Examining society
& state
WHAT IS A SOCIETY, HOW DID IT
ORIGINATE AND WHAT
LEGITIMIZES THE STATE?
 the totality of all natural relations and
institutions between man and man (Franz
Oppenheimer, 1922)
 classified according to geographical location,
culture, ethnicity, beliefs, system or religion,
political ideology and types of economy
 often overlaps

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


sociological classification of societies
Hunting & gathering (nomadic people)
Pastoral (domestication & herding of animals)
Horticultular (cultivation of fruits, veges, etc)
Agricultural (cultivation of crops, using human & non
human means)
 Industrial ( industry using mechanical means)&
 Post industrial (use of technological innovation for production)
 political human organization that is sovereign and
supreme in exercising its authority within its
territory
 has authority within its territory
 Independent from the influences of other states
 Imposes its laws on its constituents
 the institution of the state should be justified
(justification)
 state should be well structured (structure)
 state should observed its limits (limits)
A. Idealist
Claims that man is a social being
1. Divine Right Theory
Source of man’s authority is
from God
Old testament concept of
authority for Israel
Abraham, Moses & the
Prophets, Monarch,
A. Idealist
Claims that man is a social being
1. Divine Right Theory
Source of man’s authority is
from God
the right to rule is absolute(absolutism)
x
A. Idealist
2. Aristotle’s Political
Naturalism
 State is a creation of nature
 man by nature is a political being
 man is destined to form a society
Social instinct is implanted in all
men by nature
2. Aristotle’s Political
Naturalism
 law-giver MUST frame appropriate
constitution for city-state
Constitution is a way of organizing the
offices of the city-state
Correct
Deviant
One Ruler
Kingship
Tyranny
Few Rulers
Aristocracy
Oligarchy
Many Rulers
Polity
Democracy
 Aristocracy – Aristotle’s preferred form of government
2. Aristotle’s Political
Naturalism
Correct
Deviant
One Ruler
Kingship
Tyranny
Few Rulers
Aristocracy
Oligarchy
Many Rulers
Polity/ constitutional
government
Democracy
 Oligarchy – ruled by the few (wealthy) with self interest, not the
common good
 Democracy – ruled by the many (poor) who advances the interest of
the needy
A. Idealist
3. Plato’s Political Theory
 found in THE REPUBLIC
 State and soul direct
relationship
3. Plato’s Political Theory
Nature of Man
 three souls in one
a. Rational
b. Spirited
c. Appetitive
 not self-sufficient
3. Plato’s Political Theory
Nature of Man
 gather together for mutual
achievement of the common
goals
One specializes in the practice of
specific craft
 results to separation of
functions & specialization of labor
Results to a community of many
individuals organized in distinct classes
3. Plato’s Political Theory
Nature of Man
 society is formed out
communal need to
fulfill our personal
needs
3. Plato’s Political Theory
Principle of
Specialization
Stratified Society
Wisdom
a. Rulers
Guardians
b. Soldiers
GOLD
Courage
SILVER
Moderation
c. The People
BRASS/IRON
3. Plato’s Political Theory
Principle of
Specialization
Stratified Society
Wisdom
a. Rulers
Rational Soul
GOLD
b. Soldiers
Spirited
Soul
Courage
c. The People
Appetitive
Soul
SILVER
Moderation
BRASS/IRON
3. Plato’s Political Theory
Principle of
Specialization
Stratified Society
 Man is just when the three (3) souls
perform their proper functions in
harmony with each other
Best Form of Government
Aristocracy
Ruler is a Philosopher / King
Ruler should not be concerned with
his possession
Materialist
Claims that man is a material being
A.Thomas Hobbes’
Leviathan Theory
An English materialist philosopher
Nature of Man
Sophisticated machine
Function & activities are explainable
in pure mechanical terms
A. Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan Theory
Nature of Man
Animal nature
 act for own self
interest
 lives in a state of
war
Seeks peace for
self-preservation
A. Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan Theory
Society
formed out of impulse for
self-preservation
Enter into contract for mutual
interest
Surrender individual interest for
security & social existence
A. Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan Theory
Society
Also known as Commonwealth
 possess sovereign
