lecture 1

Question 1

Why is Utilitarianism relevant?

Answer 1

Intuitive starting point (trolley cars; episode 1)

• Much used in policy making (e.g., CBA)
• Used to justify ‘moral’ PTH
• Launching pad for contemporary
  PTH: John Rawls!

Question 2

What is Utilitarianism?

Answer 2

Utilitarianism is a family of normative ethical theories that prescribe actions that maximize happiness and well-being for the affected individuals.[1][2] In other words, utilitarian ideas encourage actions that ensure the greatest good for the greatest number.

Question 3

Key factors of utilitarianism

Answer 3

1. Equal individuals with preferences
2. Utility (pain/pleasure ratio)
3. Maximize overall utility
   (‘Greatest happiness greatest nr.’)
   Bentham, Mill

Question 4

Key factors of liberalism?

Answer 4

1. Equal individuals with rights
2. Liberty + equality
3. Maximize equal liberty for all
   (two principles of justice)
   Locke, Kant, Rawls

Question 5

What is the research question of an prescriptive research aim?

Answer 5

RQ: what should be done?
Required theory: Action theory

Question 6

What is the research question of an predictive research aim?

Answer 6

RQ: what will/would happen?
RT: Predictive model

Question 7

What is the research question of an evaluative research aim?

Answer 7

RQ: Are the good/bad?
RT: normative framework (criteria)

Question 8

What is the research question of an explanatory research aim?

Answer 8

RQ: why these facts?
RT: Casual/ interpretative framework/

Question 9

What is the research question of an descriptive research aim?

Answer 9

RQ: What are the facts?
RT: Concepts, typologies

Question 10

What is positivism?

Answer 10

Science about facts, not values

Question 11

What is normative theory?

Answer 11

Any *theory that states standards, values, or concrete proposals that involve criticism of present arrangements and thus calls for change in order to create a better future. A great deal of scholarship in the social sciences and humanities is normative

Question 12

Which two extremes to avoid for proper normative theory?

Answer 12

• Dogmatism
  Truth is objective, given and it is evident, obvoius
• Subjectivism/extreme relativism
  Truth is subjective, depends on preference.
  & truth is relative, depends on context/culture.

Question 13

What is the roadmap of constructivism?

Answer 13

1. Start at “more or less universal intuitions”
   slavery is bad; private property is good
2. Define the underlying values
   human dignity, equality, freedom
3. Formulate principles
   humans aren’t property; slavery is immoral
4. Translate into practical judgements
   abolish slavery; compensate owners?
5. Adjust till “reflective equilibrium”:
   tensions between 1-2-3-4 resolved (“they are in balance”)

Question 14

What are the limits of normative theory?

Answer 14

• You can’t get anywhere from nowhere
• Very basic agreement on intuitions is needed
  (“slavery is great” would be a non-starter)
• There will always remain “reasonable disagreement”
• Normative theories are “proposals” or “invitations”

Question 15

What is the difference between political philosophy and ethics?

Answer 15

Ethics (moral philosophy):

More about personal conduct
“how to act / be morally just?”

Political philosophy:
More about institutional “conduct”
“what would be a just constitution”

Question 16

Critique on political theory by political realists

Answer 16

Political theory (incl. liberalism) is too moralistic.
It should not be ‘applied ethics’, but a-moral

Question 17

Critique on political theory by non-idealists

Answer 17

Political theory (incl. liberalism) is too ‘sterile’.
It should not be ‘ideal theory’, but fact-sensitive.

Question 18

What main contemporary political theory happened during the 40s-60s from the USA?

Answer 18

The émigré philosophers (arendt, strauss, Voegelin)

vs

technically competent barbarians’
- totalitarianism
- positivist social scientists

Question 19

What main contemporary political theory emergend from 1971from the USA/Uk?