How did Thomas Aquinas influence political study? - He adapted the ideas of Aristotle to a
Christian perspective. Focused on having certain rights and responsibilities. Laid the groundwork for
what would become modern constitutionalism.
How did Niccolo Machiavelli influence political study? - He wrote The Prince and was a proponent
of politics based on power.
How did Thomas Hobbes influence political study? - Author of Leviathan (1651); believed that
individual's lives were focused on the quest for power; and the state must control this urge. People were
unable to live in harmony without government intervention.
How did John Locke influence political study? - Wrote Two Treatises of Civil Government (1690);
argued against Hobbes ideas; idea of "tabula rasa" or blank slate; Experience molds individual minds, not
innate knowledge or intuition; all men were essentially good; many of his ideas were included in the US
Constitution
How did Montesquieu and Rousseau influence political study? - (1789-1815) heavily influenced
the French revolution; believed government policies should change to alleviate existing problems
"liberalism" Wrote: "The Social Contract (1762); "Declaration of he Rights of Man" and "The Citizen
(1789)
How did Hume and Bentham influence political study? - "the greatest happiness for the greatest
number"; believed in empiricism - proof must be observed in order to believe an idea
How did John Stuart Mill influence political study? - British philosopher and economist;
progressive - women's suffrage; emancipation; and development of labor organizations and farming
coops (1806-1873)
How did Fichte and Hegel influence political study? - 18th century German philosophers;
supported a form of liberalism grounded largely in socialism and a sense of nationalism
, What is liberalism? - Belief that government policies should change to alleviate existing problems
What is paternalism? - Condescending belief that a superior is "helping" someone in a
subordinate position (like master to slave) because that person is incapable of helping themselves
Federalism - power of the government does not belong entirely to the national government, but is
divided between national and state governments
popular sovereignty - government is determined by the people and gains its authority and power
from the people
What did Aristotle and Plato believe about political science? - It would lead to order in political
matters and that this organized order would create stable, just societies
separation of powers - government is divided into three branches - executive, legislative and
judicial
judicial review - courts at all levels of government can declare laws invalid if they contradict the
constitutions of individual station, or the US constitution
liberal political orientation - believes in working to increase equality, sometimes at the expense of
some freedoms, but overall government should not interfere with individual freedom
conservate political orientation - government should be limited in all cases except those of
supporting longstanding moral values, often tied to religious beliefs; allow citizens to solve social issues;
little to no regulation on businesses
moderate political orientation - incorporates ome liberal and some conservative values
libertarian - limiting the role of government to the defense of the country and supporting social as
well as economic freedom