Introduction Unit Flashcards
What does Politics mean?
Many connections and interactions that people have with one another to meet basic needs.
What is does political science mean?
Academic discipline that studies systems of government, political activities, political thoughts, and political behaviour.
What does political perspective mean?
The way a persons beliefs and values can affect his or her position on, issues of civic importance.
What does political Significance mean?
The importance of particular policies, civic actions, issues, events, or development based on their impact on the lives of citizens, or their influence on government decision making.
What are objectives and results?
Factors leading to events, policies, decisions, and/or plans of action and their intended and unintended consequences.
What is stability and change?
How and why political institutions and government policies change or remain the same over time.
What does evidence mean?
The facts that underline a particular policy , law, or action.
What are ethics?
Moral principles that govern a persons behaviour or conduct.
What are ethical dilemmas?
A scenario where there is no clear right or wrong course of action.
What are ethical considerations?
The moral north of a particular policy, action, or law and tries to discern what is “right” or “wrong” in a given situation.
Where did the term politics originate?
Originates from Polis (city-state) then Polites (citizens) and finally Politikas (civic) all deriving from Greek.
What does political science seek to understand?
Tries to understand the theory and practice of politics by analyzing how power and resources are distributed and exercised within a society.
What four aspects shape a persons political perspective?
- Who am I?
- Where am I?
- Political ideology
- Communities of intrest
Can perspective change over time? Is it always straightforward?
Perspective can change over time and it is not always straightforward.
Will every person agree on the significance of an issue? Why or why not?
No, not everyone will agree because everyone has different beliefs.
What are the different scales of significance?
- Global
- National
- Regional
- Individual
- Not at all significant
Why does change occur?
Change happens because things around or within us shift, and we adapt to keep up or grow.
What are the conditions that affect the well-being of citizens?
Social, economic, and political conditions affect the well-being of citizens.
What are political objectives?
Political objectives are created in response to changing conditions.
What is the difference between intended and unintended results?
Intended: Outcomes you expect to happen whether they be good or bad.
Unintended: Outcomes from the decision that you might not expect to happen as a direct action of the decision.
Is stability and change good or bad?
Stability and change are neither good nor bad.
What are the pros associated with stability and change?
- Important political, social, and economic institutions are working well.
-Problems are solved, injustices addressed, conditions improved, and new opportunities are made available.
What are the cons associated with stability and change?
- New opportunities or injustices may not be addressed because institutions and people are resistant to change or unable to change
- Critical political, social, and economic institutions stop working effectively and people’s lives are negatively affected.
What are facts?
Something that can be shown to exist or have happened.
What are oppinions?
An idea that someone believes to be true. Not necessarily supported by evidence.
What are arguments?
An attempt to persuade by giving reasons for a particular conclusion or point of view.
What is propaganda?
Political advertising for a position that may distort the truth or include false information.
Why is it important to use evidence?
It is important to use evidence to support your arguments.
What are the types of evidence?
- Statistical data
- Informed expert opinions
- Experiences of others
- Personal observations
- Documents and artifacts
- Videos and photo
- Scientific evidence
What is the purpose of ethical decision tests?
They are one way to help identify ethical concerns that need to be addressed.
What is the first step to help make good ethical decisions?
Identify an ethical issue: identify if anyone is being harmed or if any moral principles or values are being violated.
What is the second step to help make good ethical decisions?
Get the facts: get the relevant facts, identify the stakeholders (people involved) and any alternative actions.
What is the third step to help make good ethical decisions?
Evaluate alternative actions: evaluate the alternatives for action by applying the ethical decision test to each one.
What is the fourth step to help make good ethical decisions?
Make a decision and test it: after considering all the options, determine which is the best or “least worst” solution.
What is the fith step to help make good ethical decisions?
Act and reflect on the outcome: decide how best to implement the decision and monitor the results.
