MIDTERM STUDY QUESTIONS
1. As Carver notes, the history of the term “ideology” is deeply conflicted because the
concept has had so many different definitions; nevertheless, he thinks it is a term we
should not abandon, even if we can never arrive at a scientifically objective ideology.
Why does Carver think it is important to understand the meaning of different political
ideologies even if none of them can prove itself to be the “correct” one?
2. The Theban Messenger concludes that the masses of common people, or the demos, are
poor judges of political matters. How might a modern defender of democracy respond to
such a claim?
3. Why does Theseus put so much emphasis on the rule of law in his response to the Theban
Messenger? Why is it so vitally important in a democracy?
4. How does Pericles understand the connection between democracy and empire?
5. Aristotle notes that some works of art are not best judged by those who create them, but
by those who utilize them. How does he develop this point into a defense of democratic
judgment?
6. In his conclusion, what does Machiavelli claim is the chief difference between the
excesses of the people and the excesses of the prince that make rule by the former
preferable to rule by the latter?
7. Some scholars have argued that the link between The Prince and The Discourses lies
precisely in the role played by the prince when the republic becomes corrupt and requires
the renewal of its republican origins. Is there any evidence in this extract for that
argument, which stresses the important role that one human being can play in history?
8. Adams lists 6 reasons why single (or unicameral) legislatures are undesirable in a
republic. What are those reasons? Do you find Adams’s arguments compelling? Why or
why not?
9. Adams puts a great deal of emphasis throughout the piece on the importance of annual
elections within republics, arguing that there is no more “infallible maxim” in all of the
sciences than the claim that ‘where annual elections end, there slavery begins’ Why does
Adams think that annual elections are so important for republican self-rule?
10. The issue of the “right of the people to keep and bear Arms” (Amendment 2) continues to
be one of ongoing controversy in the United States. From a republican perspective, why
is the right of the people to bear arms so crucial?
11. The Tenth Amendment has been regarded as one of the Antifederalists’ great victories.
How might we read it as helping to assuage Patrick Henry’s fear that the Constitution
was insufficiently democratic? How might it be seen as setting the stage for the American
Civil War?
12. In the early pages of this piece, Tocqueville describes the various factors at work within
history that he believes have combined to make “equality of conditions,” and thus
democracy, inevitable. What factors does he isolate as central to this process? How does
he say they functioned, and with what specific consequences?
13. Underlying Mill’s argument is a clear commitment to “active” over “passive” sorts of
human character. What reasons does he give for preferring the former over the latter,
especially since, as he points out, most moral philosophers prefer people to be precisely
the opposite of what Mill is advocating?
14. Describe what Alexander Keyssar means by “Voter Suppression”.
15. Hobbes outlines three principal reasons why he thinks conflict in the state of nature is
inevitable. These are "competition," "diffidence," and "glory." What does Hobbes mean
by these terms, and why does he think they will inevitably culminate in "war," as he
understands that term?
16. In A Letter Concerning Toleration, Locke gives a number of reasons why state power (or
the "civil magistrate"), should not be understood as having any say in what religion
people should follow. What reasons does he give for this? Similarly, Locke adduces a
number of arguments in favor of the notion that a church should best be understood as a
voluntary association. What are they?
17. What is the importance of the development of money for Locke's argument about the
extent of property accumulation in the state of nature? What are the consequences of his
argument from the standpoint of economic equality? Does Locke think this will be a
problem? Why or why not?
18. According to The Rights of Man, what is the rationale behind Paine's claim that only the
present generation has any claim on the politics of today? Do you find this argument
convincing? Why or why not?
19. In the final, seldom-remembered list of complaints about the behavior of King George
III, the Declaration discusses Native Americans. What does it say about them, and what
does this say about the history of liberalism?
20. Smith argues that, in addition to the natural propensity to truck, barter, and exchange,
there is another feature of human life that separates us from animals. Do you think
there is sometimes a tension between these two elements of human existence? Why or
why not?
21. Kant gives two broad sets of reasons why individuals have not heretofore thrown off their
immaturity. What are they?
22. To what extent does Kant believe any generation can legitimately limit the willingness of
future generations to dare to know? Which institution does Kant use as an example of one
that might well attempt to engage in such behavior, and what does he think of it?
23. Mill famously declares that: "If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only
one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing
that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind".
Mill gives three basic reasons for this claim. What are they?
24. At the beginning of this piece, Sumner argues that "every man and woman in society has
one big duty." What is that duty, according to Sumner, and why would it be a
fundamental mistake to try to go beyond it?
