Exam 2 Flashcards
Hobbes, Locke, Machiavelli, Rousseau
Fortuna
The enemy of political order (according to Machiavelli), the ultimate threat to the safety and security of the sate. Fickleness of the goddess
Virtu
The range of personal qualities that the prince will find it necessary to acquire to “maintain his state” and to “achieve great things”
Lo Stato
The acquisition and application of power in a coercive sense
Vivere Sicuro
Living in safety
Vivere Libero
Freedom of the community
State (Machiavelli)
Something that has dominion and absolute power over men and can be either a republic or a principate
The Prince
A political treatise written by Machiavelli. Describes how to acquire power, create a state, and keep it
Leviathan
The first general theory of politics in the English language
State of Nature
A time of war where every man is enemy to every man and a time where men live without security
Sovereignty
is perpetual, inalienable, undivided, and absolute
Liberty
The absence of external impediments. The ability to act according to one’s will without being physically hindered from performing that act
Natural Law (Hobbes)
“Qualities that dispose men to peace and obedience”
Solipsism
The philosophical idea that only one’s own mind is sure to exist
Justice
An artificial virtue. It only exists as a convention in the context of a civil society
Natural Power (Hobbes)
Internal qualities like intellectual eloquence, external strength, and prudence
Instrumental Power
The ability to secure wellbeing or personal advantage “to obtain some future apparent good”
Social Contact
Between he people and not between the people and the leviathan. Once the people agree to create the leviathan, they are to have no influence over the leviathan
Fiduciary
Involves trust, especially with regard to the relationship between a trustee and a beneficiary
The legislature
The “supreme power” to which all other powers, particularly the executive, “must be subordinate”
Natural Power (Locke)
The eminence of the faculties of body, or mind: as extraordinary strength, form, prudence, arts, eloquence, liberality, nobility
The Right of Nature
Is the liberty each man, to use his own power, as he will himself, for the preservation of his own life
Law (Locke)
Not simply a limitation but something that guide an intelligent and free man to what is in his best interest and does not restrict him more than what is good for mankind in general
Commonwealth
Has the power to devise punishments for transgressions of the law and, above all, preserve the property of the members of society (property being lives as well as possessions)
Liberty (Locke)
“My own will in all things, where the rule prescribes not”
Paternal Power
The power that parents have over their children until they reach the age of reason
Political Power
The power that everyone in a society consents to submit to the commonwealth for the protection of their property
Despotic power
The absolute arbitrary power of one person to take the life and property of another against their will
Usurpation
Domestic conquest. It is simple a change of leadership, not of the forms of rules and government, and is not right unless sanctioned by the people
Tyranny
“The exercise of power beyond right”. A just leader is bound by the laws of the legislature and works for the people, whereas this ruler breaks the laws and acts on his own behalf
Political Equality (Locke)
All the power and jurisdiction are reciprocal, and no one has more power than another
The social contract (Locke)
An agreement between the people and the government - like a Fiduciary Trust. The people set up the government for their own benefit and the legislature, like a trustee, is to pass laws for the benefit of the people
Social Order
A sacred right that is based on conventions - not from nature. It is the foundation of all other rights
State of Nature (Rousseau)
Man seeks to take care of himself first and then others. Man is compassionate by nature
Social State (Rousseau)
The self-proclaimed authority is in control, so everyone is in line - peace is through force
The Social Pact
Obstacles to taking care of yourself. Self-preservation by coming together and working together
The General Will
Free of factionalism. If a significant number of people band together because of shared private interests and agree to promote these interests by voting as a block, they will manage to unbalance it.
Factionalism
Significant number of people banding together because of shared private interests. They DO NOT work on behalf of the common good
Law (Rousseau)
As an abstract expression of the general will that is universally applicable. All laws are made by the people as a whole and apply to the people as a whole: the law does not deal with particularities.
Equality (Rousseau)
Differences in wealth should not unbalance the state
Political/Fundamental Laws
Are the main subjects of the Social Contract, according to Rousseau. These determine the relationship the body politic has with itself, the fundamental structure of the state.
Civil Laws
Deal with individuals in relation with each other or with the body politic as a whole
Criminal Laws
Deal with cases where the law is broken
Legislator (Lawgiver)
An ideal one is not easy to find. Must be supremely intelligent, and willing to work selflessly on behalf of a people. Must exhibit great insight. In order for the laws to be unbiased, the lawgiver should not himself be a citizen of the state to which he gives laws. He is outside and above the authority of the sovereign.
Natural Aristocracy
Frequently found in primitive civilizations, where elders and heads of families govern a village or tribe
Elective Aristocracy
Those with power or riches, or those who are best suited to govern, are placed in charge. According to Rousseau this is the best type of aristocracy.
Hereditary Aristocracy
Certain families govern everyone else. According to Rousseau this is the worst type of aristocracy
Democracy
When all or most of the citizens are magistrates
Aristocracy
When fewer than half the citizens are magistrates
Monarchy
Where there is only one magistrate (or in some cases a few handfuls)
Social Contract (Rousseau)
Created to counter the unequal and exploitive social relationships that are backed by law and state power
