POLI 2511 Lecture : Political Theory.docx
Document Summary
4 perspectives on justice and a good regime. Whether justice and expediency can be reconciled. Aristotle"s nicomachean ethics & politics: student of plato, teacher of alexander, written in 3rd century bce, political science as a practical science, ethics, man is a political animal . Machiavelli"s the prince: 16th century, written as a guidebook for princes during the italian renaissance, since justice is impossible, the price should seek glory. John locke second treatise of government: published during the english civil war 1689, influenced founders of us and canada, political society has limited aims. Justice consists of preserving life, liberty and personal property. Ethics: what is right, political philosophy. Clarity of political order can help improve it. Studies how: follows method, quantitative data. All political opinions aim at some good: opinions are partial and incomplete. Desire for good implies a complete picture of the good. Political philosophy emerges when directedness towards good becomes explicit.
