TERMS TO COME TO TERMS WITH FOR MIDTERM
INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY
Ideology
Thomas Hobbes
Political Theory
John Locke
Empirical Politics
State of Nature
Normative Politics
Natural Right
Attributes that contribute to the formation of Ideology
Social Contract
Human Nature
Thomas Paine
Freedom
Political absolutism
Democracy
Mercantilism
Ideologue
Capitalism
Nationalism
Adam Smith
Anarchism
Jeremy Bentham
Triadic model of freedom
John Stuart Mill
Essentially contested concept
The Harm Principle
False consciousness
Welfare-State Liberals
Agent
Neo-Classicals
Revolution
Social Darwinism
Left, right, center
T.H. Green
Enlightenment
Minimal State
Nation-state
Libertarian Anarchism
Democratic ideal
Affirmative Action
Polis
Conservatism
Demos
Edmund Burke
Republic
Atomistic conception
Polity
Organic View
Aristotle
Natural Aristocracy
Christianity and democracy
Reactionary
Renaissance and republicanism
Cultural conservatism
Machiavelli
Tory Democracy
Declaration of Independence
Levelling
Bill of Rights
Individualist conservatism
De Tocqueville
Neoconservatism
Utilitarians
Religious Right
Liberal Democracy
Social Democracy
People’s Democracy
Revolutionary Dictatorship of the Proletariat
Liberalism, Human Nature and Freedom
Ascribed Status
Achieved status
Feudalism
Bourgeoisie
The Protestant Reformation
Theocracy
STUDY QUESTIONS FOR MIDTERM
1. Explain how Terrance Carver says the concept of Ideology has changed over the
years and is applied today.
2. What does Euripides say are the benefits of democracy over despotism?
3. Explain the Pericles’ idea of Athenian democracy.
4. Explain Aristotle’s objection to democracy. What is the difference between the
polity ruling and the demos.
5. Describe Machiavelli’s objections to princely rule.
6. John Adams defends the principle of republican government, how and why?
7. The Bill of Rights is a coveted document in the American system, what are the
dangers of listed peoples’ rights and what are the benefits?
8. Alexis de Toqueville discusses the concept of equality in the United States.
Explain his argument.
9. Explain John Stuart Mill’s protectionist argument.
10. Explain how far one should have a say in determining the direction of one’s
country according to Walzer.
11. Refute Danielle Allen’s argument regarding the power of education in a system
such as ours post-9-11.
12. Describe Hobbe’s view of human nature. What is the basis of obligation?
13. Explain when John Locke says the people have the right to rise up and revolt
against their government. Can his notion be applied in 2006?
14. Thomas Paine was considered a “radical” when he wrote “Common Sense”, why?
15. Illustrate the key classical liberal ideas Thomas Jefferson used when writing the
Declaration of Independence.
16. Explain Adam Smith’s defense of laissez-faire capitalism.
17. Explain what T.H. Green means by liberalism and positive freedom.
18. Describe Donald Allen’s concept of paternalism and its relationship to
libertarianism.
19. Recap Edmund Burke’s argument in “Society, Reverence…”.
20. Explain what Joseph de Maistre means by “Conservatism as a Reaction”.
21. How is a poet like Wordsworth a conservative?
22. Explain Jose Ortega y Gasset’s opposition to the revolt of the masses.
23. Describe why Oakeshott says we must preserve tradition at all costs.
24. Bork argues that we are in the midst of a cultural decline. Define what he means
by culture and re-state his argument.
25. Explain the “neo conservative persuasion”.
26. James Dobson says we should stand strong. Explain why he says we are a
confused culture.
27. Compare and contrast a republic and a direct democracy.
28. Compare and contrast classical liberalism with modern liberalism.
29. Compare and contrast traditional conservatism with modern conservatism.
30. Compare and contrast modern liberalism with modern conservatism.