Political Science 1020E Study Guide - Midterm Guide: John Stuart Mill, Thomas Hobbes, Thought Experiment
19 Jan 2017
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Elements of politics: social, process, conflict, binding decisions, enforce. What is the state: territorial community, central governing authority, sovereignty, including monopoly of legitimate violence. Thought experiment - imagine how life would be like without a state/centralized political power/authority. Worst scenario - no state protection (nothing good could happen) Powerful state is needed to avoid disastrous interpersonal conflict. Rational, self interested, capable of caring for others. Lay down natural right : do whatever it takes to preserves others bodies. Rules of morality/ property rights, rights to physical security. Some lack power to enforce the law of nature (you are stronger than me) Natural liberty: freedom to do what you have a right to do. Pity or compassion for the suffering of others. How change happens in the state of nature: Free will and the capacity for self improvement. Responds to scarcity by innovation - making tools. When people are able to produce , they have free time for leisure.
