Unit 1: Philosophy

Question 1

Plato

Answer 1

Big Idea: Perfect government is stupid

Question 2

St. Thomas Aquinas

Answer 2

Natural law (moral code): havent broken written law, but still did something wrong

Question 3

Social Contract

Answer 3

The people consent to the powers of government in exchange for government protecting their rights

Question 4

Thomas Hobbes

Answer 4

Advocates strong government to protect us from each other; “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, short”. Need big powerful government or everything will fall apart.

Question 5

John Locke

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

Power, Authority, Legitimacy

Answer 6

The Founding Fathers invested Authority in a government combining Aristotle’s three legitimate types, exercising power in different ways: monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy.

Question 7

Democratic government

Answer 7

Direct or participatory democracy: direct vote of all citizens

Representative democracy or republic: citizens elect voting representatives

Question 8

The Changing American People

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

Capitalists

Answer 9

Factories, greedy, don’t care about anything but their money. Can’t disagree with them.

Question 10

Power Elite View

Answer 10

A wealthy few outside government - rich people. Idea that rich people run everything. Benefits the rich.

Question 11

Bureaucratic View

Answer 11

Appointed (unelected) government officials - secret open government.

Question 12

Pluralistic View

Answer 12

Many competing parties - none dominant - so many people want to run government but competition is tough they can’t do it for long.

Question 13

Capitalism

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

“laissez-faire”

Answer 14

Government stays out of economy in favor of “the invisible hand” - leave capitalism alone and it will guide itself.

Question 15

Socialism

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

Conservative (“Right Wing”)

Answer 16

Social issues: favor traditional viewpoints. Ex. Anti-abortion.
Economic issues: Favor smaller government, more “laissez-faire” (anti-taxes)

Question 17

Liberal (“Left Wing”)

Answer 17

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)

Question 18

Libertarian

Answer 18

Social issues: no government role at all. Ex. Legalize drugs.
Economic issues: Favor much smaller government. Very “laissez-faire”. Ex. No taxes.

Question 19

Populist

Answer 19

Social issues: Favor traditional viewpoints. Ex. Pro-school prayer.
Economic issues: Favor larger government. Less “laissez-faire” (pay taxes)

Question 20

Political Culture

Answer 20

The people’s long-standing consensus about how politics and the economy should be.

Question 21

Popular Consent

Answer 21

Government is legitimate only when its citizens agree to its power.
Threats: unelected bureaucrats/judges. Ex. Supreme Court.

Question 22

Popular Sovereignty

Answer 22

The people ultimately govern themselves.
Manifests in elections and public opinion polls.

Question 23

Majority Rule

Answer 23

Voting majorities determines elections.
Voting majorities decide policy [solutions]
Must balance with minority rights.
Low voter turnout problem: typically 35-41% in midterms.

Question 24

Individualism

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

Equality

Answer 25

Political equality (1 man, 1 vote).
Equality of opportunity: “everyone gets a chance to succeed.”
Equality of results? - “everyone must succeed in equal numbers.”

Question 26

Personal Liberty

Answer 26

Freedom of speech and religion.
Protection from abuses of police power.
Ever-expanding definition of what constitutes “liberty.”

Question 27

Civil Society

Answer 27

All the free, voluntary organizations that bring people together.
Do TV and the internet leave us all “bowling alone”?

Question 28

Baby Boomers

Answer 28

More liberal, optimistic, more faith in government. Largest generation.
Now retiring and bankrupting entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare are provided by government for qualifiers.

Question 29

Social Security

Answer 29

Ages 65 and older receive an X amount of money for the rest of their lives due to this entitlement program.

Question 30

Generation X

Answer 30

More republican, pessimistic, less faith in government.

Question 31

Millennials

Answer 31

More liberal, optimistic, more faith in government.

Question 32

Generation Z

Answer 32

Pessimistic, less faith in government. (possibly more republican due to pattern).

Question 33

Expectations

Answer 33

Historically, the US government has been remarkably successful responding to crises.
Now, people expect government action on almost every problem.

Question 34

Pessimism about government

Answer 34

More than ever, people are skeptical about the government’s ability to do anything good or right.
Lack of faith in America itself is a by-product of this - a “culture war.”

Question 35

Voter Apathy

Answer 35

Record low voter turnout in recent years.
Even fewer voters really study the issues or candidates.

Question 36

Redefining Expectations

Answer 36

Greater services vs. lower taxes.
Apathy and mistrust: “In democracy, we get the government we deserve.”