Midterm 1 Flashcards
Montesquieu’s 5 themes
Relativism Women and Control Virtue Knowledge and Science Enlightenment and Despotism `
Rousseau’s main themes
Knowledge, advancement of science
Property, society, loss of culture, inequality
Simple, virtuous life
Development of arts and science
Useless knowledge
Inequality: need, mutual dependance, subjugation
Smith’s Themes
Self-interest, exchange, universal opulence Sympathy Fortuitous opening Importance of good wages for workers Principle of utility
Tocqueville’s Themes
Political liberty
Equal social conditions
PL determined by : geopolitics and accidents, habits of the heart, laws and institutions.
What does Montesquieu think about virtue?
Doesn’t like it, in favour of passion, commercial societies
What does Montesquieu think bout advancement and science?
Adores it, more educated = more tolerant
What does M think about despotism?
Hates it : cruel and oppressive
Nostalgie de la boue
Simple, virtuous life = Sparta
Who does rousseau blame for our unhappiness?
Intellectuals with dreams and ideas
Consequence of Arts and Science flourishing according to R?
never internally complete, no longer have moral untiy
What’s the primary duty for R?
Protect the land
Steps to creation of society? (R)
Development of agriculture and increase in population
Amour de soi
Nature, internally complete, basic needs, happiness
Amour propre
unnatural form of self love, constantly comparing yourself with others
Steps that led to the loss of virtue (R)
no permanent establishments –> families, PP, social classes, D/L, dependance (about want and not need) –> agriculture+ slaves –> Envy
How do you bring virtue back? (R)
leave society and go back to state of nature social contract (force people to be free)
General Will
the rule by which society is what’s best for you even if one people disagree
Will of All
everyone agrees –> impossible
How to avoid despotism? (R)
Self contained virtuous life
Dont trust the individual
Different groups, diversity is better
How to avoid despotism? (M)
liberty, liberalism, commercial society, passion
Two principle of Smith’s model of economy?
Division of labour
Principle of exchange and trade
Division of labour
Development of skill, dexterity and expertise, machinery
Principle of exchange and trade
Self interest
6 steps in his model
Self-interest –> Market –> Division of Labour –> Specialization –> expertise, dexterities, machinery –> universal opulence
Smith’s 4 stages of history
hunters and gatherers - equal
Pastoralism - domestication of animals, equal
Agrarian society - master/slave relation, PP, agriculture
Commercial society - last stage (y)
How is it possible to move towards a commercial society? (smith)
Agriculture leads to cities
Safer to improve land
Improvement must come from countryside
How did commerce in toms improve the country?
tradesman bring back education and money
manufacturers put order and organization in the countryside
Fortuitous opening
shift to a different society is accidental
Why is capitalism good according to Smith?
Brings order, better government, security and decreases violence
What is the origin of ranks? (S)
Wanting to be admired (elite through wisdom and virtue, masses through wealth)
Principle of utility?
trying to acquire wealth –> illusion of happiness
Good for society : distraction
Factors that determine political liberty for T
Geopolitics and accidents
Habits of the heart
Laws and institutions
2 forms of political regime
PL = decentralised Despotism = centralised
ESC+PL=
Democracy
Aristocracy doesn’t have
ESC
Despotism doesn’t have
PL
Majority of people participating in politics –>
Tyranny of the majority (Mill)
The USA (6)
Lots of land, no standing army
No fear of invasion = low taxes
Church influential bc separate from state
religion = increased ESC bc eyes of god all equal
Decentralisation: federal system blocks power
BORN FREE
The only way you can have PL is through
the exercise of political liberty
Self interest properly understood
realising necessity to preserve system
Self interest
immediate short term gratification, gets in way of PL
Ancien regime (6)
Aristocracy is useless Fear of invasion (undermines PL) Divide and rule policy No secularisation Centralisation Distrust --> social atomism
If you have ESC, very hard to get
PL
If you have PL
hope for ESC
England
Aristocracy trusts system
Decentralised
Established church for upper and lower classes
Island —> no fear of invasion
Culture of distrust given by
State
Once a path is taken you can’t stop it
Path-dependant theory of politics
Why are high wages important for Smith
wages of labourers allows society to develop
