Poli Sci 160 terms and significance

Physis (Plato)

definition: the idea of justice being a natural concept, in opposition to nomos (or the idea of justice being based off of convention)
significance: Socrates throughout the dialogue of Republic argues for a BLANK interpretation of justice, while Glaucon and Thrasymachus claim that it is based on laws or the advantage of the stronger/weaker. It is significant to understand the BLANK interpretation of justice because it gives a perspective from a variety of authors that are important to understanding justice at all.

City of utmost necessity (city of sows) (Plato)

definition: limited needs, no scarcity, between 4

community of properties (Plato)

definition: abolish private properties among certain classes to avoid the conflict that comes from comparison
significance: Avoid inequalities in property and greed that comes with difference in wealth. The community structure is determined on the noble lie, and the BLANK helps ensure the noble lie remains in control

community of pleasure and pain (Plato)

definition: share pleasure and pain of the community among all
significance: By avoiding private ownership of pleasure and pain, Socrates allows for the community to be one in their feelings.

Rather be feared than loved (Machiavelli)

definition: Machiavelli states that it is better because BLANK keeps people at bay and under control other than love

fortuna (Machiavelli)

definition: political luck or opportunity
significance: BLANK provides opportunity for princes, and virtuous princes seize it. This makes them good rulers and fit to rule over a state.

Good law (Hobbes)

definition: a law that is needful for the good of the people (ensures safety), and is easy to understand
significance: Hobbes limits the subject's duty to obey the sovereign. if sovereign doesn't make good laws (ensure safety) the subjects don't have to obey and hold up their end of the contract

State of war (hobbes)

definition: state of nature
significance: By having the state of nature be the BLANK, Hobbes shows how crucial it is for the safety of the people by living under a sovereign.

Sovereign (Rousseau)

definition: the general will is the only part of this
significance: Because the general will alone is the BLANK, the general will alone makes the laws for the people, based on it being a democracy. Justice is directly based on the general will.

Government (Rousseau)

definition: separate from the sovereign, it alone enforces the laws that the general will creates
significance: Because the government only enforces the laws, it is important to recognize that the government is not the ultimate power for Rousseau

general will (Rousseau)

definition: the supreme, unified, legislative, sovereign authority, and the only form of legitimate sovereign authority
significance: Because it is the only form of legitimate sovereign authority, Rousseau believes representative democracies are not legitimate. He also only thinks small states are capable of true democracy. Justice is derived from only the BLANK and commutative (from the social contract.)

Equality of Opportunity (Rawls)

definition: The first half of the second principle of justice for Rawls.
significance: Any inequity must only be attached to offices available to all. (everyone has the opportunity in practice to get any job/position they want). Allows society to be fair for everyone and not hold anyone back

the original position (Rawls)

definition: thought experiment where individual blind themselves to their specific situation (race, age, gender, wealth, history, etc). The results from the experiment are the 2 principles of justice
significance: It is only method that prevents undue influence or advantage in society. By everyone agreeing on what fairness is (and therefore justice), society is fair for everyone in it. Allowing our biases to go away is the only way to ensure life is fair for all.

the veil of ignorance (Rawls)

definition: used in the original position to blind individuals to what their circumstances are in life to ensure fairness in society.
significance: By blinding individuals to their situation, it allows them to be more willing to give more to those who are less well off because if it is them in that position, they would want more support. This is significant because it contributes to Rawl's principles of justice regarding social institutions, especially the second one and the difference principle, which states that any inequality must be to the greatest benefit for the least well off.

economic (in)equality (Anderson)

definition: expresses pity for those inferior, makes demeaning judgements about people's capacity, and excludes citizens from truly enjoying freedom
significance: Anderson argues that instead of arguing for BLANK, democratic equality is more useful because it aims to create a community of equals (like rawls) and allows people to access the social conditions of freedom

injustice (Shklar)

definition: created, avoidable product of intentional harm by a person or group
significance: BLANKs tend to require rectification, and misfortunes can become BLANKs if they can be rectified. Because social expectations change, injustices can be realized.

Misfortunes into injustices

definition: This happens as a result of social expectations and and scientific changes in technology
significance: Misfortunes can change into injustices when society progresses further. A natural reaction to this is revenge. It is significant because it is important to realize the misfortunes can shift, meaning something that was once seen as natural will not be seen that way forever.

sense of injustice

definition: anger at perceived injustice
significance: Tends to call for revenge (which is the opposite of justice) meaning that when many people are faced with injustices, they don't want rectification

moral equality (Wollstonecraft)

definition: the equality of capacity for women as thinkers, but not physically
significance: Women being BLANK unequal contributes to the reasons why women are made unequal in other parts of their lives, including politically. Wollstonecraft wants to revise education for women, with more of a focus on reason. This would led to BLANK in society.

legal subordination (Mill)

definition: women being less than men in legal standing (coverture!)
significance: Significant because subjection isn't voluntary, many women reject gender roles, social and natural forces prevent them from rebelling. They will continue to live in unjust circumstances because it is difficult for women to see that they deserve equality.

unjust laws (King)

definition: unrepresentative, unequal toward the least advantageous. Morally wrong, legally right
significance: King aims to show us laws that are reasonable to rebel against/disobey. Laws that are unjust lead to a threat to justice everywhere!

glorious liberty document (Douglass)

definition: the constitution, for Douglass
significance: Douglass sees the constitution as a document that is just and has liberty. This is significant because while although in practice it was not being used justly, the document didn't need to be fully recreated. He called for reform rather than revolution.

race pride (Douglass)

definition: the idea that some people are inherently better than others because of their race & color of their skin.
significance: Douglass contrasts this with absolute equality, which creates peace, strength, and security. BLANK leads to struggle, inequality, and injustice for minorities, which is wrong because diversity leads to a more prosperous and tolerant nation.