Final Exam Main Idea Flashcards
(20 cards)
1
Q
What are the main ideas of Sophocles’ Antigone?
A
- The conflict between morality and state law (she wants to bury her brother but the law prohibits it as he was a traitor.)
- Antigone believes in a higher moral obligation (only the Gods can judge her; she prioritizes divine law.)
- Creon believes in moral law (the laws he sets should be obeyed above all else, however he still has loyalty to his family upon discovering that Antigone was the one who performed the burial rites.)
2
Q
What are the main ideas of Plutarch’s Lycurgus?
A
- Laws dictated Sparta, Lycurgus proposed ideas to make the perfect society that included communal dining, a state-run education system, even land distribution among citizens, the establishment of a senate, and the outlawing of silver and gold.
- Lycurgus sought to undermine exclusive attachment (sex and children.)
- Consulted the oracle of Delphi about these laws to get a divine blessing and committed suicide to bind Sparta to the laws for eternity.
3
Q
What are the main ideas of Thucydides’ Peloponnesian War?
A
- Sparta begins to view Athens as a threat to their society.
- The Athenians argue that justice is only relevant between nations with equal power; therefore the strongest nations can do as they please.
- The Spartans argue that they can fight against this Athenian tyranny.
- Ambition and greed may influence nations to make these decisions - war is unpredictable and has a human cost.
4
Q
What are the main ideas of Thucydides Melian Dialogue?
A
- The Melians beg for justice based on their weaker position than the Athenians.
- The Athenians continue to prioritize their security and expansion arguing that not taking control of the neutral state of Melos would undermine their power (they reject neutrality and believe resistance to be pointless.) The Melians don’t give in and suffer as a consequence.
5
Q
What are the main ideas of Pericles’ Speeches?
A
- Praises Athenian democracy as power rests with the many who are able to participate in governance and contribute to society.
- Stresses the importance of actively engaging in politics and criticizing those who do not.
- We should be inspired by those who have fallen for our nation.
6
Q
What are the main ideas of Plato’s Apology?
A
- Socrates argues he is not guilty of corrupting the Athenian youth with his differing religious beliefs. He was not doing it purposefully.
- He argues that the “unexamined life is not worth living” and that his questioning of others’ beliefs pushes society forward and exposes those who do not really “know”.
- By punishing Socrates, people are preventing their society from advancing.
7
Q
What are the main ideas of Plato’s Crito?
A
- Crito urges Socrates to escape from prison. Socrates, however, refuses even when he is wrongly condemned because he believes it morally wrong to disobey the laws of Athens, even if they are unjust. (By living in Athens, he agreed to obey the laws.)
- Suffering an injustice does not mean you can respond to the injustice by Socrates’ logic.
- In exchange for being able to live somewhere, you agree to obey the laws of that nation.
8
Q
What are the main ideas of Aristotle’s Ethics?
A
- All humans do things with good in mind.
- Achieving happiness is only possible through virtuous actions.
- Political science and the study of it are the only ways of preserving happiness within societies.
- We form our understanding of good based on what life we lead (there is not one universal good.)
9
Q
What are the main ideas of Aristotle’s Politics?
A
- Humans are political animals meant to live and socialize together (polis)
- The polis aims for the good of life (through the cultivation of virtue and pursuit of reason.)
- There exists a natural hierarchy within the state (some people are meant to rule while others are meant to work for them.)
- Classified governments into sections: monarchy, aristocracy, polity, tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy.
- Virtue helps us lead an important life (courage and justice.)
10
Q
What are the main ideas of the state of nature in Locke’s Second Treatise?
A
- The state of nature: human beings are born without government or laws; this is our natural state of life.
- We create a government to protect our fundamental rights: life, liberty, and property.
- Everyone has these rights and is equal to one another.
- Nobody is born to be a ruler (anti-monarchy) unless God makes it obvious otherwise.
- We agree to legitimate authority and sacrifice our place in the state of nature.
