Upload
elfreda-jackson
View
219
Download
4
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
History of Political Thought
Spring 2009Prof. Fran Moran
Department of Political Science
Contact Information Office: K-636
Hours: MW, 9-11 M 6 to 7 T 9 - 10 am
Phone: 201-200-3259
Email: [email protected]
Webpage: http://faculty.njcu.edu/fmoran
Materials
Ball, Terrence and Dagger Richard. 2009. Ideals and Ideologies. New York: Pearson/Longman
Objectives We will explore the evolution of
Western political thought, from its roots in early Greek philosophy up through contemporary political discourse
Ideas like justice, rights, democracy, equality will be investigated through the close reading of primary source documents
Objectives This is a General
Studies Course, as such it is required to include: reading and writing, and the writing must be done out of class
Objectives In addition, it must address at least
two of the following competencies: quantitative and computer literacy critical thinking/creative
expression oral communication information gathering
Objectives In addition, it must address at least
two of the following competencies: quantitative and computer literacy critical thinking/creative
expression oral communication information gathering
Requirements Reaction Papers (60%)
5 total during the course of the semester
Can only submit one per week Can submit more than 5, with best 5
counting towards the grade
Requirements Class Participation (15%)
Regular attendance Constructive
participation in class
Requirements Final Exam
11 May, 7 pm, K-114 Essay format Questions distributed prior to the
exam
Why Political Theory? 1. Three Levels of Political
Discourse 2. Politics of Justice 3. Justice as Politics
Justice Exercise Break into small groups (4-6 people) Aim: Develop some principles to
determine who in the class should receive a free copy of the text book Don’t identify the specific person, but
rather the procedures to be used to determine the identity of that person
I. 3 Levels of Political Debate
Level 1Provides answers to “Deep” questions concerning the basics of political life:
For example: What is justice? Do rights exist?
I. 3 Levels of Political Debate
Level 2 Supplies the content to the concepts agreed upon in Level One
For example: If rights exist, what rights do we possess?
I. 3 Levels of Political Debate
Level 3 Identifies the specific applications of the content agreed to in Level 2
For example: If we have right to practice any religion we choose, can I open the First Church of the Holy Herb?
I. 3 Levels of Political Debate
Level One
Level Three
Level Two
I. 3 Levels of Political Debate
Level One
Level Three
Level Two
I. 3 Levels of Political Debate
Level One
Level Three
Level Two
I. 3 Levels of Political Debate
Level One
Level Three
Level Two
Whi
ch rai
ses
the
ques
tion
…
I. 3 Levels of Political Debate
Level One
Level Three
Level Two
How do we reach agreement at each of these levels?
I. 3 Levels of Political Debate
Level One
Level Three
Level Two
Persuasion?
For example:
Slavery?American independence?
I. 3 Levels of Political Debate
Level One
Level Three
Level Two
Persuasion? Coercion!
II. Politics of Justice Which view eventually triumphs
will be a function of political might rather than of philosophical rigor.
Political “might” or “coercion” need not rest entirely on physical force
Other sources of coercion?
II. Politics of Justice Political Power has a variety of
components: Physical power Economic power Psychological power
II. Politics of Justice In a domestic political context,
psychological power is likely the most important and most powerful
But in an international context, it is the least powerful
Psychological power rests on agreements at Level One and Level Two
II. Politics of Justice In our search for international
justice, economic and military power become the main tools to coerce compliance to a given standard of justice For example: Iraq & WMD
Iran & Nukes
II. Politics of Justice Survey different
political systems at different historical periods we see different theories of justice at work
II. Politics of Justice If justice had an objective basis –
that is, if our understanding of justice could be separated from a political context – we should by now see similar conceptions of justice adopted and applied
II. Politics of Justice Whatever international norms that
may exist, owe their existence to political might United Nations? International Law? Human Rights?
II. Politics of Justice For Example: Al-Qaeda vs. The
U.S. Each group articulates a coherent
theory of justice Each theory of justice is at odds with
the other Resolution of the dispute…
II. Politics of Justice
II. Politics of Justice
II. Politics of Justice Bush and bin-Laden did not debate
the virtues of American liberalism vs. those of Islamic fundamentalism
II. Politics of Justice They could not debate because
they did not share a common political language
In the absence of that shared vocabulary, politics takes precedence over rhetoric or rationality
III. Justice as Politics What implications follow from this
understanding of justice? That is, if justice is a function of
politics, does that mean that justice as such no longer exists or loses its power?
Can we no longer condemn acts that violate our understanding of justice?
III. Justice as Politics Short answer, no Our failure to arrive at an objective
standard for our normative claims – to settle Level One and Level Two issues – is not necessarily catastrophic
III. Justice as Politics We need to appreciate justice – the
rules of our political life – the same way we appreciate the rules of baseball
III. Justice as Politics Politics and our
political institutions function like the baseball establishment: That is, they provide
the rules by which the game should be played and they have the power to enforce compliance
III. Justice as Politics When groups seek to challenge our
political rules – whether they be criminals, terrorists, or other governments, we may use the political resources we have to enforce and defend those rules …
III. Justice as Politics
IV. Conclusion In The Politics, Aristotle defines the
human species as the zoon politikon or the political animal
Too often we focus on the noun and forget the adjective
IV. Conclusion We are political animals. While we may lack a
transcendent basis for our moral and political beliefs, we do have a forum for defining those beliefs and the institutions for enforcing deviation and defection from those beliefs
IV. Conclusion We may condemn from a variety of
moral perspectives those social and political practices we find objectionable,
But…
IV. Conclusion Those practices won’t change
unless and until our condemnations inspire political action
Conclusion And it is political
ideas that motivate people to political action
By studying the history of political thought, we are studying the history of politics