POLC70H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Political Philosophy, Liberal Democracy, Mass Politics
Document Summary
Pol b70: classic texts of political theory i: professor lee. The republic (politeia) begins with a debate about justice but quickly. Review: becomes a discussion about political leadership and the virtues required for effective political leadership over a city. Someone must rule the city, for it to act as one unit and with a common purpose. Answer: iii. 412c: the best" the aristoi" should rule. It"s a matter of justice: it is just that the best" and only the best" should rule the city. Or, to put the same point differently, it would be unjust if anybody else ruled the city (we return to this last point later). Hint: there is a linguistic connection between the best" [aristoi] and virtue" [ar te]. The best" must be distinguished by the possession of virtue. And we know that justice" must be a part of what it means to be virtuous.