Political Philosophy Review

Flashcards on Justice, Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Hobbs, Locke, Mill, Rawls, Nussbaum, Libertarianism, Socialism and more. Focused on key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture.

Justice

Seeks to move beyond survival of the fittest to ensure the flourishing life of all members of a society.

Cicero on Justice

Giving each their due.

Emperor Justinian on Justice

The constant and perpetual will to render each his due.

Plato's view of Justice

Each doing what they're born to do in a society, resulting in tranquility, harmony, and justice.

Plato's Three Castes

Workers or producers, the military/auxiliaries, and the guardians/rulers.

Virtue associated with Guardians (Plato)

Wisdom

Virtue associated with Auxiliaries (Plato)

Courage

Virtue associated with Workers (Plato)

Moderation

Plato on how justice appears

Justice appears when all of these virtues work together in harmony and the state is thus healthy.

Aristotle

Thinks that we are a political animal, naturally inclined to pursue happiness and to live in communities.

According to Aristotle, through what means are we able to live the eudaimonic life

Living in communities, the polis or the city-state society.

Eudaimonic

A flourishing life

Polis (Aristotle)

Comes into being naturally for the sake of living, but it remains in existence for the sake of living well.

Aristotle's Correct Versions of States

Monarchy/Kingship, Aristocracy, Polity

Aristotle's Deviant Versions of States

Tyranny, Oligarchy, Democracy

For Aristotle, the Just State

Promotes the common good, not the self-interest of its rulers; enables citizens to develop an excellence of character.

Aristotle's Concept of Justice

Meritorious justice is treating equals equally and unequals unequally, meaning people get what they deserve, so it's merit-based.

Aquinas

Was very much influenced by Aristotle; believed the common good is a primary goal of the just state, but so too is eternal salvation.

For Aquinas, laws are there to:

Ensure a peaceful and harmonious life for the people and to enable a virtuous life lived according to the desire of God.

Doctrine of Double Effect (Aquinas)

A way out of the wrong of intentionally killing another person, uh, called.

Doctrine of Double Effect Conditions

The action in itself from its very object be good, or at least indifferent; the good effect and not the evil effect be intended.

Aquinas' Conditions for a Just War

The authority of the sovereign; a just cause required; the belligerents should have a rightful intention.

Contemporary Versions of Just War

A just war must be declared by a legitimate authority; it must have a just cause; the right intention; a strong probability of success.

Hobbs' Postulates of Human Nature

The postulate of human greed and the postulate of natural reason.

Hobbs State of Being

Competitive, no police, no law, no morality - nothing has been invented yet.

Hobbs on Competition

Incessant competition breeds mistrust.

Hobbs' Principal Causes of Quarrel

Competition, diffidence/mistrust, and glory.

Contractionism (Hobbs)

Civil society is founded on agreements made by between individuals.

Hobbs on the Law

Need some coercive power to compel men equally to the performance of their covenants by the terror of some punishment.

Key to Escaping the State of Nature (Hobbs)

Give up freedom to a sovereign who will be able to enforce the peace.

Locke

Have natural rights to life, liberty, property, and health.

Locke on how humans have a natural right to property:

We mix our labor with natural resources.

Locke's Provisos to Property

May only appropriate as much as one can use before it spoils

Government for Later Liberal Thinkers

That's designed only to protect the natural rights to life, liberty, health, and property, nothing else.

Key Features of Liberalism

Individualism, freedom, reason, justice, and toleration.

Harm Principle (Mill)

As an autonomous adult, I am free to do whatever I want, so long as I do not bring harm to others.

Paternalism

The government treats autonomous adults as infants, telling us what to do.

Original Position/Veil of Ignorance

Trying to imagine if you were born tomorrow and you don't know whether you're male or female, poor, rich or poor, what religion you are, nothing.

Rawls and Justice

They choice according to maximum means that you would be assured a better outcome than any other if things go badly for you.

Rules (Rawls) and a Just Society

A society is just only if it distributes wealth and privileges to maximize the position of the least well-off of its members.

Nussbaum, Martha

The distribution of goods than she is in the development of the capabilities of people.

nozick (Libertarianism)

A minimal state is one. The legislative And executive functions extend only to the protection of citizens against force, theft, fraud, and the enforcement of contracts.

ayn Rand

Capitalism is the only system that can make freedom, individuality and rights possible in practice; rejects altruism.

Karl Marx View of Liberalism

Liberalism was better than what preceded it, feudalism. However, it could never deliver equality, liberty, and community.

Marx on Our Societies

Destroy any notion of human community or solidarity; is a morally corrupting force.

Politics of Universalism

Is a demand or claim for recognition relating to something that is universally shared.

Politics of Difference

A demand or claim for recognition relating to something that is not universally shared; specificity.

Axel Honneth and 3 Distinct Spheres of Recognition

Private sphere/love, the legal sphere/rights and the social sphere/solidarity.

For Waldron, the intention of Hate Speech

Hate speech undermines the public good of inclusiveness and the sense of security that an inclusive society can foster; undermines the dignity of those to whom it is directed.