Philosophy and Theory
Of Politics
Plato 427-347 B.C. Greece
Student of Socrates- work inspired by his teaching
“ The Republic” first work of Political Science
Man can find a more just and suitable government through continued application of rational thought
“public” different than the “private” life
Government is the highest moral task only for men of great knowledge, integrity, and wisdom-
Utopian, ideological
Law by Constitution
Spartan- subordination of man to the state
Democracy is the second worst form of government
Aristotle 384-322 B.C. Greece
Student of Plato
Wrote The “Politics”
1) state is a community 2)highest of all communities
State is an instrument for a purpose higher than itself
Evolved naturally- usefully- organic conception of state
To man all associations are political in that they strive for common good through joint action
State as morally sovereign not as legal supreme authority
Warning against excessive state unity – contrast Plato
State is made up different kinds of people- not just many people- plurality
Laid the basis for Comparative Politics by studying many different governments
Best political community formed by citizens of the middle class
Rule of Law is preferable to the rule of any individual
Machiavelli (1469-1527 A.D.) Italy
The Prince 1513.
Power is an end unto itself.
The state is autonomous in its necessity to gain and protect power- separate from the commonly shared ideas of morality and ethics.
Pessimism predicts the need for increased power.
Oversimplified realism.
Fails to grasps ideology as a tool to motivate and mobilize populations.
Hobbes (1588-1679) England
Wrote Leviathan 1651.
Men are generally equal – and this is a source of misery.
They are in a “state of nature” which is truly the condition of war.
Fear of death causes men to make peace- strong rationalist.
Family is the basic social unit.
Custom- not law- enforces conformity.
Monarchy is the best form of state- less competition- more consistency.
“Father of atheists” insisted on separation of church and state.
Liberalism
We have recurrences of war and peace, but every time we have war we learn from it.
We keep learning from it and get better; we’re not like barbarians/Romans/cannibals.
We have to work on it! Possibility of Utopia?
Constructivism
Ideas are constructed
Everything is what we teach ourselves
Government is socially constructed- what is government? Why do we have it?
We can control the construction of these ideas; you must define every term.
Social Facts
Observations about society
Make an overarching statement about observations- “I observed the Pygmy tribes, I noticed they have a lot of children
Of Politics
Plato 427-347 B.C. Greece
Student of Socrates- work inspired by his teaching
“ The Republic” first work of Political Science
Man can find a more just and suitable government through continued application of rational thought
“public” different than the “private” life
Government is the highest moral task only for men of great knowledge, integrity, and wisdom-
Utopian, ideological
Law by Constitution
Spartan- subordination of man to the state
Democracy is the second worst form of government
Aristotle 384-322 B.C. Greece
Student of Plato
Wrote The “Politics”
1) state is a community 2)highest of all communities
State is an instrument for a purpose higher than itself
Evolved naturally- usefully- organic conception of state
To man all associations are political in that they strive for common good through joint action
State as morally sovereign not as legal supreme authority
Warning against excessive state unity – contrast Plato
State is made up different kinds of people- not just many people- plurality
Laid the basis for Comparative Politics by studying many different governments
Best political community formed by citizens of the middle class
Rule of Law is preferable to the rule of any individual
Machiavelli (1469-1527 A.D.) Italy
The Prince 1513.
Power is an end unto itself.
The state is autonomous in its necessity to gain and protect power- separate from the commonly shared ideas of morality and ethics.
Pessimism predicts the need for increased power.
Oversimplified realism.
Fails to grasps ideology as a tool to motivate and mobilize populations.
Hobbes (1588-1679) England
Wrote Leviathan 1651.
Men are generally equal – and this is a source of misery.
They are in a “state of nature” which is truly the condition of war.
Fear of death causes men to make peace- strong rationalist.
Family is the basic social unit.
Custom- not law- enforces conformity.
Monarchy is the best form of state- less competition- more consistency.
“Father of atheists” insisted on separation of church and state.
Locke (1632- 1704) England
Wrote “Two Treatises of Government” 1690.
State of Nature- natural rights- allows individuals to act as they see fit for their preservation
Law of Nature- what is right and wrong
Each can judge their own case- which gives us the need for clearly stated laws
Labor creates property, determines the value of it- and the law protects it
When the people are made miserable they will rebel under any form of government
Government coupled with the people’s right to rebel is the best defense against rebellion
Americans adopted Locke’s “right to rebel” theory during the Revolution
machiavelli- The Prince
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s25kX24j250
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1depC8DXGnU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfffemx7JIc&feature=related
adam smith- Wealth of Nations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z92pjQVgqmY
montesquieu- seperation of powers- checks and balances
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwn3Uz_ow_4
Max Weber- Protestant Work Ethic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUnAMqfEIWw&feature=related
Karl Marx- Communist Manifesto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KUl4yfABE4&feature=related
Realism:
Things are circular and cyclical; everything happens over and over again (war, peace, recessions, etc.)
War is inevitable.
Liberalism
We have recurrences of war and peace, but every time we have war we learn from it.
We keep learning from it and get better; we’re not like barbarians/Romans/cannibals.
We have to work on it! Possibility of Utopia?
Constructivism
Ideas are constructed
Everything is what we teach ourselves
Government is socially constructed- what is government? Why do we have it?
We can control the construction of these ideas; you must define every term.
Social Facts
Observations about society
Make an overarching statement about observations- “I observed the Pygmy tribes, I noticed they have a lot of children