Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Thought Experiment, Benevolent Dictatorship, Social Contract

• School: Western University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: Political Science 1020E
• Professor: Andrew Chater

Document Summary

Centralized governing authority (states have only existed for 6-700 years) Sovereignty, including monopoly of legitimate violence (final decision making authority, I(cid:374) the rulers(cid:859) i(cid:374)terest (cid:894)t(cid:455)ra(cid:374)(cid:374)(cid:455)(cid:895) i(cid:374) the i(cid:374)terests of the go(cid:448)er(cid:374)ed (cid:894)(cid:373)o(cid:374)ar(cid:272)h(cid:455)(cid:895) uled by many (democracy) I(cid:374)flue(cid:374)(cid:272)i(cid:374)g others(cid:859) beha(cid:448)iours (cid:894)so(cid:272)ial po(cid:449)er, po(cid:449)er is the currency of politics) The right to command (to tell you what to do and to punish you if you disobey) Is the state authority justified? (moral questions) (who has the right to tell me what to do?) Imagine life without the state and political power. Worst scenario: no state protection (any kind of state is better than no state) Powerful state is needed to avoid disastrous interpersonal conflict. Competition: gain (weakest person will be able to take you) (resources are scarce so there is a competitive reason to take your stuff) (power so you have security) Glory: reputation (power, having means to satisfy your wants. , reputation of power means power)