Readings

Question 1

power corrupts and absolute power…

Answer 1

corrupts absolutely

Question 2

human predicament cycle

Answer 2

tyranny ➡️ revolution ➡️ anarchy ➡️ competing factors ➡️

Question 3

Plato’s “Republic”

Answer 3

virtue is the backbone of republican morality

Question 4

Plato on human nature:

Answer 4

the wisest should rule

Question 5

4 approaches to government:

Answer 5

autocracy, classical republicanism, libertarianism, liberalism

Question 6

example of autocracy:

Answer 6

monarchy and dictatorship

Question 7

classical republicanism

Answer 7

people are not corrupt, but corruptible, and can be taught correct moral values

Question 8

liberalism

Answer 8

government protects people from corrupt institutions

Question 9

libertarianism

Answer 9

human nature is variable, but individual freedom should be the goal of government

Question 10

autocracy

Answer 10

people are like children and need direction from the government

Question 11

Rousseau on human nature:

Answer 11

human beings are born entirely virtuous

Question 12

what’s in a “founders toolbox”?

Answer 12

structure, participation, law, custom & tradition, moral sense, founding myths, leadership

Question 13

3 basic religious beliefs in early America

Answer 13

God’s elect, the Christian calling, moral self-governance

Question 14

which group’s ideas are still found in American culture today?

Answer 14

Puritans

Question 15

new vs old ideas of freedom

Answer 15

old: freedom IN society; new: freedom FROM society

Question 16

Second Treatise of Government

Answer 16

1. in a state of nature there is no government (no divine right of kings) 2. people can join together to create a social compact 3. government’s only job is to protect people’s natural rights 4. government exists by consent of the governed 5. if government violates the social compact, the people have the right and duty to revolt

Question 17

5 rules of law

Answer 17

generality, prospectively, publicity, consent, due process

Question 18

Plato’s 4 cardinal virtues

Answer 18

wisdom, courage, temperance, justice

Question 19

problem of social epistemology

Answer 19

who should decide who’s right? and who should decide who gets to decide?

Question 20

constitution of knowledge

Answer 20

a system of rules for identifying truth

Question 21

mercantilism rested on what assumption?

Answer 21

government should regulate the economy to strengthen national power

Question 22

inalienable rights

Answer 22

life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness

Question 23

what is a founding?

Answer 23

a conscious, deliberate act of creating a system of government that benefits the people