Chapter 1 - Perspectives and Values Flashcards
human activity in society is governed by:
rules
Three overreaching questions:
- description
- explanation
- evaluation
six basic aspects of rules:
rules are enforced rules take different norms rules are frequently not neutral rules and powers interact rules can be inconsistent rules can change
Five core American values of society
freedom prosperity efficiency fairness democracy
The idea that people should be able to live their lives to the greatest degree possible as they wish. people should be free of coercive restrictions imposed by others and, as much as s possible, have the capacity to put their life plans into effect.
freedom
The idea that an economy should generate a high standard of living for most people, not just a small and privileged life:
prosperity
the idea that the economy should generate rational outcomes, effectively balancing costs and benefits in the way resources are used
Efficiency
The idea that people should be treated justly and they should have equal opportunity to make something of their lives without unfair privileges and unfair disadvantages:
Fairness
The idea of our public decisions should reflect the collective will of equal citizens, not of powerful and privileged elites
Democracy
Four kinds of disagreements on values:
definition
evaluation
ranking
optimism vs pessimism