POLI 231 Final Flashcards
Descriptive vs. Normative
Chantal never calls vs. Chantal ought/should call
Descriptive or Normative?
“What Chantal has done is not right”
Even if there is “is” it is not descriptive, it is normative because “right” says something about what Chantal should have done
Is describing someone’s normative thinking normative?
No, it is descriptive because you as describing
When we are talking about politics in ethics what are we most concerned with?
What we owe to each other/moral duties to others
We can be held accountable
EX: not lying, killing, etc.
What is political theory/philosophy?
How should we live together as a political community? (i.e., monarchy)
What kind of values are appealing and how should we arrange our system to them? (i.e., justice, freedom, equality)
Key normative question for political philosophy
The exercise of political power
Political theory concerns the binding rules/decisions/norms that govern our collective life. These rules are binding for everyone.
The state (institutions) exercise coercive power as they as institutions backed up by coercion (police)
Holding people accountable through the use of force
High Burden of Justification
You should do something + reasons why (further justification is required)
Sheer Power vs. Legitimate Power
Sheer Power = capacity to get outcomes they might want
Legitimate Power = What makes the exercise of political power legitimate?
Legitimate = allowed morally to use power/people but must respect legitimate law/people shouldn’t overthrow the legit regime.
EX: The king’s power is legitimate because it is the power of God
Normative Consideration of Politics
(1) What makes the exercise of political order/power legitimate? (political philosophy)
(2) What obligations do people have to obey within a political order? OR How ought the individual act (ethics).
Key Issue in Antigone
Creon decrees that Antigone’s older brother will not be buried. According to religion, Antigone thinks it is her duty to bury her brother, which is justifiable in doing so and breaking the law.
Dimensions (Conflict b/w Antigone & Creon)
(1) Family ties (private) vs. political ties/duties
(2) Religious duties vs. political duties
(3) Morality/justice vs. political law
(4) Immediate family vs. head of house
(5) Social status publicity vs. general status
(6) Individual (conscience) vs. state (Creon says the highest duty is to the state)
(7) Laws/power vs. legitimacy
(8) Woman vs. man (Creon sees Antigone as a threat to order)
Haemon
Haemon (Creon’s son) = ruler responsive to council and believes that glory and fame comes from others
Teiresias
Blind prophet = voice of God idea is responsiveness
Different Accounts of Legitimacy (Antigone)
(1) maintenance of order (Creon) = Creon believes the well-being of others depends on political order
(2) laws that correspond to objective justice (e.g. from gods or wise counsel) = there is a standard in action, laws only legitimate insofar if they respect the standard
(3) laws that result from ruler responsiveness to citizens’ views is legitimate
Unintended Meaning and Consequences of Action for Antigone
The unintended meaning is more than Antigone intends = she’s challenging the authority of a tyrant but her true intention was that for her brother
The consequences of her action were less than she intends = she treats her sister horribly while intending for her brother
Unintended Meaning and Consequences of Action for Creon
The unintended meaning is more than Creon intends = his political focus is an assault on his family
The consequences of his actions are less than he intendeds = the well-being of others (fails to justify his consequentialist means)
Consequentialism vs. Deontology
The lack of control of our consequences creates tension between the state person who does not take into account uncertainty vs. taking too much into consideration to the extent of paralyzation
Greater Context in Which Individual is Embedded
(1) Family ties
(2) Gender roles
(3) Political context
(4) Divine order of laws
(5) physical environment
Problems With Large Public Forums: Books & Speeches (Socrates)
(1) Appropriateness
What one says has to be appropriate to the audience as not everyone is ready to hear everything at a particular time = one can’t tailor words to the particular individual’s soul
(2) Flattery
You have an incentive to please your audience and say what they want to hear as you want them to like you
(3) Justice vs. Politics
Socrates was forced to do a speech in front of the judges because in Greek trials one must throw themselves at the mercy of the judges to flatter them as doing so confirms the power they hold over you. If a judge is flattered they may show pity. However, Socrates refused to do so and enter the political realm even if the truth would not sway many. Moreover, it is impossible to fight for justice in politics
Symbolism of Socrates of Not Engaging in Public Forms
By refusing to give a speech and enter the political realm Socrates demonstrates his commitment to justice over life
The conflict between a just/ethical life and leading a public life/politics
Authority (Socrates)
Socrates pursues and questions common opinions/norms while critically examining what people tell him (don’t just accept authority) = scrutiny of reason
“The unexamined life is not worth living”
Soul > body (like Gandhi)
Questions religious beliefs in his society making people accuse him of being an atheist
Tension b/w Apology & Crito?
The Apology = Defends reason and philosophy against the flattery of the courts and refuses to play the political game
Crito = Defends the authority of the law
Socrate’s Accusations in the Apology
(1) Impiety (disbelief in the gods of the city) = Socrates engaged in an investigation of the physical universe implying he was an atheist
(2) Corrupts the young = He is teaching others and deceiving them by making weaker arguments look stronger
(3) Evaluation of charges = In a way the charges are true
Socrates’s Calling
Wisdom/truth > authority/opinion of others = Socrates only believes the oracle after he investigates the oracle’s claim
Socrates searches for anybody who claims to be wise and asks them questions