Test #1 review

Question 1

Identify the two types of theories that we use to investigate political phenomena?

Answer 1

empirical & normative theory

Question 2

What is the functionalist conception of ideology?

Answer 2

Ball & Dagger’s 4 functions of ideology: 1) Explanatory 2) Evaluative 3) Orientative 4) Programatic

Question 3

What are the 3 competing conceptualizations of ideology?

Answer 3

1) Science of Ideas (Destutt de Tracy) 2) Worldview (Thomas Jefferson) 3) Historical Product (Karl Marx)

Question 4

Explain the difference between empirical and normative theory.

Answer 4

Normative political theory explores what the ideal political order should be (upholding liberal rights). Empirical political theory explores how the government currently is - based on the scientific method.

Question 5

Definition of Theory:

Answer 5

explanation composed of a set of logically related propositions

Question 6

What do political theories explain?

Answer 6

explain political phenomena

Question 7

What is the model for empirical theory?

Answer 7

classic & natural sciences: universal laws, repeatable results

Question 8

Identify the two criteria for evaluating an empirical theory?

Answer 8

requires that an empirical theory be explanatory & predictive, must phenomena and then predict future events based on that explanation

Question 9

True or false, the two criteria for evaluating an empirical theory are positively correlated.

Answer 9

True, as explanatory power increases so does predictive power.

Question 10

Identify the two criteria for evaluating a normative theory.

Answer 10

Desirability (which option is best) & feasibility (empirically possible/morally permissible)

Question 11

True or false, the two criteria for evaluating a normative theory are positively correlated.

Answer 11

False, they are negatively correlated because if something is impossible it is less desirable.

Question 12

True or false, for the purposes of this class the terms ‘concept’ and ‘conceptualization’ will be used as synonyms.

Answer 12

False, Concept = general abstraction, Conceptualization = specific account of single phenomena.

Question 13

Define the terms ‘concept’ and ‘conceptualization’ and provide an illustrative example of the relationship between these terms.

Answer 13

Concept: an abstract account of a phenomenon, Conceptualization: a detailed account of a specific phenomenon. God as a general concept, Judaism as a conceptualization of God.

Question 14

Whom do we credit for inventing the modern concept of ‘ideology’?

Answer 14

Destutt De Tracy: ideology as the science of ideas

Question 15

Identify a word or phrase that best captures the founder of modern ideology’s perspective of ideology.

Answer 15

Ideology as the science of ideas

Question 16

Identify a word or phrase that best captures John Adams’ view of the concept of ideology.

Answer 16

The science of lunacy (non compos menticism)

Question 17

What was Thomas Jefferson’s perspective on ideology?

Answer 17

It exists and is important as the study of government, economy, and morality

Question 18

Karl Marx debate of ideology?

Answer 18

justifies mode of production and its social relationships (hegemonic oppression of the people)

Question 19

Identify the type of conceptualization of ideology we will use in this course.

Answer 19

Functionalism: things are made for a reason and serve a purpose

Question 20

What are ideology’s 4 functions?

Answer 20

1) explanatory 2) evaluative: provides standard of evaluating political phenomena 3) orientative: provides adherents with an identity 4) programatic: adherents with a plan for change

Question 21

What are the 3 tenets of Liberalism?

Answer 21

Individualism, Equality, Liberty

Question 22

What are the 2 basic types of liberalism?

Answer 22

Classical & Reform

Question 23

Classical (Early) Liberalism:

Answer 23

natural rights granted to humans (life, liberty, property)

Question 24

Who are some classic liberals?

Answer 24

John Locke & Adam Smith

Question 25

Explain Locke's social contract.

Answer 25

Government by the people for the people (consent-based)

Question 26

What is the command-based argument for government?

Answer 26

the divine right of kings

Question 27

John Locke's legitimate government.

Answer 27

a legitimate government is a limited government, limited by the rule of law and has limited scope

Question 28

Who connected liberalism and capitalism?

Answer 28

Adam Smith

Question 29

According to Adam Smith, why are liberalism & capitalism connected?

Answer 29

free societies need a certain level of wealth and leaving the economy alone is the best way to achieve that

Question 30

What is a night watchmen state?

Answer 30

ideal state for classic liberals: government by consent, equal worth, negative liberty (non-interference), limited gov., free market capitalism

Question 31

What are the characteristics of a night watchmen state?

Answer 31

government by consent, equal worth, negative liberty (non-interference), limited gov., free market capitalism

Question 32

Explain negative liberty.

Answer 32

laws are a means of constraint so we need laws that preserve rights instead and not limit actions to maintain free

Question 33

Reform Liberalism:

Answer 33

focus on socio-economic differences b/w people (equality of opportunity)

Question 34

Name two Reform liberals.

Answer 34

John M. Keynes and T.H. Green

Question 35

Explain positive liberty.

Answer 35

laws protect liberal rights to preserve self-determination. Not subject to another's will

Question 36

What are the two halves of Berlin's divided self?

Answer 36

1) higher self of mind and reason 2) lower self of the body as emotions and instinct

Question 37

What half of Berlin's divided self is required for liberty?

Answer 37

the higher self, one is not slaves to their impulses/needs but by self-determination

Question 38

What type of liberty enables Berlin's higher self?

Answer 38

positive liberty provides interference where necessary to ensure individualism can achieve their higher selves

Question 39

Reform liberals 2 roles for gov/state.

Answer 39

1) provide basic necessities like food/shelter 2) enable conditions for the development of reason (education)

Question 40

How many senses of liberalism are there?

Answer 40

2 senses: 1) personal moral weight and priority 2) source of the good life/ personal responsibility

Question 41

What is liberal equality?

