Philosophy Midterms - Lesson 11: Respect for Persons

Hunting and Gathering Societies

• Highly mobile: Nomadic lifestyle, dependent on available resources.
• Small groups: Limited population due to resource constraints.

Post-Industrial Society

• Focus on information and technology: Driven by innovation and knowledge, often replacing traditional manufacturing jobs.
• Highly specialized workforce: Requires advanced education and training.

Sovereignty

• Supreme authority: Refers to the state's independent power to govern within its territory.
• Internal and external: Absence of external control, and control over internal affairs.

Pastoral Societies vs. Hunting and Gathering Societies

• Pastoral societies: Relatively settled, focus on animal herding.
• Hunting and gathering societies: Mobile, focus on foraging for resources.
• Both often have strong relationships with the environment.

Nation

• Common identity: Cultural, linguistic, and ethnic factors unite individuals within a nation.
• Shared history and aspirations: Contribute to the national identity of a people.

Divine Right of Kings

• Legitimacy from God: The monarch's authority originates directly from a divine source.
• God-given power: Justifies the king's right to rule and enforces loyalty.

Social Contract Theory

• Mutual agreement: People voluntarily surrender some individual rights to secure collective benefits.
• Legitimate government: The government derives its authority from the consent of the governed.

Socioeconomic Causes of State Issues

• Inequality: Disparities in wealth, income, and access to resources can contribute to social unrest and instability.
• Economic downturns: Recessions, unemployment, and financial crises can strain state resources and governance.

Nation vs. State

• Nation: Represents a cultural and ethnic identity with a shared history.
• State: A political entity with defined territory, government, and population.

Homocentric View in Environmental Ethics

• Human-centered approach: Prioritizes human interests and well-being over environmental concerns.
• Anthropocentric perspective: Sees nature as a resource to serve human needs.

Horticultural Societies

• Cultivating plants: Utilize simple tools to grow crops, often near water sources.
• Sedentary lifestyle: Permanent settlements as opposed to the mobility of hunter-gatherers.

Distributive Justice

• Fair allocation of resources: Aiming to distribute resources equitably among members of society.
• Fair procedures: Ensuring that the process of distributing resources is just and impartial.

Mechanical Means in Society

• Automation and technology: Used extensively in industrial societies for mass production and efficiency.
• Repetitive tasks: Often performed by machines rather than human labor.

Compensatory Justice

• Redressing past wrongs: Focuses on compensating individuals for harm they have suffered.
• Remedies and reparations: Aim to restore equity and fairness after a wrong has been committed.

Agrarian Societies

• Agricultural production: Based on farming and cultivating land for food and other resources.
• More complex social structures: Develops as societies become less nomadic and more settled.

Virtue Ethics (Aristotle)

• Moral character: Focused on cultivating good character traits rather than adhering to rules.
• Eudaimonia (flourishing): The ultimate aim of a virtuous life, living in accordance with reason and achieving fulfillment.

Rule-Based Ethics

• Following specific rules: Emphasizes obedience to moral rules and principles, regardless of consequences.
• Deontological approach: Duty-based ethics, where actions are considered moral based on their conformity to rules.

Franz Oppenheimer's Definition of Society

• Political and economic systems: Referred to as the "State" and the "Economy" by Oppenheimer.
• Power and resource distribution: Examined how these systems shaped social relationships and individual opportunities.