POLI 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Democratic Socialism, Dialectical Materialism, Free Education
Document Summary
Philosophical inspiration for french revolution: american constitution (1776) Anti-monarchical, emphasizes the people" and rule of law. No foundational religion separation of church and state. Is america liberal or republican: main tenets. Civic virtue protects against threats to republic: factionalism republic is indivisible, corruption. Defend republic at all costs: republicanism today. American republican party: emphasis on freedom of the people, emphasis on duty, military service, service/civic virtue, moral language emphasized link to christianity. French/quebec republicanism: secularism, anti-multiculturalism/accommodation of minorities. These thinkers were utopian in that they had no practical vision of how political change would come about: pivotal figure: karl marx marxism. Developed a scientific theory according to which socialism was not only ethically desirable but historically inevitable: socialism was divided between communism and social democracy, main tenets of socialism. Economics/technology determines history: dialectical materialism (marx) Capitalism must be replaced or modified poverty, inequality between people, alienation of workers.
