Honorable Country Vocab Words

Republic (Republica or Res publica)

“the thing of the people”

Aristocracy

ruled by the best or rule by hereditary class

oligarchy

ruled by the wealthy

monarchy

ruled by one (unified class) or ruled by kings

timocracy

military rule or ruled by honor-seekers

democracy

ruled by the people or by majority rule

Normative

what should be

descriptive

what is

possibly - what could be (looks toward what the best is (idealism)

prophetic - what will be

anarchy

no one rules

imperial/empire

multinational rule (requires conquering)

Political philosophy

explores causes of the political order

philosophy of government

explores the best form of gov

legitimacy

the rightful authority to rule

rationalism

reliance on deductions from self-evident principles

liberalism

a rationalist emphasis on human freedom, equality, and consent

empiricism

emphasis on inferences made on past events or evidence

conservative

strives to maintain traditions of one’s people or nation

nationalism

the best forms of government arise from free states formed on the basis of nations

nation

group of people with natural bonds of loyalty and sacred cultural inheritance (language, religion, and law

English empiricism

pragmatism in the US - what works

enlightenment

courage to think for yourself - step away from tradition

idealism

political approach that prioritizes moral values, ethical principles, and utopian goals over power politics and self-interest

tyrrany

the oppressive, arbitrary, and unjust exercise of absolute power by a ruler, group, or majority, disregarding the rule of law and individual rights

fascism

a far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, and the forcible suppression of opposition. It prioritizes the nation, and often race, above individual rights

marxism

argues that the working class (proletariat) is exploited by the owning class (bourgeoisie), advocating for a revolutionary transition to a classless, communist society where the means of production are socially owned.