Lecture 2 -> political philosophy Flashcards
(16 cards)
what political theory best describes Machiavelli
Realism
Explain realism
Power as the central element of politics.
The idea that states and rulers act primarily in their own self-interest.
A pragmatic, unsentimental view of political life—where morality is secondary to survival and success.
Politics is not about ideals, but about what actually works
Why is Machiavelli significant?
He is the first political philosopher to break away from idealism in politics
What Is political idealism?
politics should be guided by moral values, ethics, justice, and the common good
what is behaviourism?
What political actors do and why they do it?
what do behaviourists believe?
Behaviouralists believe that ethics and value judgments have no place in research, because they are subjective and ethnocentric; that is, they arise out of a particular culture, and therefore not universal
What are normative theories?
Normative political theory is the branch of political science (or political philosophy) that deals with what ought to be rather than what is. It asks big, value-driven questions -> opinion based
what is Thomas Kuhns view on the nature of political science
Crisis and revolution lead to new paradigms and a ‘scientific revolution’ => the rationality of science. A crisis brings about a new science.
what is an ideology?
Ideology it is a collectively held set of values about the fundamental goes of politics it inspires, guides and directs politics and policies
what are the five dominant political ideologies?
Liberalism, communism, social democracy, fascism and anarchism
what are the two extremes in political attitudes
Radicals are extreme liberals; reactionaries are extreme conservatives.
What are political attitudes?
distinct to ideologies, attitudes are relative to a country and are concerned with the speed and method of political change
What does political culture mean?
Political Culture refers to society’s norms for political activity
briefly outline two opposing views on political culture
(Huntington’s) - culture as religiously based and unchanging
(Ingleharts) - Culture (values) varies across/within societies, change
what are key points made by Machievelli ?
- the ends justify the means
- Virtù (skill, strength, decisiveness): A successful ruler must have personal qualities like intelligence, cunning, and ruthlessness.
- Fortuna (fortune, luck): While fate plays a role, a good leader anticipates challenges and adapts to changing circumstances to control destiny as much as possible.
Is trump Machiavellian?
Yes -> use of religions as a politcal tool, realist, ruthless
No -> has clear intergovernmental conflict, Trump focuses on own interests not the states, not intelligent