- Locke was concerned with body peace - enough food to sustain oneself - while Aristotle was more concerned with the soul - morals, how one should live their life
- People disliked the state of nature so much they left it. Just because we’ve never heard of it (no historical record) doesn’t mean it never existed.
11
Q
What are the main ideas of bodily authority in Locke’s Second Treatise?
A
- Every individual has a right to self-defense: everyone is equal and nobody is exempt from this.
- We belong to God but we also belong to eachother.
- Respect the rights of others because they belong to God as well, and it is the most reasonable way for us to ensure others respect our rights.
- When you consent to joining a society, you consent to the rule of the majority.
12
Q
What are the main ideas of labor in Locke’s Second Treatise?
A
- Human labor makes life valuable, pleasant, and comfortable for other humans.
- Incentivize labor: make it worthwhile for people to produce surplus and be able to sell/trade for other necessities.
- An economy organized through private labor will be better off (richer.)
- Make/labor more so there is enough for everyone.
- Keep what you make: you own your body, therefore you own what you make.
- You keep what you make because it makes everyone equal.
13
Q
What are the main ideas of family in Locke’s Second Treatise?
A
- Family is natural, it fulfills a natural urge
- Interest in parents staying together to better support offspring.
- Parents can separate once the child is self-sufficient. This was a radical position at the time.
- Cooperation between husband and wife is economically beneficial.
- Mother and father have equal power.
- Monarch metaphor: Monarchs are like the “fathers” of their subjects, their “children.” This is problematic according to Locke. Parents do not have absolute authority over their children forever – monarchs should not treat their subjects like children.
- A true father is a father that fosters a child and cares for them - a true father is not decided by blood.
- Parents should discipline their children to prepare them for the world - to avoid naivety, to be economically productive, and to earn their own money.
- It is in the best interest of parents to treat their children well so in the future their children will care for them in their old age.
- Parents should respect their children as much as they deserve when they get older
14
Q
What are the main ideas of law in Locke’s Second Treatise?
A
- In certain circumstances, the executive should be allowed to act against the law.
- This can set a dangerous precedent - most dangerous when it is actually used correctly because it may later be used to justify incorrect instances of use.
15
Q
What are the main ideas of Locke’s Letter Concerning Toleration?
A
- Locke is worried that the government will prosecute religious minorities.
- Against forcing others to conform to your religion. Religion is only real when one truly believes it is. Forcing someone to believe doesn’t equal believing.
- It is imperative that the government not be in the business of saving the souls of the people.
- Separation of church and state.
16
Q
What are the main ideas of Jefferson’s Declaration of independence?
A
- Purpose of the government is to protect and serve the rights of its citizens: the best way is through the consent of the people.
- “Unalienable rights” - you cannot separate from these rights and everyone has them.
- if people revolt, they must explain why.
17
Q
What are the main ideas and solutions of tyrannical majorities in Madison’s Federalist Paper no. 10?
A
- factions (partisan, parties, groups) will form and majority factions will suppress smaller factions. Examples: religious majorities suppressing the rights of religious minorities, class warfare.
- If people are allowed to rule, we will favor ourselves and crush those not like us.
- Solutions: diversity. Have many different factions and no real majority. This leads to compromises - coalition majority. There is greater diversity is a larger country with a larger population.
18
Q
What are the main ideas and solution of unwise majorities in Madison’s Federalist Paper no. 10?
A
- We as a majority make bad and shortsighted decisions.
- Solution: representative democracy - choose the wisest among us to represent us because they know better and more than we do.
- This idea is better executed in a larger population: the best stand out more and there is a larger number of people/more variety to choose from.
19
Q
What are the general main ideas of Madison’s Federalist Paper no. 10?
A
- If one can oppress, we will oppress (human nature)
- We cannot rely on our morals to prevent us from oppression, as our morals (religion) lead us to oppress in the first place. We need structural solutions.
- We cannot teach everyone to have the same ideas.
- Diversity of property: agriculture, manufacturers, etc…
- Avoid monolithic classes of rich and poor.
20
Q
Madison’s Federalist Paper no. 10?
A
