POL S 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Res Publica, Friendly Society, Precondition
Document Summary
What politics should be beyond the position of who should rule. Making some kind of claim about the good life. Machiavelli: need an immoral protector so we can stay safe. Res publica (latin) - thinking about the republic, emphasizing the public. The idea that the state is meant to serve us. Becomes a vehicle that allows us to become the kinds of people we want to be. Emphasis on idea of community and making long-term relationships. The best thing you can be is a good citizen, and in order to be a good citizen, you need a good state. State should be something that molds us - transforms us into the kind of people capable of governing ourselves. Allows us to have a society of friends, as opposed to a society of traders. Knowing who you share a community with, and being connected to them.
