Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Homo Economicus, Experience Machine, Ibm System I

• School: Western University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: Political Science 1020E
• Professor: Nigmendra Narain

Document Summary

I(cid:374) lo(cid:272)ke(cid:859)s state of (cid:374)ature, the e(cid:454)e(cid:272)uti(cid:448)e po(cid:449)er of the la(cid:449) of (cid:374)ature is possessed (cid:271)(cid:455): each person (right, god, the sovereign, the police. We would be better off without government: cooperation is better for everyone. A few bad apples can ruin everything. Two more anarchist responses: humans are naturally good, social cooperation without coercion. Negative argument: the state is the only alternative to the state of nature. Is there a positive argument for a moral duty to obey the state. In return, it is responsible for protecting us. Justifying the state = showing that there are universal political obligations. Should we obey the law because it(cid:859)s the la(cid:449)? (cid:862)u(cid:374)i(cid:448)ersal(cid:863) (cid:373)ea(cid:374)s (cid:862)applies to e(cid:448)er(cid:455)o(cid:374)e(cid:863) State-citizen relation is like the parent-(cid:272)hild relatio(cid:374) (cid:894)plato(cid:859)s crito(cid:895) Life and benefits generate gratitude and the duty to obey. Voluntarism: tate(cid:859)s politi(cid:272)al authorit(cid:455) depe(cid:374)ds o(cid:374) (cid:373)(cid:455) (cid:272)o(cid:374)se(cid:374)t. Social contract: political obligation based on contract or agreement.