PS2400 Study Guide — Simplified Notes

Part I: Quote Identification (Simple Meanings)

• "Sovereign is he who decides on the exception."

  • Author/Work: Carl Schmitt, Political Theology

  • Meaning: The real ruler is the one who can break the rules during an emergency. Power reveals itself in times of crisis.

• "The virtue of justice belongs to the city…"

  • Author/Work: Aristotle, Politics

  • Meaning: Justice is fundamental for a city to be fair and organized. A good city is constructed on the principle of fairness.

• "Aristotle warns citizens that imperialism might make them slaves."

  • Author/Work: Aristotle (lecture)

  • Meaning: Unjust ruling can lead to the loss of freedom. If a group rules unfairly, they too may become enslaved.

• "The life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."

  • Author/Work: Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan

  • Meaning: Life without government leads to chaos and danger. Without rules, there is no peace and protection.

• "Women are property, but also persons…"

  • Author/Work: Carole Pateman, The Sexual Contract

  • Meaning: Society has a conflicting view of women, treating them as both human beings and property simultaneously.

• "Common possession of the surface of the earth…"

  • Author/Work: Immanuel Kant, Perpetual Peace

  • Meaning: The earth is a shared space, belonging to everyone equally. No person was inherently born with ownership of the world.

• "We should not take Kant’s theory as a given…"

  • Author/Work: Charles Mills, Kant’s Untermenschen

  • Meaning: It is crucial to acknowledge Kant’s racist ideas when studying his philosophy instead of overlooking them.

• "The ends of freedom and individuality for all…"

  • Author/Work: John Dewey, Creative Democracy

  • Meaning: Genuine democracy must actively embody and practice the freedoms it promises to its citizens.

• "Men have increased women’s inferiority…"

  • Author/Work: Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

  • Meaning: Educating women is vital for achieving equality, as knowledge empowers them.

• "Only when the real man re-absorbs the abstract citizen…"

  • Author/Work: Karl Marx, On the Jewish Question

  • Meaning: True freedom arises when individuals possess practical power in their daily lives, not merely in theoretical frameworks.

• "In the nature of man, we find three principal causes of quarrel…"

  • Author/Work: Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan

  • Meaning: Human conflict primarily arises from desires for gain, personal safety, and matters of pride.

• "An order of life as is good and right everywhere…"

  • Author/Work: Aristotle, Politics

  • Meaning: A virtuous life adheres to what is naturally right and suitable for human beings.

• "Any theory that cannot be shared in conversation…"

  • Author/Work: Susan Moller Okin, Political Theory: Feminism and Public Life

  • Meaning: If a theory or idea cannot be comprehensively communicated or understood, it lacks educational value.

Part II: Concept Explanation (Short & Easy)

• Political Animal

  • Author/Work: Aristotle, Politics

  • Meaning: Humans are intrinsically social beings, designed to coexist in communities. We have a fundamental need for social interactions and relationships.

• State of Nature

  • Author/Work: Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan

  • Meaning: Refers to a hypothetical condition without governmental structure, where the absence of laws leads to constant fighting for survival. Without rules, there is no peace or security.

• Politeia (Polity)

  • Author/Work: Aristotle, Politics

  • Meaning: Signifies a government system that synergizes democracy and aristocracy, representing a balanced approach in governance often referred to as the middle path.

• Theory as Liberatory Practice

  • Author/Work: bell hooks

  • Meaning: Theoretical frameworks should serve practical functions to liberate individuals from oppression. Simply possessing ideas is insufficient; they must lead to actionable freedom.

• Fairness

  • Author/Work: John Rawls, A Theory of Justice

  • Meaning: Fairness equates to justice, wherein rules and regulations are designed to be equitable for all individuals.

• State of Exception

  • Author/Work: Carl Schmitt, Political Theology

  • Meaning: A condition whereby leaders are permitted to suspend laws during emergencies to maintain order and control. Demonstrates how power can be exercised in critical situations.

• Republican Constitution

  • Author/Work: Immanuel Kant, Perpetual Peace

  • Meaning: A form of government structured upon principles of law, equality, and individual freedoms.

• Renascent Liberalism

  • Author/Work: John Dewey, Creative Democracy

  • Meaning: This iteration of liberalism emphasizes active participation and the continuous development of democratic values over passivity in governance.

• Political Emancipation

  • Author/Work: Karl Marx, On the Jewish Question

  • Meaning: The state grants certain legal freedoms, but this does not equate to full human liberation or autonomy.

• Natural Law

  • Author/Work: Aristotle

  • Meaning: An assumption that moral principles are universal and derive from human nature itself, as opposed to imposed by authority.

• The Sovereign

  • Author/Work: Carl Schmitt, Political Theology

  • Meaning: Identifies the authority responsible for determining when laws can be temporarily set aside during crises, highlighting the intersection of power and governance.

• Virtue

  • Author/Work: Aristotle, Politics

  • Meaning: Represents the practice of making moral decisions guided by good habits; reflects that possessing a good character translates into effective citizenship.

Part III: Personal Reflection (Sample Answers)

• Which author or work helped you understand politics the most?

  • Answer: Aristotle assisted me significantly because he illustrated that humans are political by nature, highlighting that politics is a vital framework for connecting people and promoting a good life.

• What author or work do you disagree with most?

  • Answer: I find myself disagreeing with Hobbes, who posited that humans are inherently selfish. I contend that individuals are capable of cooperation and trust without being driven by fear.

• Which author or work would you recommend to your family and why?

  • Answer: I would recommend A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft, as it underscores the importance of education in empowering women and advancing equality.