political philosophy
Study of statecraft
Political philosophy is the study of fundamental questions about government, justice, rights, law, and the organization of society.
It asks what makes authority legitimate, what citizens owe each other, and how power should be distributed.
Thinkers from Plato to Rawls have shaped the field.
Unlike political science, which describes how systems work, political philosophy asks how they *should* work: Her political philosophy emphasized individual liberty over collective welfare.
Same status for all
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
- social contractAgreement exchanging freedom for order
- egalitarianismPhilosophy of universal equality
human rights · equity · impartiality · due process · retribution · reparations · desert · meritocracy
Rule by the people
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- republicState with elected leaders
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
legislature · federalism · confederation · statecraft · bureaucracy · diplomacy · regime · administration
Philosophy valuing reform, tolerance
- conservatismPreference for existing institutions
- socialismCommunal economic control
- communismCollective ownership system
- anarchismPhilosophy rejecting state authority
fascism · nationalism · populism · feminism · libertarianism · communitarianism · neoliberalism · progressivism
Power to enforce obedience
- legitimacyLawful or rightful status
- dominationSupreme authority held
- hegemonyDominant group's control
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
influence · sovereignty · realpolitik · elitism · oligarchy · autocracy · Machiavelli · consent
Absence of constraint
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- individualismDoctrine of personal independence
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- civil libertiesRights limiting government power
emancipation · noninterference · free will · consent · toleration · pluralism · self-governance · independence
Moral goodness or merit
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- dutyRequired moral task
- consequentialismEthics judging by results
- deontologyMorality based on obligations
utilitarianism · Kantian · natural law · common good · civic virtue · responsibility · integrity · Aristotle
equality
Same status for all
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
- social contractAgreement exchanging freedom for order
egalitarianism · human rights · equity · impartiality · due process · retribution · reparations · desert · meritocracy · redistribution
democracy
Rule by the people
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- republicState with elected leaders
parliament · legislature · federalism · confederation · statecraft · bureaucracy · diplomacy · regime · administration · separation of powers
liberalism
Philosophy valuing reform, tolerance
- conservatismPreference for existing institutions
- socialismCommunal economic control
- communismCollective ownership system
anarchism · fascism · nationalism · populism · feminism · libertarianism · communitarianism · neoliberalism · progressivism · traditionalism
authority
Power to enforce obedience
- legitimacyLawful or rightful status
- dominationSupreme authority held
- hegemonyDominant group's control
coercion · influence · sovereignty · realpolitik · elitism · oligarchy · autocracy · Machiavelli · consent · obedience
freedom
Absence of constraint
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- individualismDoctrine of personal independence
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
civil liberties · emancipation · noninterference · free will · consent · toleration · pluralism · self-governance · independence · rights
virtue
Moral goodness or merit
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- dutyRequired moral task
- consequentialismEthics judging by results
deontology · utilitarianism · Kantian · natural law · common good · civic virtue · responsibility · integrity · Aristotle · Plato
- humanitieshistory, literature, novels, humanities, liberal arts
- philosophyethics, logic, metaphysics, ontology, epistemology
- philosophy and civilizationethics, morality, epistemology, metaphysics, aesthetics
- philosophy topicsSocratic method, ethics, dialectic, logic, Socratic dialogue
- political philosophysocial contract, natural rights, natural law, sovereignty, legitimacy
- political sciencevoting behavior, international relations, authoritarianism, public opinion, constitutionalism
political philosophyrealpolitik
Politics prioritizing practicality over ethics
political strategy · public policy · electoral strategy · statecraft · campaign management
political philosophymetaphysics
Philosophy of existence's nature
natural philosophy · aesthetics · natural science · philosophy of mind · physics
political philosophypolitical apathy
Indifference to governance
political activism · political participation · statecraft · power politics · governing
policy, politics, political, politician, sophisticated, philosophy, philosopher, philosophical, sophistry