Unit 1: Philosophy Flashcards
Plato
Big Idea: Perfect government is stupid
St. Thomas Aquinas
Natural law (moral code): havent broken written law, but still did something wrong
Social Contract
The people consent to the powers of government in exchange for government protecting their rights
Thomas Hobbes
Advocates strong government to protect us from each other; “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, short”. Need big powerful government or everything will fall apart.
John Locke
Second Treatise on government favored government that respects natural rights. Never said we’re good… we’re reasonable. Reason problems out. Not everyone will reason as there is always bad people. Believe in each other.
Power, Authority, Legitimacy
The Founding Fathers invested Authority in a government combining Aristotle’s three legitimate types, exercising power in different ways: monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy.
Democratic government
Direct or participatory democracy: direct vote of all citizens
Representative democracy or republic: citizens elect voting representatives
The Changing American People
Projected to reach 500 million by 2050, mainly due to immigration.
Non-Hispanic whites decline to 50%, blacks increase slightly to 15%.
Population expected to have highest elderly percentage and life expectancy ever.
Falling birth rate and more single female headed households.
Capitalists
Factories, greedy, don’t care about anything but their money. Can’t disagree with them.
Power Elite View
A wealthy few outside government - rich people. Idea that rich people run everything. Benefits the rich.
Bureaucratic View
Appointed (unelected) government officials - secret open government.
Pluralistic View
Many competing parties - none dominant - so many people want to run government but competition is tough they can’t do it for long.
Capitalism
private ownership - own what you have.
free market - decide what you want to sell, to who, for however much.
“laissez-faire”
More ‘Locke’ economics - people are reasonable.
“laissez-faire”
Government stays out of economy in favor of “the invisible hand” - leave capitalism alone and it will guide itself.
Socialism
Government ownership - not just economic, moral system.
Market regulated and controlled by the state - helps out everyone even if they can’t pay.
Nationalization - government ownership of major industries.
More ‘Hobbes’ - people need an eye kept on them.
Conservative (“Right Wing”)
Social issues: favor traditional viewpoints. Ex. Anti-abortion.
Economic issues: Favor smaller government, more “laissez-faire” (anti-taxes)
Liberal (“Left Wing”)
Social issues: favor modern, “progressive” viewpoints. Ex. Pro-LGBT rights
Economic issues: favor larger government. Ex. Pro-government regulation. Less “laissez-faire” (pay taxes for government)
Libertarian
Social issues: no government role at all. Ex. Legalize drugs.
Economic issues: Favor much smaller government. Very “laissez-faire”. Ex. No taxes.
Populist
Social issues: Favor traditional viewpoints. Ex. Pro-school prayer.
Economic issues: Favor larger government. Less “laissez-faire” (pay taxes)
Political Culture
The people’s long-standing consensus about how politics and the economy should be.
Popular Consent
Government is legitimate only when its citizens agree to its power.
Threats: unelected bureaucrats/judges. Ex. Supreme Court.
Popular Sovereignty
The people ultimately govern themselves.
Manifests in elections and public opinion polls.
Majority Rule
Voting majorities determines elections.
Voting majorities decide policy [solutions]
Must balance with minority rights.
Low voter turnout problem: typically 35-41% in midterms.
Individualism
Traditionally, Americans want freedom from government “interference” and expect people to be responsible for their own actions.
Now, government has an expanded role and must accept it.
