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Intro to Political Theory Notes
Introduction to Political Theory Ancient (M11002)
University of Nottingham
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Intro to Poliical Theory: Ancient Greece
Plato believes democracy is ruled by opinion and belief rather than by knowledge. Homer (8th Century BCE) – wrote the epic poems: The Iliad and The Odyssey. Pre-Socraic – philosophers who were before Socrates and not inluenced by him. Heraclitus (ire is the origin) – nothing in the world is staic, constantly changing “you never step in the same river twice.” Anaximenes (air is the origin) Thales (water is the origin) Polis – a Greek City State 6 forms of government:
Sparta Militarized Oligarchy Athens Paricipatory Democracy Peloponnesian War: Sparta vs Athens
Athenian Democracy Populaion approx. 300,000 in total, 40,000 ‘ciizens’ (Adult males with voing rights) and 80,000 slaves The Athenian Consituion was writen by Solon in 594 BCE Unlike modern democracy, Athenian democracy was paricipatory
Split into three insituions: Ecclesia, Boule and Courts
Values of Athenian Democracy: o Isonomia: Equality before the law o Isegoria: Equality of speech (free speech) o Parrhesia: Capacity to speak freely (speak without fear) o Eleutheria: Freedom o Deliberaion: Power to persuade Cultural expectaion that if called upon a person would have knowledge of the poliics of their community.
Corrupion in Athens: 1. Buying of votes 2. Demagoguery: Immoral spokesmen, skilled in persuasion and capable of winning support through latery and eloquence, rather than truth. sill exist to this day (e. Trump, Nigel Farage...)
Socrates (470-399 BCE) Plato’s mentor ‘founder’ of Western Philosophy Wrote nothing, debated with ciizens in the streets Provides us with a method of enquiry ‘Socraic Method’ Instead of defending a belief he atempts to break down hypotheses unil he reaches a plausible outcome. “All I know is that I know nothing” – encourages people to be scepical about what they believe to be true Sentenced to death for his teachings
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) Social Contract Theory: the view that persons' moral and/or poliical obligaions are dependent upon a contract or agreement among them to form the society in which they live Humans are primarily driven by their passions: naturally self- interested leads to clashes and hence, without community would live individually In the State of Nature everyone can use their power as they wish liberty Three forms of violence: o Compeiion: when two desire the same thing, they become enemies o Diidence: atacking based on anicipaion o Glory: violence for the pursuit of one’s own power The Social Contract is agreed upon out of fear
Rousseau (1712-1778) 3 forms of society – Natural humans, ‘the irst revoluion’ and ‘the second revoluion’ The law protects us from others The General Will the will of the whole community The general will is: o Inalienable – against Hobbes, representaion is the expression of ‘paricular will’ o Indivisible – the single will of the community directed toward the public interest o Infallible – an authenic and absolute expression of sovereignty Widespread inequality produces compeing interests, meaning there can’t be a general will with it
Economic equality no individual is dependent on others and ensures shared set of interests to unite society Civic educaion to ensure ciizens paricipate according to public interest, not private interest
Intro to Political Theory Notes
Module: Introduction to Political Theory Ancient (M11002)
University: University of Nottingham
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