Answer 41

equal moral worth (same rights & punishments)

Question 42

What is liberty?

Answer 42

state non-interference, ex: right to free speech

Question 43

Mill's harm principle.

Answer 43

laws are always a loss of liberty

Question 44

Keynesian theory of Economics.

Answer 44

Market has booms and busts

Question 45

Role of government in Keynesian economics?

Answer 45

can make market function in a humane way by increasing spending during lows and minimizing spending during highs

Question 46

Explain welfare state.

Answer 46

ideal for reform liberals, follows Keynesian economics and state has significant role in preserving positive liberty and equality of opportunity

Question 47

Identify Bo Strath's methodology in Chapter 1.

Answer 47

conceptual history as an analysis of how key concepts evolve over time within specific historical, political, and social contexts.

Question 48

Identify one key question that frames the conceptual history approach to ideology.

Answer 48

How have the meanings and uses of the concept of 'ideology' changed over time in different political, social, and cultural contexts?

Question 49

Outline Napoleon's views on ideology.

Answer 49

ideology referred to abstract political doctrine. He criticized abstract ideals for distancing from the realities of governing. Radical ideologies are destabilizing. Leaders should be pragmatic by creating stability and power for national interest

Question 50

True or false, only people on the right use the term 'liberal' in a derogatory fashion.

Answer 50

False, other people on the left including socialists and Marxists use the term in a derogatory way

Question 51

True or false, equal moral worth demands that all citizens are entitled to the same rights and duties.

Answer 51

true

Question 52

Identify the scholar who wrote the Two Treatises on Government.

Answer 52

John Locke

Question 53

What are John Locke's two treatises?

Answer 53

1) refutes divine right of kings 2) natural rights and gov. as social contract

Question 54

Identify the three natural rights.

Answer 54

Life, liberty, property

Question 55

A right can be natural or (blank)?

Answer 55

a political right

Question 56

According to liberals, what is the sole basis for legitimate government?

Answer 56

Individual's consent

Question 57

Identify a philosopher who advances a 'divine right of kings' argument for government.

Answer 57

Robert Filmer, monarchs derive authority from God

Question 58

Define and state the significance of the liberal concept of 'limited government'.

Answer 58

Government is limited in scope and subject to the rule of law to protect natural rights. But, it also means the gov's ability to help is limited because of negative liberty.

Question 59

Who is given the credit for bringing together liberalism and capitalism?

Answer 59

Adam Smith

Question 60

Outline some of the problems that left people dissatisfied with classical liberalism.

Answer 60

laissez faire economics led to economic inequality that didn't benefit the working class, social injustice by emphasizing equality over equity, failure to address collective needs (darwinism), exclusionary politics.

Question 61

True or false, current liberal democracies draw on reform liberalism and classical liberalism equally for inspiration.

Answer 61

True

Question 62

Identify a word or phrase that best captures positive liberty.

Answer 62

self-determination through government preservation/support

Question 63

True or false, Isaiah Berlin invented the terms positive and negative liberty.

Answer 63

False

Question 64

Isaiah Berlin believed in value (blank)?

Answer 64

pluralism, multiplicity of values that cannot be reduced to a single principle

Question 65

One is free, in a positive liberty sense, when one is ruled by what?

Answer 65

The mind/higher self

Question 66

Identify two examples of instances where one is unfree in a positive liberty sense.

Answer 66

When ruled by the lower self/needs: starvation, addiction, intense emotion

Question 67

Critics of positive liberty believe the two problems plague this conception of liberty. Identify these two problems.

Answer 67

1) Risk of paternalism, people in authority restrict freedoms 2) gov interference necessary to grant freedom

Question 68

True or false, reform liberals only care about equality of opportunity, arguing that the classical liberal conception of equality is totally useless and should be abandoned.

Answer 68

False, simply needs improvement to prevent 'survival of the fittest'

Question 69

True or false, reform liberals think all socio-economic differences (e.g., income, wealth, status, etc.) are problematic and should be eliminated.

Answer 69

False, disparities should simply be minimized

Question 70

Identify two ways that the state can promote equality of opportunity.

Answer 70

1) minimize socio-economic disparity thru policies that address circumstance 2) universal education 3) income support

Question 71

True or false, John Maynard Keynes is a supporter of a certain type of free-market capitalism.

Answer 71

True, but must flatten out highs and lows of economic cycle

Question 72

What do we call the reform liberal ideal state?

Answer 72

a welfare state

Question 73

Outline J.S. Mill's contribution to Liberalism.

Answer 73

transition from individualism to individuality, harm principle, negative liberty, freedom as a space, self-regarding acts (harm is only caused to oneself) should be legal, only behaviour that affects others should be dictated by gov

Question 74

Outline what liberals mean by the term 'individualism'.

Answer 74

the term asserts that humans are autonomous agents with an emphasis on personal responsibility and self-determination. Equal moral worth (equality and rights) and freedom is both positive and negative liberty sense. Shapes the role of the government as preserving said rights.

Question 75

Outline the reform liberal concept of positive liberty. Be sure to explain how the state can support this form of freedom.

Answer 75

positive liberty emphasizes the freedom to act in ways that enable personal and collective development. State must take an active role instead of 'nightwatchmen' one by providing essential services, regulating economy, addressing inequality.

Question 76

Outline the links between liberalism and progress as explained in Chapter 18.

Answer 76

Liberalism fosters progress towards universal basic human rights, advancement in education and STEM, free market economy that creates wealth.

Question 77

What are the two critiques that accuse Liberalism of exclusion?

Answer 77

Liberalism is open to abuse, policies can be illiberal with authoritarian motivation or prejudice. Reinforces power structures and is inherently exclusionary through their justification.