Political Science 2237E Lecture Notes - Sextus Empiricus, Michel De Montaigne

• School: Western University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: Political Science 2237E
• Professor: Douglas Long

Document Summary

Plato: political theory as philosophical system-building: goal-a perfect structure of power/authority. Aristotle: political theory as observation and classification of nature-as essence and as process: goal-optimal growth. Skeptics: political theory as open inquiry-as the embrace of uncertainty: goal-happiness and, in modern terms, freedom. All of these philosophers as well as the christians believed in a truth that could dispel uncertainty and steady the conditions of constant change. For aristotle, the truth was in his teleology. The skeptics believe that we need to stand back from all of these interpretations and begin to interrogate and ask questions and find our own truths. Skeptics say that you should obey the laws as best you can but be prepared to change. This does not mean that skeptics have no values, but rather that they are realistic. You cannot have total government and you cannot have complete liberty>>the pendulum swings and all things pass.