Presentation Transcript

1. Social and political Philosophy An introduction
2. Essential questions How and why do societies organize? What purpose does that organization serve? How do we define the state? Are there limitations to state power and authority? What roles do citizens play in the state?
3. Why do we need to organize? In pairs, come up with reasons why humans organize into larger societies? What assumptions underlie that process?
4. The state What gives the government authority to make decisions for its citizens?
5. Plato “The society we have described can never grow into a reality or see the light of day, and there will be no end to the troubles of states, or indeed, my dear Glaucon, of humanity itself, till philosophers become rulers in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands.” ― Plato, Plato's Republic
6. Plato The Republic Organization of society is derived from Plato’s tripartite theory of the soul (composed of reason, spirit and appetite) Society is organized into three divisions: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Republic is an ideal hierarchical society ruled by philosopher kings ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Workers who are ruled primarily by appetite (selfish desires of the flesh) would take no part in governing the state
7. Plato – The republic Some social mobility if people demonstrated certain abilities that would benefit the state ___________were to be given the same rights as men to be educated and to participate in public life Property _____________________________edby all members of the state and money would not exist Family would not exist as a social unit, arts and literature would have to be approved by the state however society was meant to be serene and peaceful Criticized for _______________________________________ ____________________________________________________
8. Plato’s republic Plato’s justification: What do you think of Plato’s justification for his vision of an ideal state? Do you have any criticisms of his republic? What type of modern political organization does this most closely resemble?
9. Criticism of plato’s republic Rulers should have innate abilities of reason and intelligence however also should be able to understand needs of the people This type of society impedes progress _____________________ ________________________________________________________ Can Plato’s republic truly exist?
10. Aristotle Interested in studying societies as they actually existed Less ____________… more ___________approach to politics “Man is a political animal” Humans can achieve a superior level of civilization if they live in a well-governed city state Family is the basic unit of society 3 categories of government: Each has its advantage however all could fail if they fostered extreme human behaviour
11. Aristotle Eg. Monarchies can be effective unless the ruler is a tyrant who oppresses people Eg. Democracy works unless people are ignorant and can be easily swayed (historical examples?) Most effective governments combined the best aspects of each system Rule of law foundation for political order Stressed ____________ and _____________in political life
12. Thomas aquinas Natural Law – governs both natural and social orders that represents law in its ideal state God’s natural law is designed to benefit humanity and should be applied in secular world Unjust earthly laws would violate natural law Human laws need to reflect more than the whims of those in power; “obey God rather than men”
13. Kongfuzi Tao – Right road or way Ren – _________ Li – _________________ Yi – ___________________ The Analects – Rulers should strive for ren at all times State is responsible for the well-being of the people “No state can exist without the confidence of the people” Leaders should: Study the ______ Lead ________lives Know their __________
14. Mohandas gandhi Born in British ruled India in 1869 Practiced law in South Africa where he experience racism, injustice and oppression Advocated for non-violent civil disobedience (____________– holding to the truth) _____________both a _________and a ________tool
15. Natural or Human Right Natural rights are _____________________________________. They are rights that we have in virtue of our humanity. Natural rights are akin to _________rights. When you hear people discussing human rights abuses, they mean abuses of certain basic rights. There is no clear philosophical basis for these rights.
16. Natural vs. Positive Rights Natural rights are basic, negative rights. Rights that we have, and _______________________________________________. Positive Rights come from ____________-- by legislation. The government passes an act of positive legislation that extends to us a certain right- to vote, drink, or drive…
17. Natural Rights Theorist
18. The social contract Declining influence of the Church during the Enlightenment allowed philosophers to re-evaluate the relationship between a state’s citizens and their leader
19. The social contract http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeFZXNDz7uA Before we examine the social contract, we have to question what is the true nature of humans. Are we inherently selfish or do we work together for each others common benefit? Left to our own devices, will we inevitably destroy one another?
20. Thomas Hobbes Mankind was born into the state of nature. Life in the state of nature is "short, nasty and brutish".
21. Government according to Hobbes The best way to protect your RIGHT to life. _____________________________________ _____________________________________ NO IMMORAL LAWS!
22. Immoral to Revolt! Hobbes- writing in defense of the King, denies that one can legitimately revolt against the government. ______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________
23. Inconsistent Hobbes originally claims that _________is what leads us out of the state of nature. Once we enter into the government; morality is determined by the king. He is _________________________________- the right action is whatever the king says. Egoism is not consistent with our “_______”to the king.
24. John locke Representative Democrat Locke’s conception of the state of nature differs from Hobbes. He says that it is , "Men living together according to reason, without a common superior on Earth with authority to judge between them is properly the state of nature".
25. John Locke: 3 Natural Rights Natural rights are akin to human rights. _________ theory of property: If you work for something, and it is not already owned by someone, then you acquire ownership of it.
26. Protection and revolt Locke, like Hobbes, claims that we leave the state of nature for _____________ It is the best way to protect our right(s). Locke, unlike Hobbes, says people have the right to _________ If the government is not protecting our natural rights, then the people have a ________to form a new, better government.
27. Jean Jacques Rosseau Direct Democrat Rousseau claims that both Hobbes and Locke mischaracterize the state of nature. Natural Man Civil Man
28. Natural Man
29. Civil Man Mankind moves from the state of nature to civilization once we move from self ____________towards the goal of acquiring property and wealth. The move from Natural Man to Civil Man is the point at which humans become ______________. “Man is born free, but every where we are in chains….” He thinks that we can only be truly free when we are part of a direct ____________
30. Philosophical rap of the day Git ready yo Excuse the language. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFBxtuvd8eU