POL 101W Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: John Stuart Mill, Liberal Feminism, Rulemaking
13 May 2016
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A: perennial issues in political thought (page 134) Henry adams (1838-1918) : knowledge of human nature is the beginning and end of political education . Thomas hobbes (1588-1679): humans are isolated, selfish creatures, driven by their desires and aversions. Humans are inescapably engaged in a perpetual struggle for power over others that ends only in death. Aristotle: opposite of hobbes living in society that is natural- humans are by nature social and political animals. Political life is the highest form of self-actuality. It is also potentially destructive of the conditions needed for a productive and peaceful life. Jean-jacques rousseau: humans are basically good but have been corrupted by their sociopolitical environment: bad institutions have distorted the natural goodness of humankind. Our modern bias is toward the view that humans are in essence equal although our societies are still rife with social and economic inequalities.
