Major thinkers in welfare: contemporary issues in historical perspective

Classical Athens: Plato and Aristotle: The Athenian society Plato's communitarianism : the state is sovereign Aristotle's equity and the middle way Origins of society Classes in society Slavery The position of women Private property The abolition of the family Poverty Policies Education Conclusion The Graeco-Roman world: Epicurus, Zeno, Cicero, Seneca and Aurelius: Epicurus (341-271 BC) Stoicism : Zeno (336-263 BC), Cicero(106-43 BC) Seneca (4 BC-65AD) and Aurelius (121-80 AD) Society and government The virtuous Stoic individual Natural and civil law Slavery The position of women Wealth and poverty Education Old age Conclusion Early Christianity: St Augustine, St Francis and St Thomas Aquinas: The New testament and human welfare: The Christian value system ; Slavery ; The position of women ; Marriage and divorce ; Wealth and poverty St Augustine (354-430) St Francis of Assisi (1182-1226): Religious sects ; The Franciscan friars ; Four profiles of poverty St Thomas Aquinas (1225-74): Government and welfare ; Private versus public property ; Poverty and a taxonomy of needs ; Slavery ; The position of women Conclusion The Renaissance: Desiderius Erasmus and Thomas More - The Reformation: Martin Luther and Jean Calvin: Desiderius Erasmus (1467-1536) Thomas More (1478-1535) A critique of 16th-century capitalist society: The capitalist state ; Crime in 16th-century England ; Poverty in 16th-century England ; Private property Life in Utopia: Work ; Leisure ; A socialist welfare state ; Representative government ; Marriage, family and divorce An assessment of Utopia Martin Luther (1483-1545): Luther's religious values: faith and obedience ; Poverty relief ; Education ; Women, marriage and divorce ; Economic issues Jean Calvin (1509-64) Calvinism and capitalism Conclusion Absolutism: Thomas Hobbes - Liberalism: John Locke: Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679): Human nature and absolutism ; Crime and punishment ; Wealth and poverty ; Women in society ; Conclusion John Locke (1632-1704): Human nature and government by consent ; Private property ; Work ; Poverty: causes and remedies ; Slavery ; The position of women ; Education and childhood ; Conclusion

Early feminism: Mary Astell, Sophia and Mary Wollstonecraft:

Mary Astell (1668-1731)

Sophia, an anonymous author

Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-97): Private property and society ; Wealth and poverty ; Women's emancipation ; Marriage and family ; Parent-child relationships ; Education, women's emancipation and social progress

Conclusion

A welfare society: Human nature

Equality and liberty

From compassion to vanity

Private property and poverty

Taxation and government overload

The role of women in society

Education: Ideal education methods ; National education system

Rousseau's ideal society: The goodness of human nature ; The general will ; Direct citizen participation ; The small nation state

Theory and practice

Conclusion

The market, laissez-faire and welfare: Adam Smith:

Human nature

The division of labour

Laissez-faire and the invisible hand of the market

Wealth and wages

Poverty

Slavery

The family

The role of government: Defence ; Justice ; Public works and public institutions

Principles of public administration

Taxation

The chequered career of laissez-faire

Conclusion

Democracy and welfare: Thomas Paine:

Human nature

Society and government

Hereditary monarchy versus elective democracy

Slavery

Trade, private property and the common good

The structure and culture of poverty

A universal welfare state

Religion and welfare

Conclusion

Classical Marxism and welfare: Karl Marx and Frederick Engles:

Human nature and human needs

The materialist conception of history

The critique of capitalism: Alienation ; Poverty and the immiseration of the working class ; Globalisation ; Reform or revolution

The position of women in society

A communist welfare state: Communist society ; Government expenditure ; Education ; Housing

Crime

Conclusion

Positive freedom and state welfare: T.H. Green:

Positive freedom

The common good

The interventionist state

Policies at work

Education

Wealth and poverty: Drunkenness

Gender equality

Liberal socialism

Democratic socialism

Conclusion.