Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Robert Nozick, Totalitarianism, Friedrich Hayek
10 Dec 2015
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The elements of politics: social, process, conflict, binding decisions, enforced. Sovereignty, including monopoly of legitimate violence: final decision making authority (sovereignty) Aristotle"s 2 questions: who rules, one, few, many. In whose interest: in the rulers" interests, in the interests of the governed. Power can take several forms incentives (bribes) propaganda. Is state authority justified: hard power - police, force and threat of force, economic sanctions, inducements, soft power change the way people think, make them want what you want through. Powerful state is needed to avoid disastrous interpersonal conflict: state should not be democratic. Premises: human nature: no reason to trust anyone. Laws of nature: imagine life without the state and political power. Fundamental law: seek peace, if you can getting it. Second law: lay down natural right if others do too. Some lack power to enforce the law of nature: therefore need authority to advise and enforce of rules.
