Social Philosophy Flashcards
What is the government?
The group of people with the authority to run society.
What is liberty?
Being free from oppression in society.
What is democracy?
A system of government that votes for and elects representatives.
What is socialism?
When people believe that wealth should be owned/regulated by the community as a whole.
What is totalitarianism?
A dictatorial law that requires complete subservience (loyalty) to the state.
What is monarchy?
A form of government with a figurehead.
Who said that human beings are naturally impulsive, seeking short-term gains at the expense of long-term happiness?
David Hume
Who said that human beings are naturally selfish and violent, so the state of nature is a war against all?
Thomas Hobbes
Who said that the purpose of the Government and law is to uphold and protect the natural rights of men and that if they do not do this then they can be thrown out of power?
John Locke
Who said the main motivation of our actions should be to produce the greatest happiness for the greatest amount of people?
Jeremy Bentham
What was David Hume’s solution to life?
That humans should practice empathy and promise-keeping and therefore we will be able to overcome this natural deficit of being naturally impulsive and make a just society.
What was Thomas Hobbes’ solution to life?
That human beings need to be subjected to an absolute authority and to the threat of punishment in order to live together peacefully.
What was John Locke’s solution to life?
That the government have to give high quality universal public services based on entitlements. But for that to happen then the citizens must give money/taxes to the government but the citizens won’t have enough money to pay the taxes if the government don’t give them high quality services. Therefore, everyone must believe that the other is going to do what they are meant to do because otherwise the world will go to chaos.
What was Jeremy Bentham’s solution to life?
That everyone should do what pleases the most people. It is the consequences of our actions that are important - thinking about how many people will be happy from our actions.
What is the name for Jeremy Bentham’s solution to life?
Utilitarianism
What are two strengths of Utilitarianism?
1) It pleases the majority of people
2) It enables you to consider the consequences of actions
3) It is easy to follow rules
What are two disadvantages of Utilitarianism?
1) Can condone things on the basis of slavery
2) The majority is not necessarily morally right
3) We cannot always predict the consequences of actions as we cannot predict the future or how people will react/behave
