Review & Key Concepts
Central Course Question - ---✔✔✔ANSWER----How can we foster a
society that resolves conflicting interests and fosters beneficial cooperation while
maintaining both order and liberty?
Central Course subquestion about how to design government.... - ---
✔✔✔ANSWER----How should we design a gov. For this society? Should it
be powerful or weak? Centralized or decentralized?
Central Course subquestion about how to design an economy.... - ---
✔✔✔ANSWER----When and where does a market-something very
decentralized-serve our needs? When does it not?
, Central course subquestion about how different types of power have turned out
in the past.... - ---✔✔✔ANSWER----How have the different types of
power-centralized and decentralized turned out in society?
American Exceptionalism - ---✔✔✔ANSWER----The idea that the
American experience was different or unique from others, and therefore America
had a unique or special role in the world, such as a "city upon a hill."
Positive Exceptionalism - ---✔✔✔ANSWER----The idea that Americans are
a distinct people with
special traits (probably mostly good, but some bad) that make them
collectively and perhaps individually special.
Normative Exceptionalism - ---✔✔✔ANSWER----The idea that some
principles and ideas—many
expressed in the American founding—are true and worthy principles that
merit consideration in organizing a good society.
Good Society - ---✔✔✔ANSWER----Reasonably stable and prosperous
society without an oppressive tyranny. Usually includes peace, respect, vibrant
culture, and personal freedom to live the way one chooses.