Political Ideas Possible First Exam Questions
The exam will consist of several questions chosen from this list. It will take place during the second half of the class period, so that we can discuss next week’s topic (liberty) before the exam. You will have about a one page of space for each question. Good answers will display an understanding of the arguments and ideas we have read and discussed.
Do you think that it is useful to conceive of government as deriving its authority from some kind of contract or agreement? (Explain.)
Locke used a version of social contract theory to argue that the functions of government should be quite limited. How does his argument go? Do you think this Lockean argument is a cogent one? Why or why not?
Cosmopolitanism or internationalism proposes that we should think of ourselves primarily as ‘citizens of the world’ and should work to build a global community and global institutions. Nationalists, on the other hand, insist that more local ethnic and cultural identities must take priority, that our first allegiance should be to the nation-state (patriotism), and that world government is a dangerous dream. Discuss.
Do you think that there are good reasons to limit immigration into the United States? Can citizens of the US justify preventing people who live elsewhere from coming here, when those people could make themselves much better off by doing so and when US citizen’ have (normally) done nothing to earn their citizenship – they were just lucky enough to be born here?
Suppose you had to explain ‘just war theory’ to a friend in 5 or 10 minutes. How would that explanation go? If they asked you whether you thought it was a good theory (useful, helpful, illuminating, correct?), what would you say?
What reasons (or assumptions) have led many people to conclude that democracy is either a bad idea altogether or, more moderately, that there is such a thing as too much democracy? How might a defender of democracy reply? Do you think that democracy is preferable to monarchy or aristocracy? Why? Should democracy be limited by some other political principle (like property rights or civil liberty)? Why?
Jphn Stuart Mill, in his essay “On Liberty” says that his purpose is to “assert one very simple principle”. What is that principle? How might that principle be challenged or criticized? Do you agree with Mill’s principle?
In the wake of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, our government has implemented a number of policies augmenting the power of law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Some people worry that these policies are eroding essential civil liberties. Others believe they are necessary to preserve our safety and security. Is there any limit to what you would want government to do in order to protect us from terrorism? Explain.