...Hobbes and Rousseau are similar, and yet different to another, on aspects of the state of nature, and yet different in other ways. The way Hobbes views the state of nature, is that of natural man in the wild, who is constantly fighting other individuals for survival, and doing whatever he can and whatever means are necessary, to fend off others for his own survival. That in the state of nature, man’s life is constantly in a fight for survival. That in this situation, it is not possible at any level to obtain a government, let alone have peace from others’ thefts, murders, etc. this becomes more obvious, the more one analyzes what Hobbes is saying. That “natural man”, only survives due to that unto which contracts are made with one another,...
Words: 1877 - Pages: 8
...and to provide for security of its people. In a state of anarchy, this protection and security would be non-existent. This would cause humans to have to provide their own security and protect their own property. The debate on how humans would act under these circumstances was greatly examined by 17th centuries philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, and 18th century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Each philosopher has different views on how humans would behave in a state of nature. Thomas Hobbes in particular is the most accurate in his description of how humans would behave and interact with each other. Like Hobbes, I believe that humans are only out to maximize their self-interests and in a state of nature, they will do so by any means possible. In The Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes takes on a realist perspective as he describes how he believes humans will behave in a state of nature. He writes that in such circumstances, humans are only out to maximize their own self-interests (Leviathan, Shifdar). I also take this perspective believing that in a state of nature, the main goal of humans is to obtain and preserve power. Basing my beliefs after Hobbes, I believe that to obtain such power, humans will attempt to do so by any means. In a state of nature, the most common way people will obtain power is through the formation of alliances; which will lead to the formation of a small government. The main goal of these alliances, will be to obtain resources necessary for survival. Within...
Words: 1078 - Pages: 5
...Sean Butler 4/4/16 Professor Stringer Criminal Justice System How Crime is good for Society Ever since the first use of national crime statistics came out in 1934, there have only been 16 years where the crime rate declined, eight of those years being after 1992. So basically, crime is all around us, all the time. Interestingly though, the evidence shows that,” our most sustained drop in crime, neatly coincides with the longest economic expansion in U.S. history has led some experts to insist there's a connection between the two.” (Leher, Eli.) That’s contradictive of beliefs though, at first you would think crime rates should drop and fall regarding the countries economics. After looking at the data though, there’s little evidence to suggest that good economic times have an effect on the crime rates. Crime is good for society because it determines the economic trend, how crime benefits the economy, it sets boundaries on what is right and wrong, and the philosophers and their views on crime. Between the years of 1955-1972, as the US economy flourished, with a mild recession in the beginning of the 1960s. By the time they reached the 1970s, “crime rates had increased over 140 percent. Murder rates had risen about 70 percent, rapes more than doubled, and auto theft nearly tripled.” (Leher, Eli.) A bad economy doesn’t necessarily indicate more crime though, “Crime rates fell about one third between 1934 and 1938 while the nation was struggling to emerge from the Great Depression...
Words: 1981 - Pages: 8
...A Review of Ethics Concepts & Theories Educational Objectives: 1. Explain the type of problem that is addressed by philosophers. 2. Explain how ethical norms help address ethical issues that arise in accountancy. 3. Contrast the views of Mills, Machiavelli and Kant. 4. Describe what is meant by a social contract. 5. Analyze a given situation and tell why it would be appropriate or inappropriate to lie. 6. Explain the views of Kierkegaard and contrast him from other existentialists. 7. Discuss the concept that ethics cannot be based on religion. 8. Explain the use of ethical reasoning and how it can be used in your professional life. Introduction The major ethical principles accepted in the western world follow guidelines and rules that must be universally applied in all situations. These ethical principles are established primarily on the basis of teachings set forth by philosophers throughout the ages, starting with the great Greek thinkers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. As you might expect, there have been many alterations 修改 to these moral principles throughout the years. What was considered ethically correct by some was rejected by others and replaced with their own concept of what constituted moral or ethical behavior. A Comment about Philosophy: Philosophy, unlike science, addresses issues that cannot be solved. In fact, some philosophers state that if a problem can be solved, philosophers will not even...
