Political philosophy summary IB (supplementary)
Ideologies
Socialism: an economic and political system based on collective ownership of the means of
production. All legal production and distribution decisions are made by the government in a socialist
system.
Communism is based upon the ideas of common ownership and the absence of social classes,
money and the state.
Marxism: a social, economic and political philosophy that analyzes the impact of the ruling class on
the laborers (capitalism). It holds that capitalism leads to the uneven distribution of wealth, and this
will cause a protest by workers that will lead to a communist / socialist economic system.
Liberalism: a political and moral philosophy based on the rights of the individual, liberty, consent of
the governed, political equality and equality before the law.
Conservatism: a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve
traditional institutions, practices, and values.
Social contract (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau)
Political organization (law and state authority) are the outcome of an agreement between individuals
who believe that they will be better off under law than they would be in their state of nature.
● It is in people’s interest to submit to it
● You have a duty to act justly, and thus you have a duty to follow the hypothetical contract
● The contract is not real, but it is a device for thinking about what principles are indeed just
Hayek
Although Hayek believed in a society governed by laws, he disapproved of the notion of "social
justice".
● He compared the market to a game in which "there is no point in calling the outcome just or
unjust”
● In Hayek's view, the central role of the state should be to maintain the rule of law, with as little
arbitrary intervention as possible.
● Any coercive redistribution of the state beyond the meeting of basic common needs is an
interference with individual freedom
Ideologies
Socialism: an economic and political system based on collective ownership of the means of
production. All legal production and distribution decisions are made by the government in a socialist
system.
Communism is based upon the ideas of common ownership and the absence of social classes,
money and the state.
Marxism: a social, economic and political philosophy that analyzes the impact of the ruling class on
the laborers (capitalism). It holds that capitalism leads to the uneven distribution of wealth, and this
will cause a protest by workers that will lead to a communist / socialist economic system.
Liberalism: a political and moral philosophy based on the rights of the individual, liberty, consent of
the governed, political equality and equality before the law.
Conservatism: a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve
traditional institutions, practices, and values.
Social contract (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau)
Political organization (law and state authority) are the outcome of an agreement between individuals
who believe that they will be better off under law than they would be in their state of nature.
● It is in people’s interest to submit to it
● You have a duty to act justly, and thus you have a duty to follow the hypothetical contract
● The contract is not real, but it is a device for thinking about what principles are indeed just
Hayek
Although Hayek believed in a society governed by laws, he disapproved of the notion of "social
justice".
● He compared the market to a game in which "there is no point in calling the outcome just or
unjust”
● In Hayek's view, the central role of the state should be to maintain the rule of law, with as little
arbitrary intervention as possible.
● Any coercive redistribution of the state beyond the meeting of basic common needs is an
interference with individual freedom
