírio
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335 views2 pages

Man and The State

This document provides background information on Jacques Maritain, a 20th century French philosopher who wrote on political philosophy and the relationship between the individual and the state. It summarizes his book "Man and the State" as examining the place of the state, the development of human rights, and the need for international dialogue on what form cooperation should take and what institutions are needed. It also includes discussion questions about the book related to how people of different backgrounds can agree on basic human rights but not why they exist, and if recognition of intrinsic human dignity is necessary to sustain human rights protections.

Uploaded by

Mariana Porfírio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Man and the State


By Jacques Maritain

Jacques Maritain is one of the preeminent scholars on modern ideas of the relation between the person and
the state. This collection of essays examines the place and role of the state, the development of the idea of
human rights, and the need for international dialogue. What form should this international cooperation take?
What institutions are necessary for this cooperation? Man and the State is one of the first explorations of the
links in our modern concept of statehood, human rights, and the inalienable dignity of the person.

About Jacques Maritain

Jacques Maritain (1882-1973), French philosopher and political thinker, was one of the principal exponents of
Thomism in the twentieth century and an influential interpreter of the thought of St Thomas Aquinas.
Jacques studied at the Lycée Henri IV (1898-99) and at the Sorbonne, where he prepared a license in
philosophy (1900-1901) and in the natural sciences (1901-1902). Jacques married in 1904. Soon after,
through the influence of the writer Léon Bloy, he and his wife sought baptism in the Roman Catholic Church
(1906). He became a prominent figure of Catholic thought, writing several books on political philosophy. He
moved to the United States in 1940 and taught at Princeton and Columbia. In 1960 Maritain returned to
France. Following his wife’s death later that year, Maritain moved to Toulouse, where he lived with a religious
order, the Little Brothers of Jesus. He continued writing during this time. He died in Toulouse on April 28,
1973.

Guide questions for discussion groups

The following questions relate specifically to Chapter 4. It is not necessary to read the other chapters
to discuss these questions.

• Discuss how it is possible for persons of different cultures, backgrounds and/or faiths
are able to agree on basic human
rights but not on why these exist.

www.wya.net/bookandfilmlist
 
 
• How or why is this important (especially in relation to government, the UN and leaders of world
politics)?

• Is recognition of intrinsic human dignity necessary to sustain efforts to protect human


rights?

www.wya.net/bookandfilmlist
 

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