Political PhilosophyPolitical PhilosophyPlatoPlato

Common GoodCommon Good

Plato believed that people were at Plato believed that people were at their best when they acted in the their best when they acted in the common good or all in society.common good or all in society.

The goal of people should be The goal of people should be virtuous.virtuous.

The quest of people should be to The quest of people should be to grow and attain a supreme morality.grow and attain a supreme morality.

Common GoodCommon Good

Argued material possessions provide Argued material possessions provide a distraction from people achieving a a distraction from people achieving a higher state.higher state.

When all the members of a society When all the members of a society strive to become virtuous they will strive to become virtuous they will put the needs of others and society put the needs of others and society first.first.

This will create a better society for This will create a better society for the person to live in and will result in the person to live in and will result in a happier life.a happier life.

When people put themselves first it When people put themselves first it causes conflict within society.causes conflict within society.

They compete and stop caring about They compete and stop caring about the common good.the common good.

This leads to the downfall of society.This leads to the downfall of society.

Who should Lead?Who should Lead?

Plato believed that society should be Plato believed that society should be split into three classes.split into three classes.

Philosopher Rulers, Guardians, and Philosopher Rulers, Guardians, and Producers (artisans) Producers (artisans)

““The quality of human life can be The quality of human life can be improved if people learn to be improved if people learn to be rational and understand that their rational and understand that their real interests lie in harmonious real interests lie in harmonious cooperation with one another, and cooperation with one another, and not in war or partisan strife.” not in war or partisan strife.”

Who Should LeadWho Should Lead

Philosopher rulers should be the Philosopher rulers should be the leaders of society.leaders of society.

Normal people are corrupt and self Normal people are corrupt and self serving and only better themselves to serving and only better themselves to gain more power.gain more power.

Philosophers get power from Philosophers get power from searching for the truth and bettering searching for the truth and bettering themselves morally and educationally.themselves morally and educationally.

Riches do not matter to them.Riches do not matter to them.

They would be identified in schools They would be identified in schools and removed from their families.and removed from their families.

Would not have families or Land as Would not have families or Land as these would cause them to care these would cause them to care more about personal issues rather more about personal issues rather than the state.than the state.

Philosophers enjoy respect and Philosophers enjoy respect and leisure.leisure.

Guardian ClassGuardian Class

This group is the protectors of the state.This group is the protectors of the state. They enjoy the physical aspects of life.They enjoy the physical aspects of life. Get honour and worth from protecting Get honour and worth from protecting

the city and other military honours.the city and other military honours. They have little interest in leisure or They have little interest in leisure or

wealth, they want status and reputation.wealth, they want status and reputation.

Producers are artists, business Producers are artists, business people.people.

They enjoy wealth and producing They enjoy wealth and producing goods.goods.

They have families, and possessions They have families, and possessions but have no desire to rule or attain but have no desire to rule or attain honour or knowledge unless it honour or knowledge unless it benefits their business.benefits their business.

The three groups work for the The three groups work for the mutually benefit of each other in mutually benefit of each other in harmony.harmony.

Each class is working in the things Each class is working in the things they are best at.they are best at.

All interests will be served.All interests will be served. Society is organized for the common Society is organized for the common

good.good.

AristotleAristotle

364-362 BCE 364-362 BCE Student of Plato’s AcademyStudent of Plato’s Academy Agreed with Plato’s theory that the Agreed with Plato’s theory that the

most just rulers rule for the common most just rulers rule for the common good of all.good of all.

Sent his students all over the world Sent his students all over the world to discover the types of governments to discover the types of governments used.used.

AristotleAristotle

Defined three categories of Defined three categories of governmentsgovernments

Rule by the one, Rule by the few, Rule by the one, Rule by the few, Rule by the many.Rule by the many.

Correct regimes rule for the benefit Correct regimes rule for the benefit of all, corrupt regimes rule for the of all, corrupt regimes rule for the benefit of themselves.benefit of themselves.

Deviations of the correct regimes.Deviations of the correct regimes. Correct regimes are Monarchy (ruled Correct regimes are Monarchy (ruled

by the one), Aristocracy (rule by the by the one), Aristocracy (rule by the few), Polity (rule by the many).few), Polity (rule by the many).

Corrupt are Tyranny (rule by one), Corrupt are Tyranny (rule by one), Oligarchy (rule by the few), Oligarchy (rule by the few), Democracy (rule by the many). Democracy (rule by the many).

Why Democracy was CorruptWhy Democracy was Corrupt

Aristotle also ranked the regimeAristotle also ranked the regime Monarchy was the best, Aristocracy, Monarchy was the best, Aristocracy,

Polity, Democracy, Oligarchy, Polity, Democracy, Oligarchy, Tyranny (the worst)Tyranny (the worst)

During this time women, slaves, and During this time women, slaves, and Manual labourers were not Manual labourers were not considered citizens. considered citizens.

Why Democracy was CorruptWhy Democracy was Corrupt

They existed for the common good of They existed for the common good of the citizens so they could have a the citizens so they could have a privileged life.privileged life.

In places with democracy there are In places with democracy there are two groups:two groups:

The few rich and the many poor.The few rich and the many poor. These two groups are always in These two groups are always in

conflict.conflict.

Why Democracy was CorruptWhy Democracy was Corrupt

Because of this conflict people who Because of this conflict people who are not virtuous are free to take are not virtuous are free to take power.power.

There are more people in Plato’s There are more people in Plato’s producer class and therefore they producer class and therefore they will get more votes.will get more votes.

The producers will always outnumber The producers will always outnumber the most virtuous groups.the most virtuous groups.

