The Biblical 'Nation' as a Problem for Philosophy

The Hebraic political tradition is characterized by a number of features such as the rule of law, consent of the governed, and perhaps a separation of spheres of authority. Definitive of this tradition, however, is the simultaneous recognition of the legitimacy of the nation and of a common humanity. The Hebraic political tradition explicitly, albeit uneasily, incorporates two orientations: the particular and the universal. The implications of this heterogeneity for the affairs of this world constitute some of the Hebraic tradition's primary contributions to political thought. Adapted from the source document.