POSI - Political Science POSI 2310 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Salutary Neglect, Alexis De Tocqueville, Forego
15 Sep 2018
School
Department
Professor
Document Summary
There is a natural morality, certain things that are right and wrong. Human beings do not create what is good and evil. The study of who gets what, when and how. Political science is the study of power (power dynamics) The protection of one"s natural, civil, and/or human rights and liberties are protected. Argument on this question: social values, people, born, ourselves, government, nature, public opinion. Political thinking: critical thinking focused on deciding what can reasonably be believed and then using this information to make political judgements. It is the process through which conclusions are reached. In republican democracies, the individual bears responsibility for personal development. Democracy/republican: believes human beings are capable of self- government. Human beings know when to follow the common good. Authoritarian government: authoritarians do not trust human nature. They force people to think and act in prescribed ways or risk punishment. The major barrier to political thinking is the unwillingness of citizens to make the effort.
