An introduction SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY. How and why do societies organize? What purpose does that organization serve? How do we define the.

An introduction

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL

PHILOSOPHY

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?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

In pairs, come up with reasons why humans organize into larger societies? What assumptions underlie that process?

WHY DO WE NEED TO ORGANIZE?

What gives the government authority to make decisions for its citizens?

THE STATE

“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

PLATO

The RepublicOrganization 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

PLATO

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 _____________________________ed by 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 ___________________________________________________________________________________________

PLATO – THE 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?

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?

CRITICISM OF PLATO’S REPUBLIC

Interested in studying societies as they actually existedLess ____________… 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 stateFamily is the basic unit of society3 categories of government:

Each has its advantage however all could fail if they fostered extreme human behaviour

ARISTOTLE

Eg. Monarchies can be eff ective unless the ruler is a tyrant who oppresses people

Eg. Democracy works unless people are ignorant and can be easily swayed (historical examples?)

Most eff ective governments combined the best aspects of each system

Rule of law foundation for political orderStressed ____________ and _____________in political life

ARISTOTLE

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 lawHuman laws need to reflect more than the whims of

those in power;“obey God rather than men”

THOMAS AQUINAS

Tao – Right road or way Ren – _________ Li – _________________ Yi – ___________________

The Analects – Rulers should strive for ren at all timesState is responsible for the well-being of the people

“No state can exist without the confi dence of the people”

Leaders should: Study the ______ Lead ________lives Know their __________

KONGFUZI

Born in British ruled India in 1869Practiced law in South Africa where he experience

racism, injustice and oppressionAdvocated for non-violent civil disobedience

(____________– holding to the truth)_____________both a _________and a ________tool

MOHANDAS GANDHI

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.

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…

NATURAL RIGHTS THEORIST

Declining influence of the Church during the Enlightenment allowed philosophers to re-evaluate the relationship between a state’s citizens and their leader

THE SOCIAL CONTRACT

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?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeFZXNDz7uA

THE SOCIAL CONTRACT

Mankind was born into the state of nature. Life in the state of nature is "short, nasty and brutish".

THOMAS HOBBES

GOVERNMENT ACCORDING TO HOBBES

The best way to protect your RIGHT to life.

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

NO IMMORAL LAWS!

IMMORAL TO REVOLT!

Hobbes- writing in defense of the King, denies that one can legitimately revolt against the government.

______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

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.

Representative Democrat

JOHN LOCKE

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".

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.

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.

JEAN JACQUES ROSSEAU

Direct DemocratRousseau claims that both Hobbes and Locke

mischaracterize the state of nature.

Natural Man

Civil Man

NATURAL MAN

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 ____________

Git ready yo

Excuse the language.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFBxtuvd8eU

PHILOSOPHICAL RAP OF THE DAY