Machiavelli Machiavelli

Author of The PrinceAuthor of The Prince First to separate politics and ethicsFirst to separate politics and ethics Believed good politics is politics that Believed good politics is politics that

succeeds.succeeds. Good or bad does not matter as long Good or bad does not matter as long

as you win.as you win.

MachiavelliMachiavelli

He argued that it didn’t matter if a He argued that it didn’t matter if a ruler was ethical or good as long as ruler was ethical or good as long as the people believed he was good.the people believed he was good.

Leaders should wear a mask and Leaders should wear a mask and create an image to convince or fool create an image to convince or fool the public.the public.

They should do whatever it takes to They should do whatever it takes to gain power including lie.gain power including lie.

MachiavelliMachiavelli

Machiavelli stated that Machiavelli stated that it would be it would be best to be both loved and feared. But best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than greater security in being feared than in being loved.in being loved.

Divisions of GovernmentDivisions of Government

Modern Governments consist of Modern Governments consist of three branches of government.three branches of government.

Executive Executive Legislative Legislative JudicialJudicial

ExecutiveExecutive

Executive is composed of elected Executive is composed of elected individuals and chosen by the Leader individuals and chosen by the Leader to act as their advisors.to act as their advisors.

In Canada this would be the PM and In Canada this would be the PM and all of the Ministers i.e minister of all of the Ministers i.e minister of Education, Health, Defence etc.Education, Health, Defence etc.

LegislativeLegislative

Voted into power during elections and Voted into power during elections and usually belong to a political Party.usually belong to a political Party.

This branch makes and approves laws This branch makes and approves laws and bills.and bills.

In democracies they approve actions In democracies they approve actions created by the leader of the executive.created by the leader of the executive.

These are the Members of Parliament These are the Members of Parliament in Canada.in Canada.

Judicial BranchJudicial Branch

Composed of CourtsComposed of Courts Usually appointed by executiveUsually appointed by executive Ensures the constitution is followedEnsures the constitution is followed This includes Charter of Rights and This includes Charter of Rights and

Freedoms cases.Freedoms cases.

Types of Government AuthorityTypes of Government Authority

Traditional – Leaders are chosen by Traditional – Leaders are chosen by hereditary. Family usually hereditary. Family usually associated with being divine. associated with being divine.

Usually MonarchyUsually Monarchy

Legal AuthorityLegal Authority

Governments are also formed but have to Governments are also formed but have to abide by rules or a abide by rules or a constitutionconstitution..

They must follow previously established They must follow previously established rules such as term lengths, elections.rules such as term lengths, elections.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms limits government powers.Freedoms limits government powers.

Agreement between the Government and Agreement between the Government and the people.the people.

Autocratic AuthorityAutocratic Authority

This is a government achieved by the This is a government achieved by the use of force.use of force.

Ideological or religious beliefs form Ideological or religious beliefs form the basis of support.the basis of support.

Usually have to be supported Usually have to be supported through military and the elite.through military and the elite.

Laws are imposed from above.Laws are imposed from above.

Autocratic AuthorityAutocratic Authority

Political Leadership and ChangePolitical Leadership and Change

There are many ways leadership There are many ways leadership changes in society.changes in society.

ElectionsElections Hereditary and Designated Hereditary and Designated

SuccessionSuccession Coups d’EtatCoups d’Etat

ElectionsElections

Most orderly way of having Most orderly way of having leadership change.leadership change.

Most modern systems have one Most modern systems have one person one vote.person one vote.

Uses the party systemUses the party system Everyone that is a citizen may run for Everyone that is a citizen may run for

officeoffice

Fraud in ElectionsFraud in Elections

Throughout history there have been Throughout history there have been limits to true democracy.limits to true democracy.

Literacy tests used as a way to keep Literacy tests used as a way to keep African Americans from voting. (it African Americans from voting. (it was illegal for them to be taught to was illegal for them to be taught to read)read)

Women were not given the vote in Women were not given the vote in Can until 1919.Can until 1919.

Threats at the pollsThreats at the polls

2000 U.S Elections between Gore 2000 U.S Elections between Gore and G W Bush so closeand G W Bush so close

had to be determined by the had to be determined by the supreme courtsupreme court

Came down to state of Florida where Came down to state of Florida where Bush’s Brother was governor.Bush’s Brother was governor.

Led to many protests Led to many protests

Hereditary and Designated Hereditary and Designated SuccessionSuccession

Used in Used in Monarchical SystemsMonarchical Systems tradition or cultural rule determines tradition or cultural rule determines next leader.next leader.

Rulers are believed to be gods or Rulers are believed to be gods or chosen by godchosen by god

Leadership usually given to oldest Leadership usually given to oldest son.son.

Hereditary and Designated Hereditary and Designated SuccessionSuccession

Autocratic authority Autocratic authority governments designate governments designate successorssuccessors

Fidel Castro handed over Fidel Castro handed over power of his country to his power of his country to his brother Raul brother Raul

Kim Il Sung gave power to his Kim Il Sung gave power to his son Kim Jong-Il. North Korea son Kim Jong-Il. North Korea had to mourn the father’s had to mourn the father’s death for three years. death for three years.

Coup D’EtatCoup D’Etat

Means “blow against the state”Means “blow against the state” Overthrows an existing government Overthrows an existing government

to establish an autocratic to establish an autocratic governmentgovernment

Usually involves violence.Usually involves violence.

Coup D’EtatCoup D’Etat

Takes place quickly Takes place quickly supported by a supported by a military.military.

Fidel Castro and Fidel Castro and Che Guevara in Che Guevara in Cuba.Cuba.