week 7: imagining the political Flashcards
(14 cards)
What is the central theme of Machiavelli’s The Prince?
The Prince offers advice on how a ruler should govern a state, prioritising political stability over moral considerations. Machiavelli advocates for pragmatic, often ruthless leadership to maintain power.
What is Machiavelli’s view on acquiring and maintaining power?
He argues that a principality gained easily is harder to maintain, while one won through effort is more secure. Rulers must be prepared for war and handle threats decisively.
How does Machiavelli balance virtue and pragmatism in leadership?
Machiavelli states that rulers should balance virtue with pragmatism. While virtue is important, excessive virtue can backfire (e.g., generosity leading to resentment). Rulers should aim to be feared rather than loved, but avoid being hated.
What does Machiavelli mean by a ruler being “half human, half beast”?
A ruler should combine the traits of the lion (strength) and the fox (cunning), adapting to situations as needed to maintain power.
What is Machiavelli’s stance on morality in politics?
For a ruler, the ends justify the means. Stability and security of the state take precedence over conventional morality. Machiavelli advocates for “realpolitik” over idealism.
What is James VI and I’s view of monarchy?
James redefined the monarchy as a divine institution. The king is above the law, serving the people but bound only by God’s will. The king’s power is absolute and cannot be resisted by the people.
What argument does James VI and I make in The True Law of Free Monarchies?
James asserts that the king’s will is unbound by law and that resistance to the king is as illegitimate as patricide. He draws on divine authority, claiming that rebellion against the king is a moral abomination.
How does James VI and I justify absolute monarchy?
He claims that the monarchy is the natural form of government, with the king acting as a father figure and a judge. His power is divine, with no accountability to any artificial laws or institutions like Parliament.
What is Robert Filmer’s argument in Patriarcha?
Filmer argues that political authority comes from Adam, passed down to the king. The king has a God-given right to rule, and the state is like a family, with the king as the father. People are born naturally subject to this authority.
What was the Tokugawa political system?
The Tokugawa regime in 17th-century Japan relied on the Bakuhan system, a decentralised power structure where the shogun held ultimate authority, but power was distributed among regional lords (daimyo).
How did the Tokugawa regime use Neo-Confucianism in governance?
The Tokugawa shogunate drew on Neo-Confucian ideology to justify their rule, emphasising loyalty and duty. It reinforced the hierarchical social order, where everyone had a specific role.
What role did loyalty play in Tokugawa Japan?
Loyalty was the primary virtue promoted by the Tokugawa regime. The loyalty of vassals to their daimyo and of the daimyo to the shogun was central to maintaining the social and political order.
ow did the Tokugawa regime handle Christianity?
Christianity was banned in Tokugawa Japan, as it was seen as a threat to the Neo-Confucian social order. Christians were persecuted or forced into hiding (kakune kirishitan), as they were believed to be loyal to foreign powers.
How do monarchies and republics differ in terms of authority and governance?
Monarchies centralise power in the hands of a king, often justified by divine right or natural law. Republics, in contrast, tend to distribute power more broadly, often involving elected officials or assemblies.
