1. Political Philosophy: Introduction Political Philosophy can be boiled down to 2 principal questions: Political Philosophy can be boiled down to 2 principal questions: –Who gets what? –Who says who gets what?

2. Question 1: Who Gets What? Regards the distribution of material goods and services Regards the distribution of material goods and services On a larger scale, regards the enjoyment of liberties and rights. On a larger scale, regards the enjoyment of liberties and rights.

3. What Is A Liberty? Def: a freedom from restriction or control. Def: a freedom from restriction or control. What does this mean in human terms? What does this mean in human terms? I have the right and power to act, believe, or express myself in a manner of my own choosing. I have the right and power to act, believe, or express myself in a manner of my own choosing. Why??? Why??? Because I’m human. Expressions of humanness. Because I’m human. Expressions of humanness.

4. Government & Liberty Does government tend to encroach on man’s liberties? Does government tend to encroach on man’s liberties? Liberty has to be protected from the state. Liberty has to be protected from the state.

5. What’s a Right? Def: something that is due to a person or government body by law, tradition, or nature. Def: something that is due to a person or government body by law, tradition, or nature. Examples?? Examples?? What’s the relationship between the state and rights? What’s the relationship between the state and rights?

6. Government & Rights Rights must be guaranteed by the state. Rights must be guaranteed by the state. Examples of government guaranteeing the rights of its citizens? Examples of government guaranteeing the rights of its citizens?

7. Question 2: Who Says Who Gets What? Concerns the distribution of another type of “good”: Concerns the distribution of another type of “good”: Political Power Political Power What is power? What is power?

8. Power Def: the ability to cause someone to do what they might not otherwise do. Def: the ability to cause someone to do what they might not otherwise do. What’s “political” power? What’s “political” power? Political power includes the right to command others, and to subject them to punishment if they disobey. Political power includes the right to command others, and to subject them to punishment if they disobey.

9. Political Power So what does question 2 really ask? So what does question 2 really ask? Who should hold political power? Who should hold political power? Is there any good reason why one person should have political power over another? Is there any good reason why one person should have political power over another? Property? Property? Money? Money? Command from God? Command from God? Intelligence? Intelligence?

10. Political Power (cont’d.) Anarchy vs Authoritarianism Anarchy vs Authoritarianism What’s anarchy? What’s anarchy? Complete freedom to do as I choose. No rules or regulations. No government. Complete freedom to do as I choose. No rules or regulations. No government. What’s authoritarianism? What’s authoritarianism? Freedoms restricted by rules and regulations. Strong government. Freedoms restricted by rules and regulations. Strong government. Do both views have merit? Why/why not? Do both views have merit? Why/why not?

11. Political Power (cont’d.) So the political philosopher is faced with the problem of the proper distribution of political power. So the political philosopher is faced with the problem of the proper distribution of political power. He must figure out the proper balance between anarchy and authority. He must figure out the proper balance between anarchy and authority. So “justice” is an issue here. So “justice” is an issue here.

12. Justice Def: merited reward or punishment. Quality of following what is right, fair, impartial. In the context of political thought, justice is a subjective way to judge the use of power. Def: merited reward or punishment. Quality of following what is right, fair, impartial. In the context of political thought, justice is a subjective way to judge the use of power.

13. What does this tell us about political philosophy? Political philosophy is a normative discipline. Political philosophy is a normative discipline. Tries to establish ideal standards or rules. Tries to establish ideal standards or rules. Tries to discover how things should be. Tries to discover how things should be. Political science is a descriptive discipline. Political science is a descriptive discipline. Tries to discover how things are. Tries to discover how things are. So, political philosophy is not political science! So, political philosophy is not political science!

14. Political Philosophy: A Normative Discipline Does political philosophy care what rights and liberties people actually have? Does political philosophy care what rights and liberties people actually have? No. It cares what rights and liberties people should have. No. It cares what rights and liberties people should have.