Political Essay
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PaperReviewMay18.pptx1
Machiavelli
Hobbes
Locke
Plato
Aristotle
M H L
Purpose of politics stability/order/ safety/security order/security/
glory of the state convenience
Science of politics induction (history) induction (concrete facts) innate understanding
(how do we know?)
Human Nature evil, fickle, etc. Selfish, prone to conflict generally good
Relationship of politics statecraft not no summum bonum we understand
to morality soulcraft God’s laws
Role of reason tool, not a governor innate, governor
calculate
Ideal regime prince/statecraft absolute sovereign SC limited constitutional
govt
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1. Metaphysics, i.e. how is the universe structured?
M: fluid P: ideal forms /telos
H: matter A:
L: God’s laws
How do we gain knowledge about the political world, and who has access to that knowledge?
M: induction P: excellence, faculty of contemplation, see the good (phil-kings)
H: induction A: develop, practice
L: God’s laws, reason
3. How do we characterize human nature?
M: evil P: better and worse ways of living up to excellence
H: selfish, prone to conflict A:
L: generally good, reason, und God’s laws
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What is political order, where do we look for the answer, and how do we impose that order on the political world?
M: P: forms/telos
H: individuals/humans A:
L: make political order
What is the goal/task/purpose of politics?
M: stability/statecraft P: soulcraft, achieving telos, excellence
H: security A:
L: security/convenience
6. What is the best way to achieve the goal of politics?
M: statecraft P: soulcraft
H: SC (absolutism ) satisfaction of mutual interest A:
L: SC (limited constitutional govt), satisfaction of mutual interest
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