HoPT Flashcards
Describe the main political features of Athenian democracy
- all citizens had political rights
- direct democracy
- ostracism
- institutions
Present advantages and disadvantages of democracy according to Thucydides
- resourcefulness, patriotism, determination
- rapid changes and shifts, cruelty, division
Describe the main political features of Roman Republic
- mixed constitution
- partially inclusive citizenship
- rule of law
Explain the role of law and legal system for the constitution of Roman Republic
- upholding rights and responsibilities
- ensuring accountability
- framework
- pillar of constitution
Explain the role of law and legal system for the constitution of Roman Republic
- upholding rights and responsibilities
- defining power and limitations
- holding government accountable
- crucial pillar of constitution
- framework
Present the political ideas of Chinese legalism (Lord Shang Yang, Shen Buhai, Han Feizi)
Book of Lord Shang: Benefit Through Order - law
* great benefit is in order
* people who act in their favour, rather that the state’s are to be punished
* people should be simple and easy to direct
* punishment and reward should be equal and not limited by morals
Shen Buhai: Bureaucratic “Non-Action” - statecraft
*system of administration whose functions are more or less definitely prescribed
* ruler should find right man for every role in system, then do nothing
Han Feizi: Pragmatic Justification of Practical Policies
* people are selfish and greedy creatures, that need to be ruled
* ruler should act in such way that people fear him
* ruler should keep his intentions hidden
* ministers must stick to their given duties
* ruler cannot trust anyone, especially family
* goal: unification
* rewards and punishment
* centralization of power
* meritocracy
Describe the political thought of Confucianism (Analects of Confucius, Mencius)
Confucius:
* people are good by nature
* ruler should gain loyalty of ministers by kindness
* ruler must accept ministers’ advice
Analects:
* education, justice, and morality
* virtuous rulers should lead by an example, promote harmony, and prioritise well-being of people
Mencius:
* people should develop sensitivity to decide which behaviour is appropriate for what situation
* government should help people with that
* preferred type of governance - “humane government”
* ethical considerations should not be sacrificed for the sake of efficiency or material gain
* rulers should lead through moral example
* importance of social standards and hierarchies in maintaining order and harmony
What were the main ideas of Christian political theology in Ancient Rome?
‘Absentionist” vision refers to the early Christian belief that Christians should abstain from active involvement in political affairs and focus on spiritual matters.
* result of Christian being a minority
* worldly realm is corrupt
* avoiding political participation, living by Christian moral principals instead
* separation of church and state
* Tertullian
Development:
* St. Augustine
* state and church more connected
Explain the ascending and descending theories of authority and their importance
Ascending:
Origin - will of people
Aim - forming a community and delegating authority to a ruler or a governing body
Power - social contract between authority and the governed
Thinkers - John Locke, Jean-Jacqeus Rousseau
Nowadays - popular sovereignty and democratic governance
Descending:
Origin - divine or natural law, rulers derive their authority from God, tradition, or natural order
Power - hierarchical structure, where authority flows from higher to lower levels
Thinkers - Thomas Hobbes and conservative political
Nowadays - traditional or hierarchical forms of governance
What were the sources of political tensions between popes and kings in Christian World
- investiture controversy
- both secular and religious sides claim they are divine authorities and have godly powers
- church claims it can judge rulers
- two swords doctrine - papacy has the right to dispose kings
Explain the importance of ideas of Caliph, Imamah and Ummah for Muslim political thought
Caliph:
* successor of Prophet
* temporal political leader of Muslim community
* upholds Islamic principles, promotes justice, and ensures prosperity of Ummah
* evolved into several forms of governments
Ummah:
* collective Muslim community worldwide
* in practice, the Muslim community was always divided
Imamah:
* Imam is political leader and a spiritual guide
* Imams are successors of Muhammad
Present Ibn Khaldun’s concepts of origins of state and power and role of social solidarity
- created numerous political theories
- concepts of the origins of state and power
- states emerge from nomadic tribal societies and are founded by a conquering group or dynasty
- important: strong leader, social order and justice, solidarity
Describe Dante’s views on papacy and monarchy
- criticised papacy (partly for private reasons)
- in “De monarchia” he presented ultra-monarchism with the supreme power of emperor (church’s greatest opponent)
- only in Roman model of state with absolutist power society could develop and flourish
- Pope only could advise rulers, not judge, or order
- peace can only exist with power of single Emperor
Explain the theory of secular authority by Marsilius of Padua
- state exists to protect common good
- state must have coercive authority
- authority and law must come from people to be fair and just
- citizens should elect leaders and take part in lawmaking
Secularity:
* christianisation of Roman Empire created corrupted church
* church positioning themselves higher than rulers is perversion
* church must pay taxes and respect civil courts
* church mustn’t have hierarchical structure
Present the main features of Utopian society and institutions
- ideal, unachievable, subjective
- commonwealth, equality
- harmony and balance between nature and human
- democratic governments, direct say in law-making, political participation
