Printed and published by the
University of South Africa
Muckleneuk, Pretoria
PLC301±X/1/2005±2008
97603481
3B2
PRS Mod style
, (iii) PLC301±X/1/2005±2008
Contents
Study unit Page
POLITICAL IDEAS (v)
THEME 1
The nature and function of political philosophy, theory
and ideology 1
STUDY UNIT 1 THE MEANING OF POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY AND POLITICAL
THEORY 2
STUDY UNIT 2 THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL NATURE OF POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY 6
2.1 The analytic dimension: logical knowledge 6
2.2 The empirical dimension: factual knowledge 10
2.3 The normative dimension: moral knowledge 11
2.3.1 The function of political philosophy 14
STUDY UNIT 3 THE MEANING, NATURE AND FUNCTION OF IDEOLOGY 16
3.1 The similarities and differences between political philosophy and ideology 18
THEME 2
The historical development of political ideas 21
STUDY UNIT 4 THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL IDEAS 23
4.1 The classical period 23
4.2 The medieval period 25
4.3 The modern period 27
THEME 3
The political ideas of selected political philosophers 35
STUDY UNIT 5 CLASSICAL POLITICAL IDEAS 39
5.1 Plato (427±347 BC) 39
5.2 Aristotle (384±322 BC) 44
STUDY UNIT 6 MEDIEVAL POLITICAL IDEAS 50
6.1 St Augustine (354±430) 50
6.2 St Thomas Aquinas (1225±1274) 52
STUDY UNIT 7 MODERN POLITICAL IDEAS 57
7.1 John Locke (1632±1704) 57
7.2 Karl Marx (1818±1883) 61
, (iv)
Study unit Page
THEME 4
Selected issues in political philosophy 71
STUDY UNIT 8 AUTHORITY 75
8.1 The meanings of authority 75
8.2 Why should political authorities be obeyed? 77
8.3 Challenges to political authority 80
STUDY UNIT 9 JUSTICE 87
9.1 The meanings of justice 87
9.2 The principles of justice 89
9.3 Contending theories of justice: Rawls and Nozick 92
STUDY UNIT 10 EQUALITY 102
10.1 The meanings of equality 102
10.2 Kinds of equality 103
10.3 The problems of equality and the justification of equality and inequalities 107
STUDY UNIT 11 FREEDOM 115
11.1 The meanings of freedom 115
11.2 Kinds of freedom 119
11.3 The scope and limits of freedom 120
BIBLIOGRAPHY 128
GLOSSARY 131
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Lazie10. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.31. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.