(rousseau, marx, burke) Responses to the Liberal Conceptions of Democracy

according to rousseau, what is the difference beyween natural inequality and political inequality?

natural inequality occurs naturally and deals with things like difference in speed, strength, intellect, etc. while political inequality is unnatural and took its place with things like social and economic class

what does the state of nature look like for rousseau?

man in independent and alone, isolated, it is survival of the fittest, people only feawr hunger and pain and the only desire is for physical needs being met, BUT, man is self aware

according to rousseau, what is self perfection?

because man has reason through his passions, we can make ourselves better or worse

animals cannot make themselves better or worse because they have no passions or reasons

describe rousseaus view of free will?

men have free will, animals do not

what did rousseau mean when he said he was “taking men as they are and laws as they can be” and "that “man is born free and is everywhere in chains”?

he means that to govern he wants to take man as they are naturally and create laws for fit for them and that mans natural state is freedom from govt

what is rousseaus belief of general will?

the general will is the commonality between everyone’s different interests

it aims at the common good, is sovereign and nontransferable, and leans towards equality

in regrads to tasks, the people should vote without discussing their views prior

what is the will of all?

everyones interests smushed together, regardless of commonalities shared

what is rousseau’s “the legislator”?

one man who knows men’s passions without feeling them, should care about their happiness not his own, has no authority to create foundational laws

what are rousseau’s types of laws?

political/fundemental laws (whole to the whole), civil laws (parts to parts, part to the whole), and criminal laws

MOST IMPORTANT are mores, customs, and opinions that are engraved in the man, crucial to state success

what are rousseaus govts?

1. monarchy- single magistrate, best for large

2. aristocracy- small # of magistrates, best for mid

3. democracy- everyone is technically a mgistrate, best for small

Why do people form government and what does this tell us about Rousseau’s view of government?

rousseau says people form government because they realize they have free will and establish property, then families, and eventually govts

tells us rousseau believes govt is the natural end but that it is unjustly unequal

what are the characteristics of Rousseau’s ideal government and how do they combat the problems of the state of nature, according to Rousseau?

it is an elective aristocracy, people vote for those view magistrates, believes this combats the state of nature because it means usually the wisest amongst us are ruling, the rich are moderated and the poor are content so political inequality is kept low

what are marx’s stages of development in history?

1. primordial communism

2. feudal system

3. capitalism

4. socialistic revolution

5. gradually into communism

what are the characteristics of marx’s feudal system?

• serfs and feudal lords

• discovering the Americas and trade with colonies made way for bourgeoisies

what are the characteristics of the transition from feudalism to capitalism?

• division of labor between various guilds

• guilds are replaced by the factory system

• bourgeoisies leave man only connected through $$

what are the characteristics of capitalism by marx?

• there is no religion

• no sentiment

• no humanity

• ONLY MONEY

• unless you are the owner of the means of manufacturing, you are a paid laborer

• substructure of the economic system and superstructures (democracy, religious structure, hustle culture)

• as capital grows, so does the proletariat and the middle class sinks into the laboring class

why is the proletariat a revolutionary class?

the laborers realize the injustice is not just at their factory, their area, etc., and realizing that they know, they can bring about change as under a capitalistic structure they are the majority and the bourgeoisie is the minority

what are the arguments against communism?

people say it abolishes the ability to acquire property freely marx says it does not matter since most people cannot own property under capitalism anyways

abolishes the family, marx says nothing

abolishes free trade, marx says nothing

what is the role of the communist party?

brings the interests of the entire proletariat together, wants to overthrow the bourgeoisie and eliminate their private property

what are the characteristics of socialism?

does not recognize class differences, but individual differences

what are the characteristics of communism for marx?

• no religion

• no classes

• no antithesis between mental and physical labor

• promotes all around individual development

what is burke writing against?

the french revolution

what makes burke a conservative?

he believes in a class system, owning private property, relies on religion over reason, and supports the existing order

how can a government be made stable according to burke?

have a party system not ruled by the common people (the majority), requires balance of power

what is the role of the elite according to burke?

ti make the kingdoms more stable through wealth, allowing it to be independent and be devoted to public service, to sacrifice their interests in favor of the public good

what is burkean representation?

believes delegates/representatives should vote/police based on their own opinions and views, not what their constituents want

why does burke oppose the french revolution and not the american revolution?

the american revolution was restoring ancient rights (taxation with representation) while the other was producing radical change

how does burke justify relying on history and religion for “progress” rather than on human reason?

he believes humans are stupid probably idk