Lecture Notes Week 4

Question 1

In Scientific Political Theory, Political Phenomenon is defined as

Answer 1

a mass of seemingly unrelated occurrence that attract the attention of the political scientist

Question 2

In Scientific Political Theory, Scientific Investigation is

Answer 2

observation, organization and classification of occurrences to discover regularites

Question 3

Scientific Political Theory says…
Variables
Testing
Pre-theories

Answer 3

identification and isolation of variables that seem related
formulation of hypotheses and generalizations linking variables
joining tested hypothesis

Question 4

In Scientific Political Theory, Laws are

Answer 4

unquestioned political truth

Question 5

Some variables linked to political alienation are

Answer 5

age, gender, political knowledge, social class

Question 6

What does good political science focus on?

Answer 6

good definitions, good definitions, linking dependent and independent variables, at least in terms of correlations

Question 7

Define these in terms of the Canadian Federal Government:

• debt
• deficit
• surplus
• principal
• interest

Answer 7

• the amount owed by the government to banks/bond holders/etc
• a budget that spends more than it brings in
• a budget that brings in more revenue than it spends
• the total amount loaned, to be paid back over x amount of time
• the percentage of the total loan paid for every year for loaning the money

Question 8

What are some key questions addressed by ideologies?

Answer 8

• human nature
• origins of the state (government)
• obligations (if any) of citizens and why?
• definitions of freedom
• definitions of equality
• group vs individual rights
• role and type of leaders
• definition of justice
• role and type of government

Question 9

Define ideology

Answer 9

a set of fundamental beliefs, a belief system that explains and justifies a preferred political order of society, either one that already exists of one that is proposed. It offers as well at least a sketchy notion of strategy (process, institutional arrangements, programs) for its maintenance or attainment. Ideology by extension may imply or even articulate the notion of a universal system of political order as well, for all peoples and internationally. (George, 1987)

Question 10

Which ideology has had the most impact in the West?

Answer 10

Liberalism

Question 11

Libralism comes from the Latin _______ and all liberals start with looking at humans, _______ in a _______.

Answer 11

• “liber” = to be free
• free
• state of nature

Question 12

Ironically, the first liberal theorist was afraid of freedom in the state of nature and called for a(n) _______ government. His name was _______.

Answer 12

• authoritarian

- Thomas Hobbes

Question 13

Hobbes fled to _____ during the Civil War and tutored ______.

Answer 13

• France

- Charles, Prince of Wales

Question 14

Why did Hobbes see equality in the state of nature as a problem?

Answer 14

Without a leader, no one would have the power to maintain order when differences occur.

Question 15

Men in the state of nature are _____. They see the _____ of freedom and freely give up _____ to maintain order.

Answer 15

• reasonable
• limits
• freedom or sovereignty

Question 16

What is a social contract and what does it do?

Answer 16

The agreement we freely make to exit the state of nature and enter society.
Set up to protect our rights (life)

Question 17

Hobbes said, “During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in conditions called…”

Answer 17

“…war; and such a war, as if of every man, against every man.”

Question 18

In the conditions of the state of nature, Hobbes said the life of a man is…

Answer 18

solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.

Question 19

Hobbes said, “It is not wisdom but _____ that makes a law.”

Answer 19

authority

Question 20

Some “liberal” concepts Hobbes introduced include

Answer 20

• state of nature
• individual freedom
• sovereignty of the individual
• “reasonable man”
• social contract

Question 21

Hobbes’ solution to the state of nature was not a “liberal democracy” but instead an ______ _______ government. However, it was not based on the divine ______. It was our free choice, based on _____.

Answer 21

• authoritarian
• monarchy
• right of kings
• reason