25. Green makes a radical break with many classical liberals, like Locke, who argued that the
right to property was a natural or pre-political right. That is, for Green property rights are
not sacrosanct emanations from natural or God-given law that government must never
infringe upon. How does Green go about defending this claim, and do you find it
convincing? Why or why not?
26. Roosevelt argues that, in various ways, the opponents of the New Deal have been
"deceitful." What examples does he give to justify this assertion?
27. What is the fundamental difference between Allen's understanding of the importance of
individual liberty for democracy, and that set forth by J.S. Mill? Put differently, why isn't
Mill a modern libertarian like Allen? Or is he?
28. Despite the fact that libertarians take some positions generally associated with the
political left wing, and some positions associated with the political right wing, Rothbard
does not believe that they are confused. Indeed, he argues that libertarianism is the
only truly consistent variant of liberalism as an ideology. Why?
29. Why, precisely, is the regulation or restriction of free speech, or the outlying of
pornography and drugs by the state, a form of "aggression" on individuals? Is preventing
people from doing something the same as attacking them? Why or why not?
30. There does not seem to be anything inherently unfair about treating your professors as
"service providers," and seeing yourselves as "costumers" partaking of their services.
Nevertheless, Ball still seems to think there is something wrong with this model. Why?
Do you agree with his argument? Why?
31. Given Burke's basic assumptions, why does he reject arguments based on absolute,
universal human rights?
32. How does Burke understand the idea of the "social contract"? How does his traditionalist
conservative idea of the social contract differ from a liberal one, like Locke's?
33. What does Burke think are the necessary prerequisites for becoming a member of the
"natural aristocracy"?
34. De Maistre rejects the constitution of 1795, drawn up by the French Revolutionaries, as a
ridiculous and absurd document. What reason(s) does he give for this?
35. Why does De Maistre think that monarchy is the ideal form of government?
36. Oakeshott contends that changes, especially "innovations," are things that "have to be
suffered" According to Oakeshott, why is the experience of change a form of suffering
for conservatives?
37. What is Oakeshott's conception of "human nature"? What are its characteristics? Why
does he think that "friendship" is conservative?
38. Oakeshott argues that "moderation" is essential to conservative politics. What does he
mean by this, and why does he think that it is important?
39. Why does Kirk believe that conservatism is not an ideology?
40. Are there certain political ideologies that all traditional American conservatives would be
opposed to, given the principles Kirk outlines? Why?
41. Describe Reagan’s version of modern American conservative.
42. What reasons does Kristol give for why neoconservatives are so keen to cut taxes, and so
unafraid of large budgetary deficits?
43. What examples does Kristol give to illustrate "the decline of our democratic culture"?
44. Kristol presents the reader with a number of "theses" that underpin the neoconservative
approach to foreign policy. What are they?
45. Antle notes that Frank Meyer made the case for conservative "fusionism." What did
Meyer see as the principles uniting neo-liberal libertarians and traditionalist
conservatives, beyond economics, according to Antle?
46. Why, according to Antle, did the libertarians become increasingly disenchanted with
"fusionism"?
47. Describe one similarity between Reagan and Burke.
48. More argues that when there is no private property, people are concerned with
achieving the common good, not their own self-interest. Why does he think that this is
the case?
49. What use do the Utopians make of gold and jewels? What reasons do they give for their
behavior? What have they done with money, and why?
50. What are the "first principles," or set of assumptions, that Owen makes about human
beings? How do these contrast with the first principles that he sees at the heart of
capitalist society?
51. Owen believes that his arguments about human nature and character are universally
applicable. Why, then, does he think that so many people disagree with him about those
principles? What does he predict the future will look like if his assumptions about human
nature are wrong?
52. Marx declares that the "theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single
sentence: Abolition of private property." In the following two pages, however, he
explains precisely what he does---and does not---mean by that term. What does Marx
mean by "private property"? Why does he think that in his own time "private property is
already done away with for nine-tenth of the population"?
53. Perhaps one of the most frequent criticisms of Marx is that communism would never
work because without competition and the profit motive, everyone would become lazy.
Marx explicitly addresses this criticism, and why he thinks it is wrong. What does he
say? Is his assertion plausible? Why or why not?
54. Marx develops his own definition of "ideology" and uses it to criticize the enemies of
communism. What does he mean by this term? How is "ideology" in Marx's sense related
to the ruling class?
55. Marx says that all human beings enter into "relations of production" that are both
"indispensable and independent of their will." What does he mean by this?