KEY CONCEPTS IN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

A. Legitimacy of Political Authority

1. Source of Authority:

Divinely appointed

Divine right of kings

Natural Law mandated by God

Islamic states: Koran doctrines and interpretations

Traditional connection with society’s past

Burke: the best courses of social behavior will be rewarded and over time take root

Conservatism: trusting tried and tested social arrangements (distrusting abstract ideal political speculation)

Infallible truth:

Marxism: inevitable progress of class conflict

The people as a whole

Social contract (Hobbes)

General will (Rousseau)

2. Goal of Authority:

To guarantee necessities: e.g., socialism

To realize an ideal society: e.g., communism

To promote general happiness: utilitarianism

To protect rights: e.g., social contract

B. Moral Obligation to Obey Political Authorities

1. Theories

Communitarian: we are social by nature, and thus political beings (Aristotle)

Individualist: we are not essentially political, but decide to engage in relations with institutions (.e.g., to receive benefit)

Voluntarists: voluntary acts of agreement (contracts, accepting benefit)

Nonvoluntarist: nonvoluntary participation (receiving benefits)

Anarchist: there are no political obligations (people naturally get along, states should be abolished)

2. Opposition to Political Authorities

Civil Disobedience: nonviolently opposing an unjust law when lawful means of protest have failed

Coup de etat: changing the ruler of a political system

Rebellion: opposing an element of a political system while preserving its leadership

Reformation: modifying an entire political system

Revolution: complete transformation of a political system

C. Form of the State

1. Governmental authority: absolute authority or constitutionally limited

2. Structure of Constituent parts:

Federal: two levels of government);

Confederal: unitary structure for each part

3. Number and nature of voices controlling authority:

Plutocracy: rule by the rich

Meritocracy: rule by virtue of merit and ability

Theocracy: rule by religion, or by God

Aristocracy: rule by the best (privileged class)

Monarchy: rule by one person

Oligarchy: rule by a few

Democracy: rule by the people

D. Scope of Authority

1. Grounds of Coercion

Prevent harm to others (private and public)

Prevent offense (offense principle)

Prevent harm to self (legal paternalism)

Prevent immorality or sin (legal moralism)

Benefit the self (extreme paternalism)

Benefit others (welfare principle)

2. Limits of authority

Liberty rights: to speech, to property, against slavery, against coercion

Mill: society may constrain us only when our actions harm others, not when we only harm ourselves

State toleration/neutrality: religion