Top Banner
Political theory Political theory The development of The development of modern ideologies modern ideologies
26
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

Political theoryPolitical theoryThe development of The development of

modern ideologiesmodern ideologies

Page 2: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

Types of normative questionsTypes of normative questionsasked by political theoriesasked by political theories

What purpose should government serve? What purpose should government serve? Equality? Justice? Security?Equality? Justice? Security?

How should governments be organized? How should governments be organized? To advance their power? To limit their To advance their power? To limit their power?power?

Should they help citizens lead ethical Should they help citizens lead ethical lives? Can a state be ethical if its citizenry lives? Can a state be ethical if its citizenry is not?is not?

Page 3: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

PlatoPlato’’s allegory of the caves allegory of the cave

. People in the cave believe they are free, . People in the cave believe they are free, but they donbut they don’’t see the reality of their t see the reality of their intellectual slavery. All they do is watch intellectual slavery. All they do is watch shadows cast by a hidden fire in the cave, shadows cast by a hidden fire in the cave, thinking that the shadows are reality. thinking that the shadows are reality. They are passive and accepting. They They are passive and accepting. They never turn around, never ask questions. never turn around, never ask questions. They remain completely unaware of how They remain completely unaware of how blind & shackled they are. blind & shackled they are.

Page 4: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

PlatoPlato’’s allegory of the caves allegory of the cave

Who does Plato mean when he writes Who does Plato mean when he writes about the single enlightened person about the single enlightened person who stands up and dares to go outside who stands up and dares to go outside to seek the truth? to seek the truth?

Page 5: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

The allegory of the cave, continuedThe allegory of the cave, continued

Socrates, PlatoSocrates, Plato’’s teacher. s teacher.

His eyes adjust to the light and see how His eyes adjust to the light and see how wonderful the world is beyond the cave. wonderful the world is beyond the cave. But instead of staying, he decides to return But instead of staying, he decides to return to the others in the cave, to free them as to the others in the cave, to free them as well.well.

Page 6: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

The allegory of the cave, continuedThe allegory of the cave, continued

What happens when he returns to tell What happens when he returns to tell others in the cave about the truth? others in the cave about the truth?

Page 7: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

The allegory of the cave, continuedThe allegory of the cave, continued

The prisoners in the cave think heThe prisoners in the cave think he’’s mad s mad and dangerous; if he persists in talking and dangerous; if he persists in talking nonsense, henonsense, he’’ll be killed. ll be killed.

Socrates was sentenced to death about Socrates was sentenced to death about 400 B.C. for 400 B.C. for ““corrupting youthcorrupting youth”” with his with his teachings. teachings.

Page 8: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

The allegory of the cave, continuedThe allegory of the cave, continued

In other words, new ideas are dangerous, In other words, new ideas are dangerous, even when they are the truth. We like our even when they are the truth. We like our comfortable illusions. comfortable illusions.

The text mentions how political thinkers on The text mentions how political thinkers on the left and the right have been ridiculed the left and the right have been ridiculed for their ideas, even in open political for their ideas, even in open political societies like the U.S. and Britain. societies like the U.S. and Britain.

Page 9: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

UtopianismUtopianism

Many political theories deal with attempts Many political theories deal with attempts to create a perfect society, a utopia.to create a perfect society, a utopia.

Page 10: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

UtopianismUtopianism

The notion of an ideal political society was The notion of an ideal political society was often used by political writers to criticize often used by political writers to criticize the status quo.the status quo.

Dates from ancient Greeks, especially Dates from ancient Greeks, especially Plato writing Plato writing The RepublicThe Republic..

Also evident in 17Also evident in 17thth century English writing century English writing and in some contemporary science fiction.and in some contemporary science fiction.

Page 11: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

DystopiasDystopias

A nightmare distortion of a utopia.A nightmare distortion of a utopia.

It happens when leaders It happens when leaders ““imposeimpose”” perfection on imperfect human beings.perfection on imperfect human beings.

To create a perfect society, those leaders To create a perfect society, those leaders must exercise totalitarian control over all must exercise totalitarian control over all aspects of human life. aspects of human life.

Page 12: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

PlatoPlato’’s s The RepublicThe Republic

PlatoPlato’’s ideas of a utopian society: s ideas of a utopian society:

Three natural groups: Three natural groups: Workers, farmers, shopkeepers & artisans Workers, farmers, shopkeepers & artisans

who provide material wealth for the who provide material wealth for the community. community.

Military units- called auxiliaries - who defend Military units- called auxiliaries - who defend it. it.

Guardians – who govern it, with Philosopher-Guardians – who govern it, with Philosopher-king at the topking at the top

Page 13: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

PlatoPlato’’s s The RepublicThe Republic

PlatoPlato’’s ideas of a utopian society: Each s ideas of a utopian society: Each person performs the tasks for which he or person performs the tasks for which he or she is best suited. Injustice occurs when she is best suited. Injustice occurs when people act contrary to their nature. people act contrary to their nature. Ambition & competition unnatural.Ambition & competition unnatural.

Page 14: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

The RepublicThe Republic, continued, continued

To maintain the utopia, Plato said these To maintain the utopia, Plato said these elements were necessary:elements were necessary:

Hierarchy of the best, rule by meritocracy. Hierarchy of the best, rule by meritocracy.

Dangerous and untrue ideas censored. Dangerous and untrue ideas censored.

The "Noble Lie." The "Noble Lie."

What is the Noble Lie?What is the Noble Lie?

Page 15: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

The Noble LieThe Noble Lie

In politics a NOBLE LIE is a myth or In politics a NOBLE LIE is a myth or untruth (often religious)untruth (often religious)Told by an elite to maintain social harmonyTold by an elite to maintain social harmony

Think of an example of noble lie…. Yall Think of an example of noble lie…. Yall know this oneknow this one

Page 16: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

B.F. Skinner, B.F. Skinner, Walden TwoWalden Two (1948) (1948)

Utopian society possible but only through Utopian society possible but only through behavioral engineering. Human beings behavioral engineering. Human beings are sometimes selfish, greedy and mean. are sometimes selfish, greedy and mean. Human nature must be changed, Human nature must be changed, engineered so that people are engineered so that people are noncompetitive, happy and harmonious. noncompetitive, happy and harmonious. Positive rewards can change both outward Positive rewards can change both outward behavior and inner motives. People can behavior and inner motives. People can be be ““conditionedconditioned”” live together in peace and live together in peace and harmony.harmony.

Page 17: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

B.F. Skinner, B.F. Skinner, Walden TwoWalden Two (1948) (1948)

This means people will not be free, but This means people will not be free, but they arenthey aren’’t free anyway. Freedom is an t free anyway. Freedom is an illusion. Every choice we make is the illusion. Every choice we make is the result of societal conditioning. result of societal conditioning.

Page 18: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

What purpose does What purpose does government serve?government serve?

Plato says justice and truth. Plato says justice and truth.

John Locke says protection of our natural John Locke says protection of our natural rights.rights.

Thomas Hobbes says security, to keep us Thomas Hobbes says security, to keep us from killing each other.from killing each other.

Page 19: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

Thomas Hobbes, Thomas Hobbes, LeviathanLeviathan

English political theorist from 1588 to 1679. English political theorist from 1588 to 1679. Humans are equal and capable of rational Humans are equal and capable of rational thought, but:thought, but:Human nature is aggressive and greedy, Human nature is aggressive and greedy, and human life is and human life is ““brutish and shortbrutish and short””. The . The state of nature is ruthless and frightening. state of nature is ruthless and frightening. No advancement in science, arts, No advancement in science, arts, commerce, etc., is possible because commerce, etc., is possible because existence itself so fragile. existence itself so fragile.

Page 20: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

Hobbes, continuedHobbes, continued

Government formed for the sole purpose Government formed for the sole purpose of providing of providing securitysecurity. Need a strong . Need a strong authoritarian government to control authoritarian government to control humanshumans’’ violent passions. violent passions.

Hobbesian world: might makes right and Hobbesian world: might makes right and the weak are victimized. Pessimistic view the weak are victimized. Pessimistic view of human nature.of human nature.

Page 21: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

Equality of rightsEquality of rights

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson’’ss view of equality: a view of equality: a natural human right which government is natural human right which government is supposed to secure.supposed to secure.

A government which fails to do this forfeits A government which fails to do this forfeits its authority; the people then have a right its authority; the people then have a right of revolution.of revolution.

Evident in Declaration of Independence, a Evident in Declaration of Independence, a classical liberal document (John Locke) classical liberal document (John Locke)

Page 22: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

Equality of participationEquality of participation

Chico MendesChico Mendes of Brazil (mid-20th century) of Brazil (mid-20th century) advocated equality of participation for advocated equality of participation for indigenous people in making decisions about the indigenous people in making decisions about the rainforests. Mendes demanded that the people rainforests. Mendes demanded that the people in the rainforest have a voice in the decision in the rainforest have a voice in the decision making process. Neither cattle ranchers nor making process. Neither cattle ranchers nor environmentalists could speak for them, environmentalists could speak for them, because those groups had their own interests. because those groups had their own interests. Unlike Aristotle, he saw equality of process as Unlike Aristotle, he saw equality of process as the only way to ensure equality of results. the only way to ensure equality of results.

Page 23: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

Power: maximized or restrained?Power: maximized or restrained?

Should the government be free of Should the government be free of constraints? Yes, in order to act decisively constraints? Yes, in order to act decisively against threats, according to Niccolo against threats, according to Niccolo Machiavelli Machiavelli

Should government power be checked? Should government power be checked? Yes, to guard against tyranny, according Yes, to guard against tyranny, according to James Madison and the framers of the to James Madison and the framers of the U.S. ConstitutionU.S. Constitution

Page 24: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

MachiavelliMachiavelli’’s s The PrinceThe Prince

MachiavelliMachiavelli argued for a strong central argued for a strong central ruler who was amoral but would appear to ruler who was amoral but would appear to be moral; who would use moral and be moral; who would use moral and religious appeals to win support from the religious appeals to win support from the citizenry. Relying on the peoplecitizenry. Relying on the people’’s love s love was too insecure, yet fostering their hate was too insecure, yet fostering their hate was dangerous. Better to have people was dangerous. Better to have people fear the ruler, because they can then be fear the ruler, because they can then be controlled. controlled.

Page 25: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

Should government promote ethical Should government promote ethical or moral citizenry?or moral citizenry?

In fact, they inevitably do. What are laws In fact, they inevitably do. What are laws against homicide and theft but statutory against homicide and theft but statutory expressions of our collective morality. expressions of our collective morality. The question gets complex in more The question gets complex in more contested areas of morality.contested areas of morality.John Stuart Mill suspicious of societal & John Stuart Mill suspicious of societal & governmental limits on individual behavior.governmental limits on individual behavior.Fundamentalists hostile to MillFundamentalists hostile to Mill’’s tolerance s tolerance of individual behavior.of individual behavior.

Page 26: Political theory The development of modern ideologies.

Political ideologies seek to answer Political ideologies seek to answer these questionsthese questions

A political ideology is a set of organized A political ideology is a set of organized and related ideas on how a political and related ideas on how a political system serves the public good. Itsystem serves the public good. It’’s a s a simplified and sometimes distorted version simplified and sometimes distorted version of a political theory. of a political theory. Our ideology reflects our underlying values Our ideology reflects our underlying values and beliefs about government, the and beliefs about government, the community, & the individual. It drives our community, & the individual. It drives our policy preferences. policy preferences.