8-15

Conservatism

A political philosophy that emphasizes tradition, continuity, and gradual change.

Edmund Burke

An 18th-century political thinker known for his advocacy of conservatism and criticism of radical change.

Burke's Conception of Politics

Politics should be seen as a tradition extending across generations, emphasizing the continuity and organic nature of society.

Gratitude as a Political Virtue

The moral quality of gratitude can influence political behavior, relationships, and social cohesion.

Burke's Criticism of Revolutionaries

Burke criticized revolutionaries for their radical disregard for tradition and historical continuity.

Gradual Reform

Burke argued that change should be gradual and organic, not radical.

Ignorance of Human Nature

The belief that revolutions often ignore the complexities of human nature, leading to unintended consequences.

The Difference Principle

In Rawlsian theory, social and economic inequalities are permissible only if they benefit the least advantaged members of society.

The Original Position

A hypothetical social contract where individuals decide rules for justice under a veil of ignorance.

Veil of Ignorance

A thought experiment designed to ensure fairness in principles of justice by removing personal biases and self-interest.

Reflective Equilibrium

A state of coherence between moral principles, theories, and particular judgments.

Formal Equality of Opportunity

Requires that no individual faces discrimination based on irrelevant factors such as race or gender.

Fair Equality of Opportunity

Ensures that all individuals have a genuinely equal chance to compete for opportunities, addressing systemic barriers.

Definition of Injustice (Rawls)

Deviations from the principles of justice agreed upon under fair conditions.

Rawls' Critique of Pre-Institutional Desert

Challenges the notion that individuals deserve rewards based solely on natural abilities or efforts prior to societal rules.

Libertarianism (Robert Nozick)

A political philosophy emphasizing individual rights and minimal government interference.

Negative Rights vs Positive Rights

Negative rights require others to refrain from interfering, while positive rights require action to provide entitlements.

Entitlement Theory

Individuals are entitled to their holdings if they acquire them justly; the state ensures just acquisition and transfer.

Historical Principle of Justice

Focuses on the processes of how holdings are acquired and transferred.

Patterned Principle of Justice

Focuses on achieving a specific outcome or distribution of goods and resources in society.

Nozick's Critique of Socialism

Critiques socialism for violating human rights and using coercion for wealth redistribution.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

A significant civil rights protest in Montgomery, Alabama, from December 1955 to December 1956 against bus segregation.

King's Views on Nonviolent Action

Rooted in moral and religious beliefs emphasizing strategic and principled nonviolence.

Moral Jiu-Jitsu

A nonviolent resistance technique that uses an oppressor's aggression to expose moral failings.

Black Power Critique of Nonviolence

Argues against the effectiveness of nonviolence, advocating for self-defense and black autonomy.

Advantages of Nonviolent Resistance

Includes moral high ground, wider appeal, political legitimacy, and media attraction without violence.

Democracy and Dictatorship

The relationship between individual freedoms in democratic societies versus authoritarian control in dictatorships.

Democratic Peace Theory

The theory that democracies are less likely to go to war with one another compared to conflicts involving non-democratic states.

Plato's Theory of the Soul

Divides the soul into three parts: reason, spirited, and appetitive, each governing different aspects of human behavior.