Poli 64 Modern Political Thought

TURN YOUR PHONE OFF!

November 15 1777 Articles of Confederation adopted

After 16 months of debate, the Continental Congress, sitting in its temporary capital of York, Pennsylvania, agrees to adopt the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union. In 1781, with the Revolutionary War still raging, the last of the 13 states ratified the agreement.

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENTJeopardy!

Answer: The number of votes everyone should have, and the number that the ‘competent’ should have.

The question: What is ONE, and MORE THAN ONE?

The issue: Doesn’t it tick you off that ignorant sots have a vote that counts for the same as yours?

Utilitarianism (the social theory of human felicity)

Mill’s conclusion: Utility (the greatest happiness) requires progress, and progress requiresCompetence

On Liberty

Liberty is the means of self-development for happiness; liberty both protects anddevelops competence

The principle of liberty: freedom in all “self-regarding acts”; social/governmental regulation of “other-regarding acts” ONLY

Spheres of liberty:

Thought and expression (for truth)Tastes and pursuits (for individuality and diversity)

Association (institutional forms for thought, expression, tastes and pursuits)

Liberty protects competence by preventing majority tyranny; liberty developscompetence by encouraging individual self-development

Further considerations on development (or, why government should be limited):

Overactive government is inefficient and undermines self-reliance

Governments have limited capacity; individuals know their own interests

Paternalism stunts development; individual initiative encourages self-development

Monopolization stunts innovation; individual independence encourages creativity

Mill on Representative Government

Review: The prerequisites of progress

CapacityIntellectual Materialrequires

Development and Protectionrequires

Democracyrequires

Meritocracy

requires

Productive societiesrequires

Bureaucracy w/ expertise

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

Conditions of success:

Threats to success

Negative (deficiencies)Underdevelopment Insufficient power

Positive (evils) Particularity Incompetence

Limitations:

Acceptance, action, and capacity

insubordination, passivity, localism

Remedies:Political participation and effective bureaucracy

Means: education by example, experience, and public schooling

Further considerations: enfranchisement and electoral influence