Midterm: Political Authority

Question 1

Who does Plato think should rule?

Answer 1

Philosophers

Question 2

Why does Plato think these people should rule?

Answer 2

He thinks philosophers should rule because they are the wisest people in society. Plato establishes that wisdom is what makes a great leader worthy of the “Guardian” title.

Question 3

What was Plato’s class system?

Answer 3

The class system was set up as
- Gold: Guardians/Rulers
- Silver: Auxillary/Military
- Bronze: Producers/Craftspeople

Question 4

What is the Noble Lie in Plato?

Answer 4

The Noble Lie is the lie that was told to citizens. This lie said that everyone was born of a certain metal that would categorize them into the class structure. (Think Divergent)

Question 5

What is the ideal form of government in Aristotle?

Answer 5

Aristotle’s ideal form of government is a polity.

Question 6

Describe Aristotle’s ideal form of government

Answer 6

Aristotle’s “Polity” is a pluralist government. Aristotle’s Polity is a representative government where “the few” rule. These few are to make decisions based on what the citizens want.

Question 7

What kind of government is Plato describing?

Answer 7

Aristocracy: Only the best rule

Question 8

How does the Polity differ from deviant governments?

Answer 8

The correct and non-deviant forms of government including the polity are said to benefit the common interest. Aristotle says “Democracy is directed to the interest of the poor” (66). “None of these [deviant governments] benefits the common interest” (66).

Question 9

Who does Machiavelli say should rule?

Answer 9

Machiavelli says a ruler should be feared, but not hated. He thinks that fear

Question 10

What does Hobbes describe as the state of nature?

Answer 10

Hobbes’ state of nature is war. He thinks that people are naturally nasty and brutish.

Question 11

What does Hobbes say its the way to escape the state of nature. Or keep from degenerating into it?

Answer 11

Hobbes says we need to be ruled and make contracts so that people will not be at war with each other.

Question 12

What kind of government does Hobbes support?

Answer 12

Hobbes supports absolute monarchy

Question 13

Why does Hobbes think that an absolute monarchy is the best form of government?

Answer 13

Hobbes has a problem with pluralism and says that one person can unite all individual wills into one will. The monarch can best serve this one common goal.

Question 14

What is the state of nature in Locke?

Answer 14

In Locke’s state of nature, humans are independent and have free will to make decisions

Question 15

What is the basis of private property?

Answer 15

The basis of private property is that a person who makes a communal good their own therefore has a right to the product of their labor.

Question 16

What is the state of nature in Rousseau?

Question 17

What is the general will?

Answer 17

The general will is a compromise that relates to everyone. i.e. Everyone wants free college, they have different ideas of what that means, but they all agree they want free college.

Question 18

What is the will of all?

Answer 18

The will of all is majority rules. The thing that the majority of people want. i.e. some people don’t want free college, but the majority of people do so that is what happens.

Question 19

What problems does Hume have for social contract theory?

Answer 19

Hume says that a tacit consent social contract has never existed. Instead social contracts were formed by violence and submitted to from necessity.

Question 20

What form of government does Madison argue for?

Answer 20

Madison argues for a republic, which is a Polity (Ruled by the few for the many). Madison also argues against Democracy like Aristotle.