Words: 2657 - Pages: 11
...Platón - el bien del hombre y su felicidad se alcanza por la practoca de la virtud - quienes actuan mal lo hacen pensando que eligen bien, pero en realidad es por ignorancia= falta de virtud - virtud= conocimiento de la verdad, del BIEN - el ser humano debe trascender la apriencia y buscar mas alla. - la virtud mas importante es la prudencia: la capacidad de reconocer a traves de la razon, lo que verdaderamente es bueno pra el hombre y los medios que dispone para alcanzarlo. - otras virtudes importantes para Platón: *fortaleza: fuerza de voluntad para hacer la cosas *templanza: control de los intintos *justicia: armonía y equilibrio de todas las otras virtudes - crítica a la teoría de Platón (por Aristóteles) *identificar "conocer" la virtud con ser "virtuoso". La ética no es saber lo que es el bien, si no hacernos buenos atraves de los hábitos *Justificar las vitudes a partir de realidades ideales *Las ideas no existen por si solas, sino en objetos concretos. Materia y forma. Aristóteles - Por naturaleza el hombre busca el bien: el objeto de nuestras aspiraciones, aquellos a los que todos tienden. - el problema es que aveces se elige lo que parece bueno y no lo que realmente es bueno - A diferencia de Platón, Aristóteles cree que no hay un bien en sí mismo, "ideal". Mas bien cree que hay muchos tipos de bien. - Los bienes se eligen, siempre se eligen con vista a un fin último. - El fin último que buscan todos es la "FELICIDAD". - La felicidad no esta...
Words: 719 - Pages: 3
...Concepts and Theories in Politics Welcome to Introduction to Politics! This lecture will supplement what you will hear in class. I’m going to discuss some important methodological and substantive issues having to do with political science, including the role of concepts and theories, human nature and politics, and ideologies. If you need more background, I suggest taking a look at Sheldon Wolin, Politics and Vision; C.B. Macpherson, The Real World of Democracy; or Robert Dahl, A Preface to Democratic Theory. To begin with, in some ways it is a misnomer to speak of political “science.” One crucial difference between political science and the natural sciences is that in the latter there is normally only one dominant paradigm at a time, while in the former there are what might be called competing paradigms. As T.S. Kuhn establishes in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, there was a paradigm shift from the Ptolemaic to the Copernican universe; in other words, from the idea that the Earth is the center of the universe we move to the idea that the Earth in fact goes around the sun, a radical conception when it was first put forward in 16th-century Europe but one that is now universally accepted. In the social sciences, however, there is no overriding consensus on how to analyze reality (or even on what counts as reality). In political science, for example, three major views may be distinguished on power and authority in the United States: (a) the pluralist model, in which...
Words: 1536 - Pages: 7
...chapter. Lec. 1-2 What is Politics? Concepts from the Lecture: Politics ‘Polis’ Plato Machiavelli Modern Age Thomas Hobbes Leviathan Concepts from the Texts: ‘Simile of the Cave’ ‘fortuna’ philosopher-king Behavioural Approach Class Analysis Elite theory Pluralism Institutionalism ‘Power to’ vs. ‘Power over’ Lec. 3 What is the State? Concepts from the Lecture: Treaty of Westphalia Social Contract Legal-institutionalism Branches of State Levels of State Elitism Pluralism Additional Concepts from the Texts: Night Watchman State Neo-liberal state Welfare State Liberal Democracy Lec. 4 The State: Power, Authority, and Sovereignty Concepts from the Lectures and Readings: Power Authority Sovereignty Weber’s Typology of Authority Concepts from Readings: See Lec. 3 concepts Lec. 5 Political Ideologies: Liberalism Concepts from the Lecture Ideology Left vs. Right ideologies John Locke/ Two Treatises of Government J.S. Mill/ On Liberty Tenets of Liberalism Welfare Liberalism vs. Libertarianism Concepts from Readings The Republic State of nature Tyranny of the majority Harm Principle ‘Politics as a Vocation’ Equality Rights Lec. 6 Republicanism, Conservatism and Socialism Concepts from the Lecture Republicanism Roman ‘Res publica’ Jean Jacques Rousseau Edmund Burke / Reflections on...
