Political / Social Philosophy

social and political philosophy

deals with the role of the individual and government in society

• what should the rights of the individual be?

• how should governments function?

• what is the best way for a society to function?

justice

the state, condition, or quality of being fair or free from bias / injustice

political philosophers are interested in:

the “ideal” society and what that looks like

social philosophers are interested in:

how the way a government and society is organized impacts the people within society

Martin Luther King jr

• moral obligation to disobey unjust laws

• believed non-violent protests were an effective way to bring about social change

• letter from birmingham jail

• “I have a dream”

• fought against segregation

Kongfuzi (Confucius)

key points

• the analects

• the tao

• virtue = the goal of human existence

• generosity (ren), respect for tradition (li), right of conduct (yi)

• propriety + good manners

more

• leaders should study the classics + history

• taught a curriculum full of music, history, literature, politics, and government to a generation of Chinese leaders

• the state is responsible for the well-being of people

Plato

key

• philosopher kings

• person in power must have great skill and wisdom

• 3 roles: workers, soldiers, guardians

• city-state is run by a group of wise, incorruptible governors

more

• didn’t want family to exist as an institution - ppl should be raised based on intelligence and character instead

• women should have the same rights as men

Aristotle

key

• founder of political science

• “man is a political animal” - best chance for happiness + security lies in a wise, just, organized political state

• 3 groups: monarchies, aristocracies, democracies

• the rule of law = the foundation of political order

• stressed the need for moderation and stability

more

• rights of individual > power of a ruler

• everything in nature moves towards a predetermined goal

• humans can achieve a superior level of civilization if they live in a well-governed city-state

Thomas Aquinas

key

• natural law

• earthly laws should reflect the divine ideal of justice

• obey god rather than men

• if earthly laws violate natural law + are unjust, there is no need to obey them

more

• human law should do more than reflect the whims and desires of those in power

Gandhi

key

• convinced that the best way to achieve change is through non-violence

• satyagraha = non-violent civil disobedience

• liberation

the Dalai Lama

• non-violence (stemming from Buddhism)

• establishing peaceful relations > uprisings against occupying forces

Thomas Hobbes

key

• leviathan

• nothing justified rebellion against the state

• unjust rule is better than the chaos that occurs when a central authority breaks down

• power of the state must be absolute in order for peace, order, and stability

more

• social contract: ppl surrendered natural rights in return for protection

• in exchange for complete obedience, rulers guaranteed security, law, and order

John Locke

key

• two treatises of government

• duty of civil society is to enhance and protect natural rights

• the will of the people (is where political power originated)

more

• opposed absolute power in leaders

• supported natural law

• supported religious freedom, a propertied middle class, constitutional gov, and limitations on a monarch’s power

Edmund Burke

key

• democracy leads to tyranny

• traditional institutions (monarchy, aristocracy, established religion) are great

• rights of community > individual

• society is built on traditions handed down by previous gens

• founder of modern conservatism

more

• Reflections

• very critical of radical change

• change should happen slowly

Thomas Paine

key

• the rights of man

• monarchy, religion, and aristocracy hold back society + prevent progress

• humans can change society for the better and start a more human, rational form of government once tradition and ignorance are swept away

• the first champion of radical liberal democracy

more

• liberal

• social / political positions based on heredity are stupid

• legal equality, universal public education, right to vote

• inspired Canada

Mary Wollstonecraft

• a vindication of the rights of women

• attacked attitudes that encouraged women to be docile + only focus on looks

• marriage = legalized prostitution

• equal rights for women

• education = key to social and political equality for women

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• the general will

• radical new form of gov based on the will of all instead of the rich and powerful few

• first philosopher of modern democracy

• rulers should have society’s best interests at heart

• paved the way for contemporary totalitarian govs and dictatorships

John Rawls

central arguments

• citizens should enjoy as much freedom as possible in society as long as it does not infringe on the freedoms of others

• economic inequality in soc should only occur if it raises the living standard of the poorest to a level greater than they would have through equal distribution

