POSC 20203 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Rational Ignorance, Bruce Ackerman, David Schweickart
Document Summary
The problem of political authority by huemer (chapter 9) Hobbes"s strategy: concentrate power, assumptions, equality of power breeds conflict, extreme inequality of power produces peace, huemer"s take? (200-208, hobbes"s analysis is precisely backwards, equality of power breeds respect, concentration of power breeds abuse. Power (hobbes: concentrate power , then place limits on the powerful agent thus created (locke) Assumptions (199-200: equality of power breeds conflict, inequality of power produces peace. In a democracy, the people rule indirectly: we elect politicians who want to be re-elected which generally requires ruling in a way that is responsive to the majority"s preferences. If a candidate gets any private contributions, they cannot use any democracy money: there is no limit to how much money a candidate an get through democracy card donations. Deliberation day: deliberation day a new national holiday. It will be held one week before major national elections.
