RS - Political Philosophy

Political Philosophy

is the study of fundamental questions about the state, government, politics, liberty, justice and the enforcement of a legal code by authority.

(Model of Government) Democracy

a government which is elected by the people. Everyone who is eligible to vote has a say

(Model of Government) Communism

a government which own things like businesses of farms. It provides its people's healthcare, education and welfare

(Model of Government) Monarchy

A country is governed by a king or queen. In some traditional monarchies, the monarch has absolute power. In a constitutional monarchy, like the UK, the democratically elected government limits the monarch's control

(Model of Government) Dictatorship

a country is ruled by a single leader. The leader has not been elected and may use force to keep control. In a military dictatorship, the army is in control

Social Contract Theory

we give up our freedoms/rights in order to be protected by a government

State of Nature

a condition in which no governments or laws existed at all, and humans are aggressive, wild and selfish and lived in anarchy

Liberty

the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behaviour, or political views

(Concepts of Equality) Simple/Strict Equality

everyone has the same amount of goods

(Concepts of Equality) Equality of Need

satisfying everyone's needs (equity)

(Concepts of Equality) Equality of Opportunity

everyone has equal opportunities

(Concepts of Equality) Equality of Desert

everyone gets what they've worked for

Veil of Ignorance

a technique lawmakers should use in order to make fair laws. They have to pretend that they could be born in any situation or walk of life

Affirmative Action

a set of policies that support members of disadvantaged groups that have previously suffered discrimination e.g. quotas

Free speech

the right to say our opinions, in public or in private, without fear of being stopped or punished by the government for those ideas

Hate speech

words that attack groups such as racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities