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POLITICAL POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY PHILOSOPHY
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Week 3 - Political Philosophy

Jan 22, 2018

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Page 1: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

POLITICAL POLITICAL PHILOSOPHYPHILOSOPHY

Page 2: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

Main Question: Should the State Main Question: Should the State Exist?Exist?

YESYES::

1.1. LibertarianismLibertarianism

2.2. Egalitarian LiberalismEgalitarian Liberalism

3.3. CommunitarianismCommunitarianism

NONO::

AnarchismAnarchism

We will look at 1 and 2 in detail

Page 3: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes

English philosopher, 1588 – 1679English philosopher, 1588 – 1679 Wrote Wrote LeviathanLeviathan in 1651 in 1651 Famously reported that ‘‘my mother gave Famously reported that ‘‘my mother gave

birth to twins: myself and fear’’birth to twins: myself and fear’’ FearFear was the main factor behind Hobbes’ was the main factor behind Hobbes’

political views, which he outlined in political views, which he outlined in LeviathanLeviathan

Page 4: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

The State of NatureThe State of NatureA hypothetical scenario in which A hypothetical scenario in which

no government existsno government existsPerfect equalityPerfect equalityPerpetual war or threat of war over Perpetual war or threat of war over

gain, safety, and glory – scarcity of gain, safety, and glory – scarcity of goodsgoods

Page 5: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

Hobbes’ justification for the monarchy:Hobbes’ justification for the monarchy:

‘‘‘‘In such condition, there is no place for industry; because the In such condition, there is no place for industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no culture of the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no culture of the earth; no navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be earth; no navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea; no commodious building; no instruments of imported by sea; no commodious building; no instruments of moving, and removing, such things as require much force; no moving, and removing, such things as require much force; no knowledge of the face of the earth; no account of time; no arts; knowledge of the face of the earth; no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, continual fear, and danger of violent deathand danger of violent death; and ; and the life of man, solitary, the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and shortpoor, nasty, brutish, and short.’’.’’

— — Leviathan XIII "Chapter XIII.: Of the Natural Condition Leviathan XIII "Chapter XIII.: Of the Natural Condition of Mankind As Concerning Their Felicity, and Misery."of Mankind As Concerning Their Felicity, and Misery."

Page 6: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

So how do we escape?So how do we escape?

THE SOCIAL CONTRACTTHE SOCIAL CONTRACT

Citizens come together and agree to surrender their natural freedoms to the state, creating a LEVIATHAN / MONARCHY / GOVERNMENT in the process.

Page 7: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

Modern example = SomaliaModern example = Somalia

Some discussionSome discussion::

Consider the current political landscape ofConsider the current political landscape of

Somalia. What might Hobbes say and what might Somalia. What might Hobbes say and what might

he use it to show?he use it to show?

Page 8: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

John Stuart MillJohn Stuart Mill

British philosopher, 1806 – 1873British philosopher, 1806 – 1873

Wrote Wrote On LibertyOn Liberty in 1859 in 1859

Advocated the existence of a Advocated the existence of a LIBERTARIAN LIBERTARIAN STATESTATE centred around centred around NEGATIVE NEGATIVE LIBERTYLIBERTY

Page 9: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

NEGATIVE LIBERTYNEGATIVE LIBERTY

Negative Liberty = freedom Negative Liberty = freedom FROM FROM state state coercion. If coercion. If XX is is legallegal then it means that, as a then it means that, as a subject of the state, one has subject of the state, one has negative libertynegative liberty to to XX. Can you name some other examples?. Can you name some other examples?

More on Positive Liberty later…More on Positive Liberty later…

Page 10: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

LibertarianismLibertarianism

Focused on Focused on INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUAL LIBERTYLIBERTY – does – does notnot concern itself concern itself with with groupsgroups or or communitiescommunities

‘‘‘‘Every man is an island’’Every man is an island’’ Government’s job is based on the Government’s job is based on the

HARM PRINCIPLEHARM PRINCIPLE

Page 11: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

Harm PrincipleHarm Principle

What objection might one raise to this principle? What about free speech and the MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS?

The Harm PrincipleThe Harm Principle

‘‘‘‘the only purpose for which power can be the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.’’others.’’ - Mill, - Mill, On LibertyOn Liberty, Chapter 1., Chapter 1.

Page 12: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

For Mill, liberty is not For Mill, liberty is not inherentlyinherently good, but it is good, but it is instrumentallyinstrumentally good because it can be used to good because it can be used to bring about the greatest happiness of the bring about the greatest happiness of the greatest number.greatest number.

Utilitarian / Individualist paradox (pennies and Utilitarian / Individualist paradox (pennies and pounds)pounds)

Page 13: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

John RawlsJohn Rawls American Philosopher, 1921 – 2002American Philosopher, 1921 – 2002

Wrote Wrote A Theory of JusticeA Theory of Justice in 1971 in 1971

Developed the idea of ‘‘Justice as Fairness’’Developed the idea of ‘‘Justice as Fairness’’

Government’s job based on Government’s job based on NEGATIVE NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE LIBERTY AND POSITIVE LIBERTY – this is known – this is known as as EGALITARIAN LIBERALISMEGALITARIAN LIBERALISM

Page 14: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

POSITIVE LIBERTYPOSITIVE LIBERTY

A governmental entitlement to Rawlsian ‘‘equal A governmental entitlement to Rawlsian ‘‘equal basic liberties’’basic liberties’’

Example = personal property (such as a house)Example = personal property (such as a house) The state interferes to protect The state interferes to protect ANDAND serve its serve its

subjectssubjects Liberalism = much state interferenceLiberalism = much state interference Libertarianism = as little state interference as Libertarianism = as little state interference as

possiblepossible

Page 15: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

So, Negative and Positive…So, Negative and Positive…

1.1. Negative Liberty = Negative Liberty = freedom fromfreedom from harm. About what the state should or harm. About what the state should or should not do should not do toto you. Libertarianism. you. Libertarianism.

2.2. Positive Liberty = Positive Liberty = entitlements toentitlements to equal basic liberties. About what the equal basic liberties. About what the state should or should not do state should or should not do forfor you. Liberalism.you. Liberalism.

Page 16: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

Rawls’ Difference PrincipleRawls’ Difference Principle

‘‘‘‘MaximinMaximin’’ = maximize the benefits of the worst-’’ = maximize the benefits of the worst-

off (i.e., those who have the minimum benefits).off (i.e., those who have the minimum benefits).

If If makingmaking everybody equal is the goal, then the everybody equal is the goal, then the

state cannot state cannot treattreat everybody equally! Some are everybody equally! Some are

naturally / originally better-off than others!naturally / originally better-off than others!

Page 17: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

The Veil of IgnoranceThe Veil of Ignorance

Imagine yourself in the ‘Imagine yourself in the ‘original positionoriginal position’ – no ’ – no knowledge of your sex, skin colour, place of knowledge of your sex, skin colour, place of birth, etc.birth, etc.

In this position, Rawls argues you would In this position, Rawls argues you would distribute all goods distribute all goods equallyequally

The government should do the sameThe government should do the same

Page 18: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

Communitarian ObjectionsCommunitarian Objections

Liberalism + Libertarianism = individual precedes the Liberalism + Libertarianism = individual precedes the communitycommunity

Communitarianism = the community precedes the Communitarianism = the community precedes the individual. The community is the individual. The community is the political agentpolitical agent. No . No man is an island!man is an island!

Concerned with the Concerned with the moral fabric of the communitymoral fabric of the community – – too much liberty is bad! (examples = drugs and too much liberty is bad! (examples = drugs and prostitution in liberal societies)prostitution in liberal societies)

The Veil of Ignorance theory is incoherentThe Veil of Ignorance theory is incoherent

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AnarchismAnarchism Difficult position to defendDifficult position to defend Education instead of coercionEducation instead of coercion State of Nature is the State of Nature is the idealideal state - but state - but notnot a bad one! a bad one! William Godwin = future anarchism. Cultivate William Godwin = future anarchism. Cultivate reasonreason through through

educationeducation.. FrankensteinFrankenstein, the wretch: ‘‘For a long time I could not conceive , the wretch: ‘‘For a long time I could not conceive

how one man could go forth to murder his fellow, or even how one man could go forth to murder his fellow, or even why why there were laws and governmentsthere were laws and governments; but when I heard details of ; but when I heard details of vice and bloodshed, my wonder ceased, and I turned away with vice and bloodshed, my wonder ceased, and I turned away with disgust and loathing’’ (Chapter 13.)disgust and loathing’’ (Chapter 13.)

Kropotkin = ‘‘Kropotkin = ‘‘mutual aidmutual aid’’ theory. Education about the ’’ theory. Education about the general general goodgood..

No private property!No private property!

Page 20: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

Stirner’s ‘‘Ontological Stirner’s ‘‘Ontological Anarchism’’Anarchism’’

German philosopher, 1806 - 1856German philosopher, 1806 - 1856 Wrote Wrote The Ego and Its OwnThe Ego and Its Own in 1844 in 1844 The ‘‘state’’ does not exist!The ‘‘state’’ does not exist! Only the Ego existsOnly the Ego exists Probably influenced Nietzsche a great dealProbably influenced Nietzsche a great deal To ‘‘own’’ oneself means to be free of the illusion of To ‘‘own’’ oneself means to be free of the illusion of

the existence of the state – it is a ‘‘the existence of the state – it is a ‘‘spookspook’’’’ The strong take things – they make things their own – The strong take things – they make things their own –

and do not recognise the legitimacy of any stateand do not recognise the legitimacy of any state Obey the state out pure self-interest, but do not Obey the state out pure self-interest, but do not

acknowledge its authorityacknowledge its authority

Page 21: Week 3 - Political Philosophy

Suggested ReadingSuggested Reading

Wolff, Jonathan (1996).Wolff, Jonathan (1996).

An Introduction to Political An Introduction to Political

Philosophy.Philosophy. Oxford Oxford

University Press.University Press.