The art of rhetoric, the role of justice and government, what makes for a well-run society and who should rule? These are the kinds of topics that arise in political philosophy — dealing with not only politics, but economics, justice, ethics and history.

No matter where we are in the world, we are subject to rules and laws, are generally able to have a say in how our country is run and in many cases, have the opportunity to be someone who has a significant part to play in how it’s run.

In short, political philosophy looks at the best way to live our lives, and our lives are not spent in a social-vacuum; the purpose of a government and the role of citizens are often investigated by political philosophers, along with proposing theories and different styles of governance.

Many political philosophers have developed their ideas while living through great changes in history and write from personal experience, sometimes of revolution and war. While some theories may not seem as relevant to how we live now, the influence and significance of these thinkers have undeniably contributed to the way many of us live now.