Words: 886 - Pages: 4
...Daimyo… Bushido The Closing of Japan Nobunaga vs. Hideyoshi Matthew Perry Chapter 11: London on September 2, 1666-the great fire destroyed it. Francis Bacon-leading advocate of the empirical method Inductive reasoning Empirical method Rene Descartes Deductive reasoning Deism Johannes Kepler-had made detailed records of the movements of the planets, substantiating Copernicus’s theory that the cosmos was heliocentric (sun-centered), not geocentric (earth-centered) Galileo Galilei-improved the design and magnification of the telescope Geocentric Heliocentric The law of falling bodies (gravity) Pope Urban VIII Giordano Bruno Isaac Newton-computed the law of universal gravitation in a precise mathematical equation, demonstrating that each and every object exerts an attraction to a greater or lesser degree on all other objects The Industrial Revolution Lunar Society-a group of prominent manufactures,inventors,and naturalists met in and around Birmingham each month on the night of the full moon to discuss,chemistry,,medicine,gases,electricity,and every subject that may contribute to the fruitful society. Thomas Hobbes-argued in Leviathan that the people needed to submit to the authority of a ruler to prevent anarchy. The social contract gives up individual sovereignty in exchange for protection from depravity. Absolutism Social contract John Locke-argued that a ruler has limited authority; if the ruler fails to protect the people’s rights, then the people...
Words: 1147 - Pages: 5
...resources. Gov. is inflexible, which leads to destruction of government. Authoritarianism: They don’t control everything, just enough. There isn’t a utopian vision. They control the military and the police. Only what they need to control. China is a midway point between Totalitarianism and Authoritarianism. Constitutionalism: A limited form of government. Powers are usually spelled out in a constitution that the government is obligated to follow. They are either being a democracy/monarchy. U.S is a democracy and England is a monarch. Hobbes: Claimed that we lived in a state of nature and not a good place to be. He believed were evil/selfish. God doesn’t play a role. “Bottom up dynamic” Locke: Agrees with Hobbes, but lived life better. People were inherently good, not evil. No protection of our property, and this is why we made the social contract. Believes we only gave up a little bit of our freedom, doesn’t believe it’s all or nothing, like Hobbes believed. Believes the social contract entails that we only gave up...
Words: 1972 - Pages: 8
...political values in general and the role of the government in particular * Ideology provides a framework for thinking about politics and policy preferences Ideologies * Modern liberalism is associated with ideas of liberty and political equality: * Tend to favor chance in social, political and economic realms to better protect individuals and produce equality What is the constitution? * Fundamental principles of a government and the basic structures and procedures Two US Constitutions * Articles of confederation ( 1781-1789) * Constitution of the united states (1789-present) Events leading up to the US constitution * By the 18th century, two-tier system of governance had evolved – local colonial assemblies vs Parliament in Britain * Britain’s involvement in the seven years’ war cost money that they tried to recoup from the colonies * Sugar act (1764) * Stamp act (1765) * Colonists responded with...
Words: 2355 - Pages: 10
...are the three main concepts that virtue ethics’ enforces. Aristotle and Plato are virtue ethics principle ethicists. Utilitarianism’s principal concepts are: egalitarianism, hedonism, consequentialism. This ethical system is based on a perception that a choice is moral when it has a result that is more positive for people. Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and John Stuart Mill (1806-73) who was actually one of Bentham’s students, are, ethicist’s involved in developing utilitarianism. Social contact is that the persons’ moral or obligations are dependent on a contract or agreement. To be polite, not cheat or lie to one another in marriage, which marriage is like a contract. The ethicists that were involved in this were Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Individual relativism says that is not a universal standard. “All values are subjective because they are based upon the personal preferences that express one’s own self-interest” (Argosy, 2015). What you says goes basically, what you think is the better option is. The ethicists involved were Manuel Velasquez, Claire Andre, Thomas Shanks, S.J., and Michael J. Meyer. Deontology with goals is comprised of the principle components of an individual making ethical decisions based on achieving a certain goal. Hinduism and Buddhism both want to reach a particular goal in life. Buddhism is to reach their goal through nirvana, Hinduism is...
