5 - What Justifies the State? Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in 5 - What Justifies the State? Deck (16)
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1
Q

What is anarchism?

A
  • Means “without rulers”
  • Idea that we would be better off without the government
  • Cooperation is beneficial so it tends to evolve
2
Q

Hobbes’ reply to anarchism

A
  • Fear, suspicion, and competition will overwhelm cooperation
  • A few bad apples can ruin everything
3
Q

Negative argument to the state and political obligation

A
  • The state is the only alternative to the state of nature

- It is either the state or violent chaos

4
Q

Why is political authority morally problematic?

A
  • People are naturally free, equal, and independent
  • Legitimate power is created by the people (Locke)
  • Authority requires consent and handing over EPLN
  • Once you give consent, you are obligated to follow the state
5
Q

Key features of the state

A
  • Claims a monopoly of legitimate violence

- In turn for giving up EPLN, the state is responsible for protecting us

6
Q

Three ways to justify political obligations

A

1) Associative duties - special requirements attached to the unchosen role or status of citizen
2) Transactions - receiving benefits from the state or making a promise to obey
3) Natural duties - general moral requirements to promote happiness or justice

7
Q

What is the social contract?

A

Political obligation is based on a contract or agreement

8
Q

What is volunteerism?

A

The state’s political authority depends on the people’s consent

9
Q

Main social contract problems

A
  • There is no evidence for an original social contract
  • Even if there was, a contract in history cannot obligate us now in the present
  • Contracts need EXPRESS consent
  • Only a minority of people explicitly consent to the state
10
Q

Does voting constitute consent?

A

NO

First objection - I didn’t vote for them

Second objection - abstainers cannot be counted as consenters

11
Q

What is tacit consent?

A

Implicit or understood

12
Q

Does residence count as consent?

A

NO

  • Some say that staying is morally equivalent to consenting because dissatisfied people can leave
  • But there are obstacles to leaving
  • Therefore, staying is not morally equivalent to consenting
13
Q

What is hypothetical consent?

A
  • Rational individuals would consent to stay in the state if they were in the state of nature
  • Gets us to realize what we already consent to
  • Objections: not really consent, some might still refuse to consent
14
Q

Locke’s point - there are two options available

A

1) A publicly agreed shared set of laws

2) Defer to private judgements about the content of laws

15
Q

What is Rousseau’s reply when Hobbes says, on anarchism, “a few bad apples can ruin everything”?

A

There are bad apples, but they are created by society

16
Q

Locke’s conclusion

A
  • It is better to have shared laws than continued disagreement
  • Therefore, the inconveniences of the state of nature defeat anarchism