PO101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Nicomachean Ethics, Negative Liberty, Positive Liberty
Document Summary
The world of ideologies: liberalism, socialism/communism and conservatism, fascism and religious fundamentalism, nationalism and multiculturalism. Hobbes comment on the state of nature: war against all: liberty, rights. Positive liberty: freedom to achieve full potential. Civil: right to be protected by law. Cultural rights: right to belong; identity rights. Rachael (1509 1511: plato on the left and aristotle his student on the right. Plato holds his timaeus while aristotle his nicomachean ethics: their gestures indicate central aspects of their philosophies or plato, his idealism. To teach according to his or her abilities. Transcendence of human selfishness requires a complete overhaul of social relations as we know them: aristotle. Selfishness is a part of who we are. Without property or family ties we would stop caring about our relatives/friends. A balanced government is a main objective. Combines the interest of various groups in society. Machiavelli (1469 1527: ethics and ideals are secondary, need to harness human desire for power and control.
