Theory of Politics Prelims 2015

This essay focuses on Rousseau's account of individual freedom, and the difference between the natural freedom of the state of nature, and the moral freedom earned in civilization. It questions whether Rousseau's vision slides towards totalitarianism and therefore negates the idea of citizens being 'free.'

Essay feedback on how power is structured and located within society, and how we might define the conditions in which A has power over B.

This essay looks at Mill's discussion of freedom of expression in On Liberty, and the extent to which he can account for offensive speech.

This essay examines Marxist views on political change, and how technological progress shapes it. It examines Marxist views from Gerald Cohen and others, and includes feedback from my tutor.

This essay concerns how we define liberty, and how we might take an individual's economic circumstances into account. It includes some verbal feedback given from my tutor.

This is a collection of summaries and notes based on the question: 'What are the sources of power in a democratic state?' with particular reference to Karl Marx's theory of power and the state. It includes summaries of Poulantzas, Bob Jessop, Miliband, Colin Hay, Steven Lukes. These notes examine how power mechanisms are conceived - how we might say that person A has power over person B - the criteria necessary, and what the conditions are for locating power within the structure of a state.

This is a summary of Alan E. Fuchs, ‘Autonomy, Slavery, and Mill’s Critique of Paternalism’, Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 4 (2001), 231-251. It references and critiques Mill's conceptions of paternalism.

Summarised notes of conceptions of liberty according to John Christman and Bernard Williams. These notes cover negative and positive versions of liberty as well as referencing MacCallum's triadic formulation of liberty.

5 Page excerpts and notes from Marx's German Ideology & Critique of Political Economy. Also summarises some points made by Gerald Cohen, Colin Hay and John Elster.

This is a selection of quotations from John Stuart Mill's 'On Liberty' which are particularly key to understanding his anti-paternalistic stance, and his concept of freedom of expression.