Exam (elaborations)
HOPT - Lectures 1 - 6 (1).
- Course
- Institution
HOPT - Lectures 1 - 6 (1).
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
modockochieng06
Content preview
HOPT - Lectures 1 - 6Who should rule, according to Plato? - ANS-Expert rule. In other words, Epistemocracy. This
presupposes that ruling is a craft/skill or requires knowledge (or competence).
What is the political message of 'Republic'? - ANS-The need to enlighten us so that we may
become fit to live in kallipolis, the ideal city
Why did Plato argue that philosophers should rule? - ANS-Knowledge was the root of salvation
and ignorance the root of perdition
Background of the politics in Athens - ANS-- It was a so-called direct or popular democracy.
However, women, children, slaves and resident foreigners were excluded.
- Met in a regular assembly. All men could participate, vote (by raising their hand), and speak
freely
- For important mattes (e.g. war), there was the boulé or council, which was composed of 500
citizens who were chosen by lot (Thus randomly) and who served for one year
- The poor were subsidized in Athens
- Athens was in a coalition with Sparta in the war against the Persians
What does the ship analogy stand for? - ANS-Ten arguments to distrust direct democracy:
1. The thought that democracy leads to dissensus (disorder)
2. Self-rule generates overconfidence in each of us (Reign of the false/reign of fake news
3. Citizens lack expertise to know what they are doing (Reign of the false).
4. The masses deny the very existence of political expertise (Reign of the false)
5. They threaten or kill anybody who claims intellectual superiority (everyone who claims to have
political expertise) (Disorder/anarchy)
6. Everybody wants to rule, and this generated murderous conflicts (Disorder and disunity)
7. The masses foment revolution and steal property of others (Disorder)
8. With the masses in control there is much rudderless pleasure (disorder)
9. The people are susceptible to flattery and demagogues (reign of false)
10. The masses call demagogues 'skilled' (reign of false)
What are the important normative commitments that Plato implies? - ANS-- Political desirability
of order/unity
- Political desirability of truthful politics
What are the three theoretical problems or Epistemocracy? - ANS-- On what grounds is
somebody thought qualified to lead? (what skills/competencies/knowledge are required?)
- Who gets to decide who the experts are and who monitors the admission of the experts? In the
republic, the experts self-select, they say who the next experts are. This requires a strong public
ethos and ability to select for competence
, - Even if 1-2 can be met, why think the ruling experts will be accepted by the rest?
What does Aristotle associates elections with? - ANS-Olicharchies/aristocracies:
- Not everybody is able to participate as the group is too big
- The group needs to be limited through lottery
What does decision making involve? - ANS-- Aims
- Means
- Some decision procedure
What are the five uses of political theory? - ANS-1. Offers a Normative guidance: how should
we/you behave? Prioritizes moral commitments and draws out implication and connections
2. It offers an Explanation: offers an account of why/how something happened.
3. It is a tool in empirical research: it helps guide attention to particular phenomena
4. It unmasks status quo: ideology critique. Unmasking the status quo can involve genealogy
and ideology critique.
5. Conceptual clarification: it offers analysis of contested or confused concepts
What is the city of pigs that Plato describes? - ANS-- Based on the division of labor and
specialization
- There is a joyful religion
- There are no luxury/arts
- There is no education of the passions --> Everybody can do what they want and it is
automatically assumed that they are moderate in their wants
What is Plato's theory of human nature? - ANS-People are characterized by innate differences:
- These are largely heritable (given at birth). Motivates eugenics program in the best city
- The division of labor reflects (and should reflect) these differences.
- These differences reflect a natural hierarchy
- The best women are as good as best men
- Worst women are as bad as worst men
What are the factors that distinguish nations from one another? - ANS-Natural temperaments
Natural states
Language
Three types of will - ANS-Will is attained through the principle to strive and the
sense-persecption of the soul and the body
Second type of will: Longing that comes from the imagination
Third type of will: Longing that comes from reason. Allows a person to strive for happiness, or
not
What is the unqualified good? - ANS-Happiness
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 modockochieng06. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
62555 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now