Human Nature and Political Theory

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes on human nature, political theories, and the differing views of Hobbes and Locke on the state of nature, contracts, and government.

Problem of Human Nature

A central topic in political theory that explores the fundamental characteristics and motivations of humanity.

Nature (Human Nature Theory)

The view that human nature is shaped by biological factors, is unchangeable, and rooted in natural sciences, often associated with theories like Social Darwinism.

Social Darwinism

A theory suggesting that individuals, groups, and peoples are subject to the same Darwinian laws of natural selection as plants and animals, often leading to ideas of social/political/economic hierarchies.

Survival of the Fittest

A concept in biology and social theory where those individuals or groups best adapted to their environment are most likely to survive and reproduce.

Associated Thinkers (Nature Theory)

Hobbes and Locke are thinkers associated with the 'Nature' view of human nature.

Nurture (Human Nature Theory)

The view that human nature is not fixed, but flexible; humans are social creatures who learn and adapt based on interactions with others, with social environments conditioning behavior.

Associated Thinkers (Nurture Theory)

Rousseau and Marx are thinkers associated with the 'Nurture' view of human nature.

Intellect (Human Conduct)

The capacity for rational and thoughtful decision-making in human conduct.

Instinct (Human Conduct)

Impulsive, reactionary decision-making in human conduct, often based on emotion rather than reason.

Rationalism (Human Conduct)

A belief in humanity’s ability to reason, emphasizing individual freedom, self-determination, and the pursuit of self-interest, emerging from the Enlightenment.

Enlightenment

An intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 18th century, emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition.

Associated Thinkers (Rationalism)

Locke (classical liberalism) and Marx (socialism) can be connected to theories of rationalism.

Anti-Rationalism

The view that not everything can be understood through reason, and that humans often navigate the world based on instinct, impulse, and emotion.

Hobbes's View on Instinct

Human nature as fear of 'war of all against all,' an example of anti-rationalist thinking.

Associated Thinkers (Anti-Rationalism)

Burke and Hobbes are thinkers associated with anti-rationalism and instinct.

Competition (Human Nature)

The view that human nature is driven by self-interest, leading to inevitable competition between autonomous individuals.

Cooperation (Human Nature)

The view that humans are social creatures who naturally prefer peace to conflict and are not inherently self-interested.

Self-Interest Principle

The belief that human beings are naturally driven by their own desires and goals, influencing political, social, and economic systems.

Meritocracy

A system in which promotion is based on individual ability or achievement rather than on birth or wealth, often seen as a result of competition.

Associated Thinkers (Self-Interest)

Locke, Bentham, and Adam Smith are thinkers associated with the concept of self-interest.

Cooperation Principle

The belief that humans are social creatures who naturally prefer peace and collective well-being to conflict, advocating for government intervention to pursue the common good.

Marxist Views (Cooperation)

Can be associated with socialist and communist ideals of collective ownership and social well-being.

Individualism

A normative or methodological commitment to the primacy of the individual over any collective body, emphasizing intrinsic value, dignity, and worth.

Natural Rights

Rights inherent to human beings, not dependent on governments.

Autonomy

The ability to make one's own decisions and act on them, free from external control.

Negative Freedom

Freedom from external restraint on one's actions.

Rugged Individualism

The belief that individuals can and should look after themselves without external aid, often rejecting a national welfare state.

Society

Groups of people connected in some way, living in a geographic area, sharing traits, characteristics, or beliefs, with regular patterns of social interaction and some social structure.

Community

A society characterized by loyalty, a common identity, affinity, or solidarity that unites its people.

Collectivism

Theories built around an ideal of social cooperation in political life, emphasizing collective action, shared social identity, and the state as a mechanism for promoting collective freedom.

Class Solidarity

A concept in socialism, referring to the unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest in the working class.

Feminism (Collectivism)

An example of collectivism, focusing on the shared interests of women.

Consent of the Governed

The idea that a government's legitimacy and moral right to use state power is only justified when consented to by the people or society over which that political power is exercised.

Social Contract (Consent)

An agreement wherein people consent to be governed by a government created in the contract, giving it permission to manage relations and navigate conflicts.

Conflict (Political Theory)

Disagreements or clashes between individuals and groups within society, which government, created through a social contract, is intended to resolve peacefully.

Social Divisions

Splits or conflicts in society reflecting the diversity of social formations and positions, often based on perceived inequality or exclusion (e.g., social class, race, religion).

Hobbes's View on Equality

Men are equal in faculties of body and mind, as well as in their ability and hope of achieving desires.

Hobbes's View on War

The natural state of man; every man against every man, characterized by the absence of peace and the presence of continual fear and danger of violent death, where nothing is unjust.

"Life of man [is] solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short"

Hobbes's famous quote describing the condition of human life in the state of nature, or state of war.

Natural Condition of Man (Hobbes)

Pre-political and pre-social, primarily a state of war where every man has a right to do anything he wants that he can obtain and keep.

Right of Nature (Hobbes)

Each man must use his own power, according to his will, to preserve his life, including the liberty to do anything he deems necessary for self-preservation.

Fundamental Law of Nature (Hobbes)

Seek peace, but if peace cannot be obtained, it is every man for himself, and anything is permissible in war.

Second Law of Nature (Hobbes)

To establish peace, men can agree to give up some of their liberty and their equal right to everything through a social contract.

Contract (Hobbes)

A mutual agreement to renounce or transfer rights/liberties to other people, establishing a sovereign ruler to keep peace and punish violators.

Sovereign Ruler (Hobbes)

An authority established by a social contract to keep peace and punish those who violate the agreement, with the right to kill for the sake of order/peace while citizens retain the right to self-defense.

State of Nature (Locke)

A condition where men are naturally in perfect freedom to order their actions and use their possessions without permission from others, governed by natural law.

Freedom (Locke)

Not needing permission or approval from anyone, with no obligations to other people regarding one's choices.

Equality (Locke)

A state where power and jurisdiction are reciprocal, with no one person having more power or influence than another, implying equality of natural rights.

Natural Law (Locke)

Rooted in humans 'being made in the image of the same creator,' requiring self-preservation and not harming others without just cause.

Punishment (Locke)

The right of any man in the state of nature to do harm to another who breaks natural law, considering themselves to live under a different rule than reason and equality; punishment should bring about remittance or deter future behavior.

Capital Punishment (Locke)

Acceptable if someone kills another human, seen as a natural response to murder.

Purpose of Civil Government (Locke)

To restrain the partiality and violence of men, acting as a remedy for the inconveniences of the state of nature by removing self-interest and bias from doling out punishment and providing justice.

Dangers of Absolutist Governments (Locke)

Allows those in power to be 'judges in their own case,' leading to violation of natural law, abuse of power, and distortion of government's true purpose, as rulers free of restraints remain in a state of nature.

Social Contract (Locke's view on limits)

Not only establishes rights given up but also specifies the limits of government power to preserve natural and civil rights.