power & control
By virtue of mutual
consent
 ensure social order
& public welfare
LEVIATHAN
B. John Locke “Reason as Law of Nature to govern it”
John Locke
 English Philosopher
 claims that human nature is “tabula
rasa”
 Man lived originally in the state of
nature-life of paradise
 Inadequate protection of property
& transgression of law of nature
 Political concept found in “Treatise of Civil
Government”
B. John Locke “Reason as Law of Nature to govern it”
Society
 SOCIAL CONTRACT
 formed to protect human person’s
interest
 formed to safeguard the natural
rights by punishing the offenders of
this right
Preserved the natural rights to
life, liberty, property & the
enjoyment of private rights
C. Jean Jacques Rousseau
An Swiss philosopher
Harbored profound dislike
for authority
Nature of Man
Naturally / inherently good but
society makes people corrupt
C. Jean Jacques Rousseau
Society
formed out of concern for
private property
property & wealth acquisition
entails protection of a stable
society
Individuals enter into social
contract
C. Jean Jacques Rousseau
Social Contract
Individual agree to surrender
their individual freedom for
social rights
Outlines the bases for
legitimate political order
C. Jean Jacques Rousseau
General Will
Commitment to the welfare of
the legitimate political order
The will of all
Concern solely for general
interest
D. Machiavelli Practicality
Niccolo Machiavelli
 Italian politician
 shared profound pessimism
about human nature
 social stability & security
is possible in the face of
moral corruption
 known for book “IL PRINCIPE”
D. Machiavelli Practicality
Society
Must be managed by competent &
practical rulers
Leader must possess VIRTU
 strength, skill,
prowess in both
favorable & adverse
circumstances
D. Machiavelli Practicality
Society
Leader must possess VIRTU
Ruler must know when & how to
do what no good person would
ever do
The END justifies the MEANS
 in public life only the praise &
blame of fellow beings really
counts
D. Machiavelli Practicality
Society
Leader must possess
VIRTU
The END justifies
the MEANS
 in public life only
the praise & blame
of fellow beings
really counts
E. Marxism
Karl Heinrich Marx
 German philosopher
 analyze history in terms of
class struggle
 father of communism
ideology
 known for book “THE
COMMUNIST MANIFESTO”
E. Karl Heinrich Marx
Marxism
Political economic theory
presenting
 materialist conception of society
 non-capitalist vision of capitalism & other
society
 non-religious view of human liberation
Holds critical analysis of capitalism &
theory of social change
E. Karl Heinrich Marx
SOCEITY
Is a result of dialectic historical
conflicts within society
 between social classes
 b/w development of the forces production
(technology, labor force)
 relations of production (institutions)
Revolution as collective self-liberation
from capitalists or bourgeoisie
E. Karl Heinrich Marx
Evolutionary stages of SOCEITY
dialectic historical conflicts within
society
 Primitive Communism: seen in cooperative tribal societies
 Slave Society: develops as tribe becomes a city-state
 Feudalism: Aristocracy-ruling class; merchants into
capitalist
 Capitalism: capitalist-ruling class, crated working class
 Dictatorship of the Proletariat: workers overthrow capitalist,
control state
 Communism: classless or stateless society
E. Karl Heinrich Marx
Social Class
Derived from relationship to the
means of production
 Proletariat: individual selling their labor power
 Bourgeoisie: own means of production; buy labor power, exploit
proletartiat
 Lumpenproletariat: no stake in economic, sell labor power to
highest bidders (criminals, beggars & vagabonds)
 Landlords: class of people who still retain some of their wealth
& power
 Peasantry /workers: a disorganized class; incapable to
carryout change ( will become either proletariat or landlords)
D. Karl Heinrich Marx
Marxism
As practice in world
 1917 October Revolution by Vladimir
Lenin
 Socialist Revolution in Germany
 Cultural Revolution of Mao Zedong
 East Asian Communism
 Latin Americans countries Cuba,
 Nepal
Consequentialist approached “Utilitarianism”
Greatest Happiness Principle
 an act is good if it promote the greatest
happiness of the number of people
State is justified in its existence if
managed by a government that promotes
the greatest good of the greatest number
of citizens