FIL 120 SECTION B FINAL

Explain clearly how Leo Strauss defines political philosophy

Political philosophy is defined by Leo Strauss as the attempt to replace mere opinion about the nature of political things with genuine knowledge of the nature of political things. It seeks universal knowledge of the whole and engages with political things, which are subject to judgment based on goodness, badness, justice, or injustice. Political philosophy must strive to know the true standards necessary for making sound judgments.

Using Strauss's definition of political philosophy, explain why liberalism is good political theory

Liberalism is a good political theory because it seeks to establish the necessary public framework under which citizens can freely pursue their own conceptions of the good. It addresses reasonable pluralism and ensures equal basic rights and liberties for all, providing a just and stable society for free and equal citizens to thrive in rational conduct and critical judgment.

Using Strauss's definition of political philosophy, explain why communitarianism is good political theory

Communitarianism aligns with Strauss's definition by addressing the question of the good society and supplying a substantive conceptualization of what ought to be desired. It holds that human identities are shaped by constitutive communities and emphasizes civic virtues, shared conceptions of human flourishing, and the role of institutions in shaping character.

Explain what Leo Strauss sees as having gone wrong with political philosophy

Leo Strauss argues that political philosophy has gone wrong due to the rise of social science positivism, which separates facts from values and demands ethical neutrality. This leads to moral obtuseness and indifference, potentially resulting in nihilism. Strauss insists that it is impossible to study important social phenomena without making value judgments and that man cannot abandon the question of the good society.

Explain the purpose of John Rawls's original position

The purpose of John Rawls's original position is to establish fair principles for the basic structure of society. It is a hypothetical choice situation where rational contractors deliberate behind a veil of ignorance, ensuring impartial and unbiased principles concerned only with securing citizens' share of primary social goods.

Explain how John Rawls uses the veil of ignorance

John Rawls uses the veil of ignorance to block knowledge of one's personal advantages, ensuring impartiality in selecting political principles. Contractors do not know their social position, talents, or conception of the good life, so the resulting principles are unbiased and acceptable to all. The veil guarantees protection for the least advantaged members of society.

Explain the purpose of John Rawls's two principles of justice

The purpose of Rawls's two principles of justice is to structure society's basic institutions to secure freedom, opportunity, and just distributive arrangements. The principles are: (1) equal basic liberties for all, and (2) social and economic inequalities allowed only if they benefit the least advantaged and accord with fair equality of opportunity.

Explain the difference between John Rawls and Isiah Berlin

The difference lies in focus and methodology. Rawls constructs institutional principles of justice as fairness using the original position and veil of ignorance to achieve equality and consensus. Berlin critiques freedom conceptually, distinguishing negative freedom (absence of interference) and positive freedom (self-mastery), and warns of coercion in pursuing substantive self-realization.

Explain the difference in Isiah Berlin's two notions of freedom

Isaiah Berlin distinguishes negative freedom (absence of interference by others) and positive freedom (self-mastery or authorship of one's life). Negative freedom is "liberty from" constraints, while positive freedom is "liberty to" realize oneself, which can justify paternalistic coercion. The distinction highlights tensions between noninterference and self-formation.

Explain how Kant's deontology can be made to relate to Rawls's theory on justice

Rawls's theory of justice relates to Kant's deontology through concepts like autonomy, universalizability, and respect for persons as ends. Rawls's priority of basic liberties and the right over the good echoes Kant's Categorical Imperative. The veil of ignorance reflects Kant's rational will as autonomous and legislating universal law, ensuring principles are justifiable to all.