PHILOSPHY FINAL

What is Wollstonecraft’s core claim about women and society?

Discrimination against women harms all of society by undermining reason, virtue, and citizenship

How does Wollstonecraft define political inequality?

Political inequality is the exclusion of women from education, rights, and public life and is socially manufactured

Why does Wollstonecraft reject tradition as political justification?

Traditions must be evaluated by reason and cannot justify inequality or injustice

How does Wollstonecraft understand marriage?

Marriage is a property relation regulated by the state

What is Wollstonecraft’s view on women’s education?

Education is necessary for women to become rational, self

Why does denying women education corrupt society?

It produces dependent women, disappointed men, and poorly raised children

What rights does Wollstonecraft demand for women?

Civil, political, and educational rights

What form of government does Wollstonecraft support?

A representative democracy including women as full citizens

Why does Wollstonecraft believe duties require rights?

Obedience without rights denies rational agency and legitimacy

How does Wollstonecraft relate to Rousseau?

She accepts institutional corruption but rejects his exclusion of women

What makes a government illegitimate for Wollstonecraft?

Denying women rights while demanding obedience and duties

How does Wollstonecraft understand economic inequality?

Economic inequality is caused by corrupt institutions and reinforced by women’s dependence on men

What is the tyranny of the majority according to Mill?

The majority can oppress minorities by suppressing individuality and dissent

What is the harm principle?

State power is justified only to prevent physical harm to others

What actions are protected from government interference?

that dont harm others

Why does Mill oppose paternalism?

It treats adults as children and denies autonomy

What limits does Mill place on the harm principle?

It does not apply to children or “barbarians”

Why does Mill defend freedom of speech?

Silencing opinions risks suppressing truth or turning beliefs into dogma

What speech does Mill exclude from protection?

Slander, libel, harassment, coercion, blackmail, conspiracy, and incitement to violence

Why does Mill support representative democracy?

It gathers information from across society and allows participation

Why does Mill oppose monarchy?

Monarchy creates passive, obedient citizens

Why does Mill reject the benevolent dictator argument?

Submission blocks citizen development and self

What is Mill’s view on women’s rights?

Women must have legal and political equality

What defines a good government for Mill?

One that protects autonomy, free expression, and improves citizens themselves

What historical process shapes Marx’s critique of capitalism?

The industrial revolution and enclosure movement

Who are the bourgeoisie?

Owners of the means of production

Who are the proletariat?

Workers who own only their labor

How does capitalism create political inequality?

Economic power becomes political power

What is alienation according to Marx?

Loss of control over labor, products, and one’s life

Why is exploitation unavoidable under capitalism?

Profit requires wages below value produced

Why must capitalism expand globally?

It depends on constant market expansion

What happens to the middle class under capitalism?

It is eventually absorbed into the proletariat

Why does Marx believe capitalism will collapse?

Class polarization intensifies toward revolution

What system do Marx and Engels advocate?

Communism with collective ownership of production

What defines good government for Marx and Engels?

Abolition of private property, class hierarchy, and exploitation

When is government illegitimate for Marx and Engels?

When it protects capitalism and allows alienation

What are Locke’s natural rights?

Life, liberty, and property

What is the state of nature for Locke?

A condition of natural freedom governed by natural law

How does Locke justify private property?

Mixing one’s labor with nature creates ownership

Why does Locke think property is legitimate?

Labor improves land and benefits society

What is self

ownership for Locke?

What is the purpose of government for Locke?

To protect natural rights

What makes a government legitimate for Locke?

Protection of rights and majority rule

What is consent in Locke’s theory?

Implicit consent through participation and benefit

When does government become illegitimate for Locke?

When it violates natural rights

When is rebellion justified for Locke?

When many agree the social contract is broken

Why does Locke support majority rule?

Collective decision

How does Locke differ from Rousseau on property?

Locke sees property as natural

Rousseau sees it as artificial

What corrupts humans according to Rousseau?

Existing social and political institutions

What is the general will?

The will oriented toward the common good

How is the general will different from private will?

It prioritizes collective interest over individual gain

What form of government does Rousseau support?

Direct democracy in small communities

What makes government legitimate for Rousseau?

Reflection of the general will

Why does Rousseau oppose private property?

It creates inequality and dependence

How does inequality begin for Rousseau?

When land is fenced and claimed as private

How does private property affect society?

It divides people into owners and servants

How does inequality affect morality for Rousseau?

It corrupts compassion and social bonds

What happens to freedom under inequality?

People become dependent and unfree

How does Rousseau differ from Locke on property?

Rousseau sees property as forced and violent

What limits government authority for Rousseau?

Popular sovereignty

What is Burke’s view of tradition?

Tradition embodies accumulated wisdom beyond individual reason

How does Burke justify political inequality?

Hierarchy reflects inherited social order

What does Burke believe about natural rights?

Rights are inherited, not natural

Why does Burke oppose radical change?

Sudden reform destroys social stability

How does Burke view democracy?

Dangerous due to mass ignorance

Who should rule according to Burke?

Elites with experience and refinement

How does Burke view the masses?

Like children needing guidance

What is Burke’s preferred government form?

Monarchy with inherited institutions

Why does Burke oppose the French Revolution?

It rejects tradition and acts on abstract reason

What limits government legitimacy for Burke?

Departure from inherited institutions

How does Burke view equality?

Equality undermines social order

How does Burke conflict with Wollstonecraft?

She prioritizes reason

he prioritizes tradition

What is Kant’s core criterion for political legitimacy?

Hypothetical consent of rational people

What is hypothetical consent?

Agreement a rational, informed person would give

Does Kant require actual consent?

No

legitimacy is not historical

How does Kant respond to Hume’s critique?

The social contract is normative, not empirical

What is freedom for Kant?

Independence from being constrained by another’s will

Why must people enter a civil condition?

To preserve freedom through law

What defines a legitimate law for Kant?

One no rational person could reject

How does Kant view dissenters?

If rational, they would have consented

What limits government authority for Kant?

Rational freedom of all citizens

How does Kant differ from Hobbes?

Hobbes relies on fear

Kant on reason

How does Kant differ from Locke?

Kant rejects tacit consent

How does Kant unify social contract theory?

By grounding legitimacy in reason

If asked “Who best explains political inequality?”

Wollstonecraft (gender), Mill (majority tyranny), Marx (class power)

If asked “Who rejects tradition?”

Wollstonecraft and Mill

If asked “Who defends tradition?”

Burke

If asked “Who rejects monarchy?”

Mill and Wollstonecraft

If asked “Who justifies rebellion?”

Locke and Marx

If asked “Who opposes private property?”

Rousseau and Marx

If asked “Who supports democracy most strongly?”

Mill and Wollstonecraft

If asked “Who fears democracy?”

Plato and Burke

If asked “Who prioritizes common good?”

Rousseau

If asked “Who prioritizes autonomy?”

Mill and Kant

If asked “Who critiques capitalism?”

Marx and Engels

If asked “Who defends property?”

Locke and Smith