• left wing

the veil of ignorance

by John Rawls

• proposes that when u try to think of the most ideal, fair, and just society, you must also imagine being placed into that society without having any choice in your gender, ethnicity, genetics, physical and mental capabilities, and other factors

• the more comfortable you feel entering a society as a “randomized” person, the more ideal that society is

• argues that the world is full of natural inequalities

  • you could be anyone by no credit or fault of your own - the veil of ignorance puts this into perspective and encourages the nead to build greater equality

Robert Nozick

• differed greatly from John Rawls

• believed in less government control regarding economic and wealth distribution

• a laissez-faire economic system (free market) is fair

• right wing

Distributive justice

by Robert Nozick

1. a principle of justice in acquisition

   1. if you are given smth, make smth, work to earn it, or come across smth that no one owns, you can own it jsutly

2. a principle of justice in transfer

   1. if you make an exchange or transfer of jsutly acquired things with someone, that exchange or transfer is fair and just

3. a principle of rectification for injustice

   1. instances where holdings are unfairly or unjustly taken need special considerations

e.g. taylor swift and lebron generate many sales at high prices from millions of customers - ppl willingly pay money - everyone is getting what they want

political libertarianism

a just society will allow its citizens to be maximally free

need-based justice

we have different needs so we get different things based on our needs

merit-based justice

• justice = giving unequally based on what each person deserves

• you get things based on what you do or contribute

• people who do negative things face consequences and get less

negative right

• the right not to be stopped or interfered from pursuing the things you need

• can’t prevent someone from fulfilling their needs, but not obligated to help them fulfill them either

positive right

• you’re entitled to get help fulfilling your needs if you can’t do it yourself

• implies obligation

classical liberalism

Locke

• Advocates freedom from excessive government interference

• The function of the state is to protect the rights and liberties of individual people (which stem from natural law and God)

• The individual takes precedence over the state

positive law

• Created by humans

• Written rules that are enforced by the courts of the land

• Judges render verdicts and give reasons for their decisions

natural law

• Unwritten law

• Compels people to seek a higher, objective standard that can be used to judge positive laws

• Supported by naturalists

• Natural law = the law in its ideal form and the conscience of a state’s legal system

legal positivism

• Legal positivists oppose natural law theory and reject the idea that there is a relationship between the law and moral right and wrong

• Claim that moral truth cannot be known

• Rules that have been enacted by governments or courts are the only sources of law

• Any law passed by a legitimate authority must be obeyed by everyone, even those who consider the law morally wrong or unjust

legal naturalism

Hugo Grotius

• People can arrive at just laws by using their ability to reason

• Natural law can be inferred from human nature

• Locke said natural law justifies people’s obedience to rulers in return for guarantees that their rights will be protected

• Extreme: rules that conflict with natural law cannot be positive laws

• Is valuable in that is provides a moral guide

• Rules that diminish a person’s sense of dignity and equality violate natural law

retributive justice

• ppl ought to get what they deserve

• punishment should match the crime

  • e.g. if you kill someone you should die

distributive justice

ppl ought to share equally in the distribution of a society’s resources

merit as justice

Theory by Plato

• People are naturally unequal and are better suited to some jobs than others, so human beings should behave and be treated according to their abilities, training, and knowledge

• Everyone should do the kind of work that they are suited for, meaning that the state’s leaders, having acquired true knowledge of justice, would naturally rule the state justly

utility as justice

Hobbes, Locke, Bentham

• Based on utilitarianism

• Whatever advances the greatest number of people or whatever is socially useful is just

• Individuals would find justice only in the context of the common good

fairness as justice

John Rawls

• Justice based on fairness = a combo of principles of personal liberty and social equality

• Justice is based on equality of both means and needs

• A liberal society can retain its commitment to individualism while helping the disadvantaged gain more equitable access to the state’s resources

• Each person is to have an equal right to the basic liberty similar to the liberty of others

• Social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are reasonably expected to be to everyone’s advantage and attached to positions and offices open to all

entitlement as justice

Robert Nozick

• Individual people are entitled to retain the fruits of their labor without government interference

• All people should have the liberty to dispose of their possessions as they wish