Political Science 1020E Lecture 1: 1020E Fall Lectures
20 Dec 2017
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Denmark: well governed, peaceful, happy, excellent public services (health, education etc. ) Politics makes the difference, not the intelligence, propensity to violence, geography. It is the state, the rule of law, and accountable government. Politics is about collective choices we make to reduce conflict and promote cooperation. Three types of questions descriptive, explanatory, normative. Descriptive: how things are (ie. what is a refugee?) Explanatory: why things are this way (ie why has this happened?) Normative: how things should be focus on this question. ***** reading for next lecture: intro to political philosophy, pg. Two main themes: political ideas, political ideologies. Five big ideas (lectures 2- 13: the state, political authority, democracy, liberty, distributive justice. Steven pinker"s thesis: we live in the most peaceful era in the history of humanity, less violent, less cruel. Why: consequences of war have become greater, economic globalization the peaceful effect of commerce, development of empathy, development of the state system.
