Hobbes
What does Hobbes believe that humans are primarily driven by?
Self-interest, fear of death, and desires for power and security.
Moral principles are naturally occurring through reason and are not man-made concepts. They derive from the rational order of the universe.
What is natural law?
The concept that the law reigns supreme and even rulers must act accordingly to the law; otherwise, their rule is illegitimate
What is Primacy of Law?
Dante was heavily influenced by a well-known philosopher who came before him.
Who is Aristotle?
It is a reminder that even the most capable rulers cannot control everything.
What is Fortuna?
Perpetual power given to one leader, essential to a stable state, cannot be divided, and has supreme authority
What is Sovereignty?
Community of states governed by nature. Nations, like individuals, are bound by moral and legal obligations. States must adhere to rules that ensure peace and fairness.
What is International Society?
Politics as amoral?
1. Political actions are driven by power and self-interest rather than morality, and leaders act on strategic advantage over ethical concerns
2. Political leaders justify harsh decisions as not a moral choice but a necessity to maintain power
A hypothetical condition where there is no common authority or government and is characterized by fear, insecurity, and constant conflict due to the inherent equality and driven by competition, diffidence, and vainglory.
What is State of Nature?
The idea that humans are naturally prone to forming bonds and creating societies
What is Sociability?
Aristotle proposed that the purpose of the state is to enable citizens to achieve the good life, and this is done by living virtuously rather than by just surviving.
What is Eudaimonia?
Dante's Universal Monarchy had three main components. Name them.
To achieve universal peace
To uphold the Divine will
A universal empire
Power held by single ruler, and can be stable if ruled by strong leader, but succession crises will arise.
What is Principalities?
What does Bodin have to say about leges imperii?
It is divine and natural law
Rulers should not arbitrarily change laws established by their forefathers
Rulers should respect existing obligations and treaties
An unjust ruler may lose their sovereignty
Response to wrongdoing that acts as retribution and deterrent to future offense. It must fit the crime and must uphold justice.
What is Punishment?
Place for justice in politics?
1. Justice is subordinate to power and self-interest. Justice may only exist between those of equal strength, for when the strong and the weak collide, the strong will do what they want regardless of if it is just.
2. Athenians see justice as irrelevant in IR, with strength being the only true law
No one can claim inherent superiority, making the state of nature one of constant struggle and fear; and makes the social contract necessary.
What is Equality?
Argues that everyone belongs to a single global community in accordance with natural law and rejects all "narrow-focused" ideas, i.e., tribal or nationalistic allegiances.
What is Cosmopolitanism?
Virtuous regimes ruled by all, ruled by some, and ruled by one.
What is Polity, Aristocracy, and Monarchy?
Dante believed that humans are, by nature, irrational and ill-fitted to rule over one another. True or false.
False
What is the political context surrounding Machiavelli during the time of his most famously published works?
Italy lacked political unity and faced many invasions, such as from the French and Spanish.
How does Grotius feel about the treatment of native people?
Argued that their treatment was justified as they were adequate punishment for their breaking of national law by not trading and violating property rights.
Arguments in the Melian Dialogue
Athenian argument
1. The weak should surrender, and neutrality is not an option.
2. The gods do not intervene in human affairs
Melian Argument
1. Athens should allow Melos to stay neutral, as they pose no threat
2. If they destroy Melos, it will inspire hatred and resistance
3. The gods do intervene in human affairs and will punish athens
It refers to the lack of trust between individuals in the state of nature. Because people cannot trust one another, they act preemptively, leading to attacks driven by fear rather than malice.
What is Diffidence?
All humans are equal, and any superficial distinctions are pointless, be it race, gender, social status, etc.
What is Irrelevance of parochial distinctions?
Vicious regimes ruled by all, ruled by some, and ruled by one.
What is Democracy, Oligarchy, and Tyranny?
To achieve universal peace, order and unity, hierarchy in nature, and _______ must be met.
What is Avoidance of Conflict?
What is the main difference between Traditional Morality and Political Morality?
Traditional Morality - Based on religious and ethical principles, such as honesty, justice, and kindness
Political Morality -
Defined by the necessity of maintaining power and stability. Actions that may be considered immoral (deception, cruelty, manipulation, murder) are justified if they serve the interests of the state.
Grotius argued that the claiming of this went against natural law, for they were a common resource that all used.
What is Freedom of the seas or the ocean?
Athenian justification for their empire
1. Security: to protect Athens from Sparta and other threats
2. Fear: If they lost one of their subjects, everyone who they ruled over would rebel
3. Natural law: it is only natural for them to dominate other humans
4. Honour and glory: It was their duty to rule
5. Necessity: Expanding the empire was the only way to not lose it
6. Selfishness: Large control over countless people ensured supremacy in the navy and the economy
7. Moral Superiority: Aka nationalism. Athens should be the top dog, not any other state
It is an exaggerated sense of one’s own worth, often leading to conflict over reputation and honor. Hobbes sees it as particularly dangerous because it pushes individuals to engage in unnecessary conflicts.
What is Vainglory?
Cicero argued that war is only justifiable under certain conditions.
What is
Repel invaders
Recover stolen land
Punish evil
And must be formally declared?
There are three ends that Aristotle proposed when developing the idea for Eudaimonia and referred to the idea that the state exists solely for conquest, economic gain, or security is outdated. Thus, the state prioritizes _____ and _____.
What is moral and intellectual development?
A principle that suggests that rulers must sometimes deceive, use force, or manipulate public opinion to maintain power
What is Reason of State?
Fundamental principles of natural law that make up War Theory.
Permissible to protect life
Permissible to aquire things that are useful
Let no one do injury to another
Let no one steal from another
Evil deeds must be punished
Good deeds must be rewarded
What is the relationship between social contract and common wealth?
When an individual enters into a social contract, they agree to give up some of their freedoms in exchange for peace under a sovereign, thus leading to commonwealth.
Before war can be declared you must _____.
What is negotiate?
Different adjectives are used to describe nations when they are fitted into any one of these categories.
The golden mean in behaviors of a state
The ability of a leader to act decisively and effectively in different situations.
What is Virtu?
According to Grotius, within society, individual citizens shall not _______ and _________.
What is injure and steal?
How does Hobbes argue Sates as Persons?
Hobbes argues that states function with an artificial personality, meaning they act collectively as a singular unified entity. Just as individuals seek power for self-preservation, states seek security and dominance in international relations.
What were Machiavelli's views on the church? How did he feel about the Roman Catholic Church and the Christianity of his time?
Machiavelli saw the Church as a source of corruption and division in Italy. Machiavelli praised the Roman Republic for using religion to instill civic duty and unity, unlike the Christianity of his time, which he saw as too passive and focused on the afterlife rather than the strength of the state.