Introduction to Political Theory

Review Final Exam

The final exam will include some basic questions covered in the midterm exam. It would be advisable to review some of the basic ideas from the texts covered on the midterm. The ideas below include the new material you are responsible for on the final.

Aquinas

reason

politics and common good

types of law (eternal, natural, human, divine)

kingship

just war

Explain the significance for political thought of Aquinas’ view of law.

Machiavelli

Fortune

Virtue

Lion and the fox

types of regimes

the goal of the The Prince

war and politics

militia vs. mercenaries

Cesare Borgia

key recommendations for the Prince to achieve power

qualities a ruler should have

What is Machiavelli’s political ideal?

To whom did he write The Prince? For What purpose?

Machiavelli on Republican regimes

mixed republic

Use examples form the Prince to explain what Machiavelli means by saying that a Prince must be both a lion and fox.

How does Machiavelli’s view of political thought challenge the political philosophy of Plato and Aristotle?

Hobbes

what is the origin of the state?

what is the goal of politics?

state of nature

state of war

natural rights   

natural law         

Leviathan

commonwealth

sovereignty         

contract                             

Locke 

what is the origin of the state?

what is the goal of politics?

labor

state of nature

state of war

money

natural rights   

natural law         

types of consent

liberal ideal

slavery

revolution

Rousseau

social contract

the lawgiver

 types of law (civil law,  political law, criminal law, religious law)

man is born free

the General Will

what is government

civil religion      

Hume

sense of justice and injustice

justice and property

reason

moral distinctions

calm passions

Marx  

proletariat or working class

bourgeoisie

communist party

class struggle

revolution

dictatorship of the proletariat

alienated labor

wage labor

capitalism

private property         

family

surplus value

the Jewish Question

civil society

political emancipation

human emancipation

purpose of philosophy

dialectical materialism

CMC v. MCM

Marx’s political ideal

ESSAY QUESTION _ FINAL EXAM

What is political philosophy?

Discuss at least two thinkers, one ancient and one modern, to answer this question. Be certain to give a general account of the fundamental issues of political philosophy and support that account through your discussion of the two political thinkers you have chosen.