PO101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Socratic Method, Scientific Method, North American Free Trade Agreement
10 Dec 2018
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Traditional, charismatic, rational - legal, coercion, influence, legitimacy. Everyone has a set of value judgements and opinions about what the world should be like. Seeks to understand the essential nature of human nature and the human condition. Method logical reasoning (socratic method (asking questions)), not empirical (observation) Uses the scientific method to tell us what is. Concerned with the meaning of the concepts we use - where they came from, why we use them. Plato (428 - 348 bc) - the republic. **one of the fathers of modern western philosophy. Society consists of warriors, craftsmen/artists, philosophers - each with separate capabilities. Philosophers should govern, as they understand justice best. Goal: good (ethical) community must link morality and politics and people must be free to engage in contemplation. Constitutional government is the best, but not always possible aristocracy and monarchy. Need to harness human desire for power and control. Only way to be successful in government is to dominate.
