Midterm - Tragedy of Power Flashcards
What is the tragedy of power? How is it reflected in our everyday practices in our justice system? What are some of the real-life practical effects and implications of the tragedy of power?
We can’t always get things right, it is just the fundamental flaw - we aren’t omniscient and can’t make perfect order in a chaotic world. People in power will make mistakes.
Every time the justice system has a practice in place, it’s unlikely it’s going to get it right every time. That it’s going to make for a safe world for everyone.
Writing down what time you saw Laura and then taking her back to negligent guardians: doesn’t solve the problem, but is “efficient” and is the protocol
Reading: Max Weber, politics as vocation
Defines state as an institution that can lay claim to monopoly of legitimate physical violence\
State is primary site for struggles over power
Power is struggled for to use to some ends or just to have it
three forms of rule: customary or traditional, prsonalized charismatic, and rule based on rationalized legality
ideal politician has passion for a cause, responsibility to the cause, and a sense of proportion/level-headedness
ethics of politics: one must balance ethics of conviction (doing always what you think is right) and ethics of responsibility (having an eye on the consequences of your actions)
What are the mortal sins of politics?
lack of commitment to a cuase and lack of a sense of responsibility
just wanting power for no reason but ego; doing something in contrast with your cause, not caring about your cause
What is ethics of conviction? (deontology!)
Duty-based ethics: doing what is right no matter the consequences. Having a set of ideals and sticking to them.
based on absolute, almost religious-faith kind of convictions by whatever means necessary, whatever the consequences
Ethics of responsibility? (consequentialism)
What action is right depends on what the effects of that action are. So countering in what might happen as a result of our actions
based on an acknowledgement of human frailty and failings, which require a measured consideration of possible consequences
Tragedy of power
We can’t always get things right, it is just the fundamental flaw - we aren’t omniscient and can’t make perfect order in a chaotic world. We will make mistakes. The people in power will make mistakes. People will suffer because they make mistakes. It’s tragic what happened to Laura in Wender’s book.
