Soc St 10.02 - Enlightenment Thinkers and Political Ideologies

Flashcards on Enlightenment Thinkers and Political Ideologies

Enlightenment Thinkers

Philosophers focused on developing theories of how society should be structured, controlled, and governed, forming the foundation of modern political systems, legal frameworks, human rights, and individual freedoms.

The Scientific Revolution

A major turning point that encouraged people to use logic, observation, and experiments instead of relying only on tradition or religion, leading to questioning authority and seeking evidence-based explanations.

Social Contract Theory

Agreement where people collectively give up some of their natural rights in exchange for protection and order provided by a government they create.

Thomas Hobbes' View of Human Nature

Humans are naturally selfish and driven by fear/violence without strong control; people must give up some freedoms to a strong ruler.

Hobbes' Social Contract Theory

People agree to obey a powerful authority and give up freedom in exchange for order and safety; supported absolute monarchy.

John Locke's View of Human Nature

Humans are reasonable and have the ability to govern themselves; all people are born with natural rights.

Locke's Natural Rights

Life, liberty, and property; the government’s job is to protect these rights—if it fails, people can overthrow it.

Mary Wollstonecraft's Beliefs

Women are not naturally inferior but are denied education; advocated for equal education for girls and women's rights.

Voltaire's Advocacy

Opposed religious intolerance and censorship; supported reason, freedom, and justice; advocated for freedom of speech and religion.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's View of Human Nature

Humans are naturally good but corrupted by society; advocated for direct democracy and believed in the general will as the basis of government.

Rousseau's Ideas on Government

Government is a social contract between the government and the people; society should be governed by the collective good.

Montesquieu's Separation of Powers

Government is divided into branches (legislative, executive, and judicial); each branch checks the powers of the others.

Mercantilism

An economic system focused on maximizing a nation's wealth and power by accumulating gold and silver, promoting exports, and limiting imports through strict government control and colonial expansion.

Adam Smith's Ideas

Free markets regulate themselves through supply and demand, & self-interest benefits society; government should only protect property, enforce contracts, and defend the nation.

Laissez-faire Economics

Minimal government intervention in the economy; individuals acting in their own self-interest benefit society.

David Hume's Beliefs

All knowledge comes from sensory experience; morals are based on feelings, not logic.

Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative

Act only according to rules you’d want everyone to follow; morality comes from rational duty, not outcomes or emotions.

Karl Marx's Class Conflict

Society is divided between those who own and those who work; advocated for a classless, stateless society where wealth is shared.

Friedrich Hayek's Free Market Advocacy

Markets function best with minimal interference; economic planning by the state threatens liberty.

Market Failure

When the free market doesn’t use resources in the best way; one type is externalities—unintended effects on people not involved in the transaction.

Government Failure

When government actions make things worse than if they did nothing; often happens when trying to fix a market failure, but it causes new problems.

Liberty

The freedom of individuals to act according to their own will, balancing personal choices with societal norms and laws.

Justice

Involves the fair treatment of individuals, ensuring that rights are upheld and that everyone has access to protection and recourse within society.

Equality

The principle that all individuals should have the same rights and opportunities, promoting fairness across society.

Direct Democracy

Citizens vote directly on laws and policies.

Theocracy

A form of government where it is believed that a god, deity, or group of deities is in charge.

Authoritarianism

The enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.

Anarchism

A cluster of doctrines that believe the government is harmful and unnecessary.

Meritocracy

Government or the holding of power by people selected on the basis of their ability.

Junta

A military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force.

Constitutional Monarchy

System of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government.

Communism

A system in which people do not own land, factories, or machinery; government/community owns these.

Totalitarianism

A system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state.

Oligarchy

A small group of people having control of a country or organization.

Socialism

A political/ economic theory of social organization which pushes for the means of production, distribution, and trade being owned/regulated by the community.

Political Socialization

process by which individuals develop their personal political views

Ideology

a set of ideas or beliefs about how society and government should work

Conservative view of Human Nature

Conservatives believe people are naturally selfish, flawed, and can’t be perfected and need strong rules to control bad behavior.

Liberal view of Human Nature

Liberals believe people are smart, reasonable, and can make good decisions for themselves; also believe people should be free to follow their dreams and have equal chances in life.

Totalitarianism

Extreme control by the government over every part of people’s lives

Secularism

Belief that religion should be separate from government and public life.

The Great Depression

During this time, different groups experienced major ideological shifts (some looked to the government for help while others liked individual accountability)

Origin of the Juche Ideology in North Korea

A speech delivered by Kim Il-sung; founding leader of North Korea, he served as the country's head of state from its establishment in 1948 until his death, holding titles like Premier (1948-1972) and later President (1972-1994).

What is Fascism

Mussolini defines fascism as an ideology that places the nation and the state above all else, rejecting individualism, democracy, socialism, and liberalism