Words: 1154 - Pages: 5
...Immigration 5 How Sweden Becam Swedish 6 Welfare State 6 Cultural Policy and Propaganda 7 Multi-culturalism 8 Gender Equality 9 Conclusion 11 Introduction The purpose of this essay is to try to understand the Scandinavian culture. To do this, we have to clarify some concepts, like National Identity, Nationalism, culture and Swedishness, in order to understand the connection between those, and finally expose more easely the following arguments. Those concepts can be seen as pretty dimness and deep, so we have to treat those with caution. In fact, if we start with Nationalism, many theorists tried to counteract the three paradoxes this concept bring : objective modernity vs. subjective antiquity, socio-cultural concept vs. concrete manifestations and 'political' power vs. philosophical poverty. Therefore, we see that Nationalism involve multiple frameworks, like history, culture, social or politic. Ernest Gellner reached to mix them and saw Nationalism like a 'theory of political legitimacy, wich requires that ethnic boundaries should not cut across political onces'. Benedict Anderson also add national identity and sentiment to this definition when he noticed that people may be die for their nation. Despite this, both of them agree to say that there is a strong...
Words: 3251 - Pages: 14
...Nietzsche: His philosophy and “Beyond Good and Evil” And Marxists vs. Mill’s view of socialism 1- Describe Nietzsche’s basic philosophy and his “New Morality” as revealed in his “Gay Science”, “Twilight of the Idol’s” books. Then choose one of his writings in his book “Beyond Good and Evil” and describe the philosophy he attempts to reveal. Conclude with your opinion on his philosophy of religion and his view of the Cosmos. Born on October 15, 1844 in the small town of Röcken, near Leipzig, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a German poet and philosopher, a classical philologist and a professor of Greek at the University of Basle. He was the author of many works that talked about religion, morality, culture, philosophy, science using a unique style and radical questioning of the value and objectivity of truth. In his writings, Nietzsche called for revision of all values; he rejected organized religion attacking Christianity and other religious institutions as contributors to what he called “slave morality”. He was, also, equally critical of democratic institutions whose singular vision and courage, according to him, produce a “master morality” and he called the rule by mass mediocrity. Nietzsche also believed that European materialism have led to decadence and decline. He died on August 25, 1900. In his works, he voiced the sentiments of radical moralists. He was deeply critical of his own times and he called for a revision of all values. The major...
Words: 5211 - Pages: 21
...Jurisprudence: Compare our case to prior cases in order to convince judges they should rule in our favour. Lower court judges are obligated to follow decisions of higher courts in similar cases (stare decisis). We will do the same with our cases. Case Summary The facts: The evidence in the case allows us to compare to our case. Legal Issues: What legal questions need to be determined? Decision: What is the ruling? Ratio decidendi: What are the reasons for the decision? What laws are applied? This can be applied to future cases (and exams). Law vs. Ethics Ethics are voluntary rules of behaviour; Designed to create conditions allowing people to live a good life; Laws are coercive rules on conduct; Imposed on society through the social contract; Origin of ethics Jeremy Benthem (18th century). Utilitarianism – political and social institutions (law) should be used to maximum utility. Maximize pleasure and minimize pain. John Stuart Mill (19th century). Actions are wrong if they produce unhappiness. Actions are right if they produce happiness. Contrast to Nicolo Macchiavelli; the end justify the means. Illegal but Ethical Marijuana is an illegal narcotic; Marijuana is no longer frowned upon; Legal but Unethical Abortion; - Ban on abortion overturned by the Supreme Court; No law on the books today; Abortion is only regulated by ethical considerations; Doctors may refuse abortions for religious or conscientious reasons; British Columbia may pass a law to forbid it; ...
Words: 9155 - Pages: 37
...BATMAN AND PHILOSOPHY THE DARK KNIGHT OF THE SOUL Edited by Mark D. White and Robert Arp @ WILEY John Wiley & Sons, Inc. To the memory of Heath Ledger (1979-2008) Copyright © 2008 by john Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved Published by john Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New jerney Published simultaneously in Canada No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a reaieval system, or transmit ted in any fonn or by any means. electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scan ning, or otherwise, except as pennitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written pennission of the Publisher, Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvern, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) sion should be addressed to the Pennissions Department,john Wiley & Sons,Inc., III or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright 646-8600, or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for pennis River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.comlgo/pennissions. Limit ofLiabilirylDisclaimer ofWarranry:While the publisher and the author have used their best efforts in preparing this book., they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this hook and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty...
Words: 8400 - Pages: 34
