Politics - Political Philosophy

Lecture 2

Theory.

A model, about world views that generate certain hypothesis.

Empirical theory.

Concerned with what is, not what it out to be.

Evaluation by evidence, empirical data.

Behaviouralism.

Emphasizes the explanation of behaviour, combination of positivism and empiricism.

Behaviour can be explained by observation and needs to be tested empirially.

What is an example of behaviouralism?

US elections → sorting people out in social class, or education level, or region and who they voted for.

Normative theory.

Explains what should be, there is usually a link to moral issues in politics, justice and human rights.

Can be prescriptive or evaluative.

Political ideologies.

-isms. They are a collective, universalistic set of values about the fundamental goes of politics that inspire, guide and directs politics and policies.

What are the main 5 dominant modern ideologies?

liberalism, communism, social democracy, fascism, and anarchism.

Political attitudes.

Concerned with the speed and methods of political change; they are particularistic (definition of attitudes differs from country to country).

What are the most common political attitudes?

Radical, liberal, conservative and reactionary.

Political culture.

Society’s norms for political activity. It is what is considered normal/appropriate and works as a roadmap to organize public and political life.

Culture.

Content of the institutions that helps define a society and works as a roadmap to organize personal and social lives.

What are the two views of political culture? Explain both in detail.

Huntington views culture as religiously based, and permanent, while Inglehart believes that the values vary within and across societies.

What did Machiavelli believe in terms of the relationship between politics and religion?

He believed that they are separate. Politics is an autonomous realm of human action, while religion is an instruments of politics.

What are some key Machiavellian beliefs?

Politics has its own morality.

Good government is not necessarily virtuious.

In favour of strong and effective government based on the goals.

The ends justify the means.

Better to be feared than loved.

What are the key themes of The Prince, by Niccolò Machiavelli?

The use of deception, the role of military strength, the nature of power, and the tension between fortune (fortuna) and skill (virtù).

What does The Prince by Machiavelly talk about?

It is a political treatise that offers advice to rulers on how to gain and maintain power.

What are the qualities for which princes are praised or blamed?

• People judge rulers based on perceived virtues and vices such as generosity vs miserliness, or cruelty vs mercy.

• A prince cannot always be virtuous and survive.

• The goal of a rulers is not to be morally good, but to maintain pwoer.

• A prince must appear virtuous but be ready to act against virtue when necessary.

Why can generosity be dangerous according to Machiavelli?

Generosity is unsustainable, when funds run out, the prince is forced to take more from his people.

Why is miserliness safer according to Machiavelli?

Miserliness is safer because it allows a prince to save more for war and governance without burdening the people. The prince should be seen as frugal rather than greedy.

What does Machiavelli believe regarding mercy and cruelty?

He believes a prince should be merciful but not exessively lenient because too much mercy leads to disorder and lawlessness.

What does Machiavelli believe regarding fear and love?

He believes it is safer to be feared than loved because love is fickle, while fear ensures obedience. However, a prince must avoid being hated because hatred leads to rebellion.